Tags
Cancer, Family, Film Review, Kate Hudson, Kickstarter, Perseverence, Struggles, Wish I Was Here, Zach Braff
I’ve been a fan of Zach Braff since I saw the first episode of Scrubs back in 2001. Scrubs(pre-Interns) is still my favorite show of all time without question. Garden State was a quirky story that I maybe wasn’t exactly ready for when it released a decade ago, but it got me interested in a whole new musical scene. So when I saw that Zach was planning on making a movie with absolutely no compromise to the Hollywood Machine it was impossible for me not to support the endeavor. I’m happy to report that it totally payed off.
First off, let me tell you that it’s really hard to pin a genre on this film. I suppose it is technically a comedy, but you’re not going to be busting a gut. There’s a good deal of tragedy in there [SPOILER] as death inevitably ends one character’s chapter.[/SPOILER] In the end things turn out pretty good for most of the family as they deal with it and are changed by it mostly for the better. The slice of life nature of the film reminds me of why I loved Scrubs so much, the way it rolls out the emotional punches. You never quite get the whole story, how could you in such a short period, but enough bits and pieces get filled in along the way.
I wouldn’t say that it’s the greatest film ever made, but I will say it’s the best I’ve seen in quite some time. It’s messy, it’s complicated, it sends some mixed messages. It’s exactly what it should be and it’s damn near perfect. I can see why Hollywood wouldn’t have backed it as it was made and I’m quite proud to have been part of the campaign to make it happen in spite of that. I recommend that you go see this movie with your family. I warn you though, there’s a good amount of swearing but it is by no means gratuitous. The film touches on myriad themes mostly centered around family. Religion, acceptance, pride, the daily struggle, depression, pursuing your dreams, coping with loss, finding your way out of a rut and moving on from one stage of your life to the next. It is a portrait of life in this very moment, of 2014, and a reminder to cherish it, because it goes by quicker than you think. So go see this movie. Then tell all of your friends to go out and see it because at least one of them needs this right now.