Garden State (DVD)

Andrew Largeman is an aspiring actor living in Los Angeles, famed for playing a retarded quarterback. He has been estranged from his family for many years, after an incident which made him pursue a career outside of New Jersey (the Garden State of the title). He has been on mind controlling drugs for many years, a course of action thought best by both his doctor and psychiatrist father Gideon. His mother's death brings him back to his home state for the first time in nine years. He also decides to use it as an opportunity to lay off the drugs for a while, to see what difference it makes, if any at all. He has also been suffering some headaches like smalll lightning ...

Who would have ever thought that the star of the offbeat sitcom ‘Scrubs’ Zach Braff, was capable of writing and directing a tale of lost youth, of a man sleepwalking through life with such style and aplomb, I know I wouldn’t have done. He is likeable in ‘Scrubs’ but nothing in that series, as fun as it is, gave the impression that he could not only write this well but had direction in his blood as well. ‘Garden State’ is a wry comedy/coming of age drama in the style of a more restrained Wes Anderson (Rushmore, Royal Tennebaums). It has that off the wall kookiness of Anderson but is based more on a reality we know and understand, as opposed to Anderson’s ...

It would seem that over the years New Jersey is becoming quite a popular place to make films. In recent years it has featured as the location in some part for all of Kevin Smith's movies and now Scrubs star Zach Braff makes the Garden State the location and title of his debut film. Having been the star of Scrubs for a while it seems that Braff has decided to make the transition into movies. Rather than do it the easy way Braff decided to go down the writing and directing role. The film is based around Andrew 'Large' Largeman (Braff) who escaped his home town in New Jersey to start a new life in LA as an actor. When his mother dies, however he is forced to ...