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ArtsNFashion
Director: Zach Braff
Cast: Zach Braff, Kate Hudson, Jim Parsons, Mandy Patinkin, Josh Gad, James Avery, Donald Faison
Review by James
Colt Harrison
A few years ago young actor/writer/director
Zach Braff was praised for Garden State, his first feature
film. Whether it was a stroke of luck or just plain talent, the film put Braff
on the map as a young new director to watch. This is always dangerous for a
young director because the second creative output is always looked upon with
more harshness than anyone should have to endure. Critics are now scrutinizing
Braff’s Focus Feature Wish I Was Here and are expecting it
to be as good as was Garden State.
Aidan Bloom (Braff) at 35 is still a struggling
actor who yearns to have his dream come true. He has difficulty getting cast
and is usually the wrong type. In one funny scene he auditions for a film, with
such stalwart actors as the late James Avery, for a part for which he is
obviously unsuited. Bloom is rather messed up psychologically as he is trying
to find his own identity while trying to be a father and a husband. Wife Sarah
(Kate Hudson) is a bland blonde in a sea of Hollywood blondes. The film doesn’t
give her much to do except support her husband’s dreams. Aidan’s trying to find
a purpose in life, but Sarah doesn’t seem to have an interest in her own. She
seems to be content raising the children.
Aidan and his father Gabe, played by Broadway
veteran Mandy Patinkin, have never seen eye to eye. What they do agree on is
that the children be sent to a private school, for which grandpa has always
paid. Unfortunately he is ill and can no longer afford to pay for the
children’s education. Aidan attempts to home-school the kids and it turns into
a hilarious disaster. The scenes between Braff and Patinkin have a ring of
truth. Braff’s character desperately wants approval from his father, but dad
thinks acting is a silly profession to persue, and that attitude breaks Aidan’s
heart. As an actor, Braff has a puppy dog cuteness to his manner and we can’t
help but like him, even when he is being unreasonable. The film wavers between
drama and comedy, with the comical scenes lightening what could ultimately turn
into a tear-jerker.
TV’s Jim Parson comes in for a few cameo scenes
to add some laughs but it doesn’t advance the plot, nor should it. Parson is a
brilliant comic actor and should be given his own film in which to shine.
Aidan’s errant and good-for-nothing brother
Noah is played by Broadway’s Josh Gad. He’s good at playing unshaven slobs, and
this part is perfect for his comic abilities. Noah doesn’t want to have
anything to do with his father because he feels he never got any support from
him while growing up. Thus, Noah avoids going to the hospital when is father is
dying. It’s not nice but it’s understandable from the son’s point of view.
Kudos must go to Patinkin as a generally
unlikeable character. He’s terrific as
the tough old Jew who won’t compromise his expectatons of what he wants his two
sons to become. He would be a good choice as a nominee for Best Supporting
Actor at next year’s Oscar® event. Patinkin had his first success onBroadway
playing the part of Che Guevara in the hit musical Evita. For that role he
won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor. Barbra Streisand
cast him in her 1983 film Yentl. He returned to Broadway to star in the
Pulitzer-Prizewinning musical Sunday In The Park With George Then
he made the comedy movie The Princess Bride in 1987. He has
appeared in such films as Dick Tracy with Warren Beatty and Ragtime
with James Cagney.
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