Review: Wish I Was Here ★★★☆☆

Iridescent in it’s approach to colour, Wish I Was Here is a heartfelt comedy drama in which Zach Braff, very much in the same vein as his directorial debut Garden State, captures life’s struggles.

Grasping online attention back in early 2013 by attaining funding via a kickstarter campaign and then going on to debut at 2014’s Sundance Film Festival, Braff’s second feature film has conjured a lot of hype to live up to. Though to an extent Wish I Was Here does indeed meet this hype and very much delivers on all of Braff’s kickstarter promises, the film is not without flaws.

Much like Garden State, Wish I Was Here’s plot centres on self-discovery, not simply for Braff’s lead character, attempting to deal with the tragedies in his life and understand his role in the world, but also for his children who are striving to find their own place in it. Though the narrative is essentially compelling and emotive, flaws and poorly explained background details can at points leave viewers dumfounded by many minor, and some large decisions made by the central characters. The story itself at times can also feel disjointed, occasionally allowing the viewer to forget the significance of certain objects and events; in a film such as this where Braff packs profound metaphoric meaning into the seemingly most insignificant of things, the plot’s ability to muddle this for the viewer is a fundamental problem. As the melancholic plot rolls on however, you may find yourself laughing in one heartbeat and crying in the next which is one of the true super-powers of the Braff Brothers’ writing – and of course in a film of this tone that strives to blend comedy and misery Zach Braff fits perfectly into the lead role of Aidan Bloom.

Though Braff is very much expected to shine in a role of this type, the supporting cast are somewhat surprisingly well placed in their roles. Straying from her comedy driven background, Kate Hudson delivers a deep, frustrated performance as Aidan’s wife who is facing problems of her own. Josh Gad who portrays Aidan’s brother, Noah, provides one of the most unexpectedly diverse performances of film. So much more than the presumed blundering comic relief, Gad’s delivery ends up having a lot of heart and tangibly exhibits the character’s extensive development. There are however issues in Mandy Patinkin’s character whereby his acting abilities are not put to good use. The script paints a picture of Gabe Bloom, Aidan’s father as a man seen by his sons as very flawed, at times genuinely disliked by the characters. But Patinkin’s adorable, caring, wise old man only makes the viewer empathise with him and misunderstand the feelings of those around him.

A factor that really prevails throughout Wish I Was Here is it’s soundtrack. The selection boasts an array of contemporary indie rock and folk pieces including original tracks by The Shins, Coldplay and Bon Iver which help to cohesively tie the film together. A neat bow on the Braff package, again somewhat mirroring Garden State. If Braff continues to produce films that fit a similar tone, soundtrack and to a certain extent, cinematography as both Garden State and Wish I Was Here, then it’s certainly not unthinkable that the future may see him become an auteur of the american indie cinema scene.

This melancholy modern tale of self-discovery and the attempted understanding of spirituality is a must see if you’re a fan of Braff or the tone and attitude of Garden State. If not, Wish I Was Here remains beautiful but not a smooth narrative drive into deep-thinking – there are undeniably a few potholes in the road.