Garden State
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Metascore
67 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 37 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 192 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Peter Sarsgaard, Zach Braff
  • Summary: Andrew Largeman (Braff) shuffled through life in a lithium-induced coma until his mother's death inspired a vacation from the pills to see what might happen. When he travels from L.A. back to his hometown, he meets Sam (Portman), a girl who is everything he isn't. Her warmth and fearlessness give him the courage to open his heart to the joy and pain of the infinite abyss that is life. (Fox Searchlight Pictures)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 37
  3. Negative: 0 out of 37
  1. Premiere
    Reviewed by: Peter Debruge
    100
    Garden State gets it. Not since "The Graduate" has a movie nailed the beautiful terror of standing on the brink of adulthood with such satisfying precision.
  2. Empire
    Reviewed by: Olly Richards
    80
    A great debut from a promising talent.
  3. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Duane Byrge
    80
    Writer/director Zach Braff has threaded a powerful and intelligent personal story through a genre all too rare today – romantic comedy.
  4. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    60
    Although Zach Braff's promising writing-directing debut is a bit affected, few actors with behind-the-camera aspirations succeed as well as the Scrubs star does with this melancholy romantic comedy.

See all 37 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 88 out of 107
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 107
  3. Negative: 16 out of 107
  1. TheWalrus2000
    10
    Extremely satisfying and depressingly hilarious, Garden State is one of the best comedy dramas ever and gives amazing performances for Natalie Portman and Zach Braff.… Expand
  2. J-Shap
    8
    Garden State is a remarkably satisfying, pleasingly original take on familiar territory. Some will say it's merely The Graduate done for this generation. Fortunately, many will recognize that as a pro.… Expand
  3. TheMovieCritic
    7
    What an interesting movie this is. It shows how life is too short to worry about the small things, and be stuck with no sense of direction. Among other lessons that could be learned, the main lesson is emphasized by the main characters major development throughout the movie. Good film, worth seeing.… Expand
  4. RaviU
    3
    I dont know what it is about this movie, but the slow pacing and Braff's acting just seem to drag the movie down. Now, don't get me wrong...I enjoy independent films as much as the next guy, but this film just felt so tedious to get through. I honestly love Braff and Portman in their other projects (Scrubs and Star Wars, respectively) but I felt like there was just some chemistry missing here. I'm sad to say that I can't recommend this movie.… Expand

See all 107 User Reviews

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