Sarah Vincent Sarah G Vincent Views Jun 12, 2024

Garden State’s original sin is abandoning the original story of how to resolve the numbness of the beginning with tropes like stop taking your prescription medicine, socialize and live. Braff treats the central concept, why the protagonist is so numb

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Cory Woodroof 615 Film Jun 15, 2022

The fact that the pinnacle of this film puts the three lead characters in garbage bags yelling nonsense into the air is much more scathing than any review that could ever be written.

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Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Sep 8, 2020 4.0/4.0

I found myself experiencing fits of laughter and tears for a good two hours following my viewing of Garden State.

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Will Self London Evening Standard Dec 20, 2017

On the basis that it behoves all of us to keep a little nugget of our 15-year-old selves locked up in our breasts, I'm going to say this is a loveable film and that you should all go and see it to awake your inner adolescent.

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Jason Bailey Flavorwire Jun 21, 2016

Braff captures the specific, self-involved ennui of the aimless 20-something, and he doesn't do it from a point of smug detachment.

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Christy Lemire Associated Press Nov 7, 2011 A

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media Dec 24, 2010 4/5

Smart drama for mature older teens and up.

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Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Sep 24, 2010 4/4

It's no longer a generational alarm clock, but for those who've seen loved ones stumble through complacent fogs of Paxil, Zoloft and the like, "Garden State" still warns that "stability" doesn't mean a numbness to anything not emotionally even-keeled.

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Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed Apr 29, 2009

There is not a shot in this movie that doesn't shine...

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Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Apr 18, 2009 C

Actor Zach Braff (NBC's "Scrubs") makes an impressive if unsatisfying writing and directing debut with a plaintive post-modern drama that relies on unspoken dry wit to entertain its audience (think a cross between "Harold and Maude" and "The Graduate").

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Todd McCarthy Variety Mar 26, 2009

Feels too piecemeal and ultimately inconsequential to grab the public where it counts.

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Urban Cinefile Critics Urban Cinefile Oct 18, 2008

Braff, who also wrote and directs, tells this story with great flair, lots of subtlety and a wonderfully paced set of revelations that come to us just as they might in real life.

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Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review Aug 7, 2008 3/5

[A] goofy, melancholy, seriocomic slice of life...

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Joe Lozito Big Picture Big Sound Dec 27, 2007 3/4

It's good to see Natalie Portman acting again.

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Joseph Proimakis Movies for the Masses Oct 3, 2006 3.5/5

full review in Greek

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Jay Antani Cinema Writer Aug 24, 2006 2/4

the quintessential product by and for uninspired times

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Geoff Andrew Time Out Feb 9, 2006

This is a movie where 'sensitivity' and 'sincerity' are signposted by songs by Paul Simon and Nick Drake, which I guess says it all.

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Tim Merrill Film Threat Dec 6, 2005 3.5/5

While Braff's script may suffer from long-windedness, his direction -- of both cast and camera -- is so confident that this debut could well mark the start of a major career.

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Scott Nash Three Movie Buffs Sep 30, 2005 3/4

Both funny and touching, this is a small film that deserves to be seen by a wider audience.

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