Garden State

The film speaks with the power of general revelation but doesn't go far enough to be truly profound | Andrew Coffin

Garden State, the directorial debut of TV actor Zach Braff (NBC's Scrubs) has received a lot of positive critical attention, starting with an enthusiastic response at Sundance in January. Mr. Braff, who also wrote and stars in the film, crafted a very personal story about an actor who returns home to New Jersey after the death of his mother. The film reflects a searching heart, disillusioned with the world, but is weighed down by heavy profanity, drug use, and sexual references—and an ultimately fruitless search for meaning.

Garden State (rated R) is a film that speaks with the power of general revelation (it reflects truths about the world as God created it) but doesn't go far enough to be truly profound. That, combined with strong bad language, makes this intriguing and inventive film tough to recommend.

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August 28, 2004, Vol. 19, No. 33

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