Garden State 2004

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press: Sincere, funny and entertaining in a way that not only charms but disarms. Read more

Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: Garden State may not define an entire generation, but it has a sharp eye for the passive aimlessness that can take hold when young adults realize there's no handbook on how to find purpose and meaning in life. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: His movie is sweet-natured and skillful, but its biggest problem is perhaps one Braff wasn't prepared to deal with: his own performance -- or, more accurately, the decision to place a deliberately flat performance at the film's heart. Read more

Allison Benedikt, Chicago Tribune: Braff, now a proven triple-threat, is blessed with his own comic chops, an eye for the small details of regular life and a simple, straightforward directorial style. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: It has an askew sense of humor that's grounded in honest observation. Read more

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper: [A] very good film. Read more

Bill Muller, Arizona Republic: This comedy works so diligently at being idiosyncratic, it comes off as artificial and forced. Read more

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: A standard issue, first-movie navel-gaze whose cobwebs Braff meticulously sweeps away by directing the bejesus out of it. Read more

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: Illuminates a young man's overdue coming of age with unexpected depth and grace. Read more

Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle: The best parts of this droll, quietly witty drama have the ring of truth. Read more

Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: Achingly alive, beautifully written first feature. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: It's to Braff's credit as a first-time filmmaker with a suburban- laughing-boy soul that his story is as warm and unforced as it is. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: One of the smarter examples of the form. Read more

Ed Bark, Dallas Morning News: A little gem of a film full of believably offbeat characters and eclectic mood music. Read more

Ella Taylor, L.A. Weekly: A likable if flawed comedy. Read more

Jan Stuart, Newsday: A richly populated if uneven act of comic catharsis. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: [Braff's] imaginative if sometimes scattered salute to both [the '70s] and Essex County, the place of his birth. Read more

Jami Bernard, New York Daily News: It offers something rare in the bond between Andrew and Sam. Their connection follows a believable arc from their first awkward encounter to a specific, believable intimacy, without which the movie's jokiness could have rung hollow. Read more

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer: Mr. Braff, Ms. Portman, Mr. Sarsgaard and Mr. Holm never strike a false note as a remarkably coherent acting ensemble, and it is good to see Ron Leibman again in the small role of Doctor Cohen. Read more

Stephen Holden, New York Times: Zach Braff's small, smart, off-kilter comedy is too self-conscious by half, but its struggle to revitalize a cliche; by turning it inside out is a worthy one. Read more

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel: Cleverly written, sensitively directed and very well-acted. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: It's a forgettable film featuring a throw-away story with unmemorable characters and unremarkable performances. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: It's smart and unconventional, with a good eye for the perfect detail. Read more

Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com: Braff, and Garden State, give it the old college try, and at least some, if not all, of the sparks catch. Read more

Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune: It takes the comic-drama Garden State awhile to take root, but then it quickly grows on you. Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: It steals shamelessly from The Graduate without indicating a whit of appreciation for the earlier film. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: This is a movie where 'sensitivity' and 'sincerity' are signposted by songs by Paul Simon and Nick Drake, which I guess says it all. Read more

Claudia Puig, USA Today: Poignantly portrays a detached man who decides to tackle life -- with all its pain, joys and everything in between -- with his eyes open and his head clear. Read more

Todd McCarthy, Variety: Feels too piecemeal and ultimately inconsequential to grab the public where it counts. Read more

Ed Park, Village Voice: Stormy twentysomething emotions seethe under a deft quirkfest. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: There is a little unevenness. But for a directorial debut, it's amazingly assured. Read more

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: Features some wonderful performances, chief among them an engaging, even courageous turn from Natalie Portman. Read more