For nearly twenty years Andrew Largeman (writer / director Zach Braff) has been living in an emotional coma, tanked on drugs prescribed by his psychiatrist father. Yanked home for his mother’s funeral, the first visit in nine years, dry Andrew can’t even raise a tear for her death. Stunned to find himself in his home town, Largeman uses the enforced break to catch up with old friends and new like the explosively colourful, epileptic waif Sam (Natalie Portman). He also comes off medication to discover he quite likes the feeling of feeling, and embarks on a chaste romance with the girl while rebuilding his friendship with Mark, a stoned gravedigger. They bounce from one peculiar event to another in what becomes a life-changing weekend for the trio.
Despite this introduction, Garden State is actually a fanciful romantic comedy that excels because of its singular intelligence. As the dark mood of the movie shifts like quicksand between humour and pathos, Braff shows his skill in modulating the story and never looses control of the film’s tone. He packs a lot into a small case as Garden State threads through homecoming yarn, rebirth and love stories laced with irony and wit – rare treats from contemporary indie cinema. Some of the laughs play for the belly – lusty Aunt Sylvia’s funereal rendition of Three Times A Lady – while most are comically touching. Production design and cinematography add tremendous value to the film’s embedded psychological condition, so much a character of this film. Above all Garden State is a mesmerizing, romantically edgy stroll through off-beat comedy. And you don’t get many of those to the dollar.

// COLIN FRASER