Wish I Was Here is not a grown up’s Garden State

Had very high hopes for this one. I don’t remember Garden State much, having seen it once years ago when it came out, but I do remember liking it very much. Wish I Was Here is Zach Braff’s second film, and while it does finally reach moving, heartfelt moments, it takes a long time to get there, and I think it wants to be grander than it is.

Zach Braff plays a mid-to-late 30’s dad, struggling to pursue his dream of acting, with a wife that is providing for their 2 kids. He starts the movie as sort of an ass, and looks like little in his life is bringing him any joy. When his father (played by the always amazing Mandy Patinkin) comes down with terminal cancer, Braff starts to realize what is important in life and changes his attitude. Unfortunately, it happens so quickly in the movie that you don’t realize the difference until it is almost over.

As I said, the movie does take a very long time to develop. I think Braff did this to attempt to flesh out the characters, but it didn’t work for me. Some people didn’t like that he raised funds for this film via Kickstarter, which he states was driven for the need to make “his movie” without input from the execs in Hollywood. That part doesn’t bother me so much, but I do think that if it was “his movie” he could have been a little more daring. But in the end, if he made this one for himself, then he should be satisfied with the result. Not a bad film, but not one you’ll take anything from.