Braff took a lot of heat for his record-breaking Kickstarter efforts, and
frankly a lot of the criticism has been undeserved. But there's something to be
said about the freedom it gave Braff to do basically anything he wanted, and
that becomes a recurring issue right from the start. He plays Aidan Bloom, a
failed actor whose best gig was a TV commercial and little else. Months have
gone between gigs meaning he's not making any money, putting the financial
burden on wife Sarah (Kate Hudson), who works a job she hates but endures out
of necessity. Aidan is more than just another adult who never really grew up,
he's someone who comes off as selfish and pre-occupied with his own dreams to
worry about others. That disregard extends to his children, who attend a
private Hebrew school paid for by Aidan's father Gabe (Mandy Patinkin) until he
gets too sick to pony up the cash. Aidan's first reaction is to worry about
himself and whether finding a job would distract from those all-important
auditions.
And that's really just the start as Braff piles on even more subplots that
often strike at something true but just as often get in the way from a clearer
narrative. Josh Gad brings a little bit of humor and a lot of sadness to his
role as Noah, Aidan's technologically talented brother who has withered his
skills away as a blogger (nice cheap shot, Zach!). Gabe doesn't think much of
Aidan at all but he really can't stand what Noah has done with his life. In
broad strokes Braff explores issues of masculinity, faith, and midlife crisis
with sincerity and real heart. Nobody can say Braff doesn't put everything he
has into his work, even going so far as to blend in a few sci-fi sequences that
hint the fantasy world in Aidan's mind. Aidan fancies himself a hero but as a
father with responsibilities he's unprepared for the new heroic parameters. 
Some will be quick to write the film off as merely Garden State redux but they may be surprised. Yes, you'll hear an
endless stream of indie bands underscoring every crucial life moment, but the
tone is considerably more spirited and upbeat, a tough thing to pull off with
so many weighty themes. That seriousness is balanced by Braff's well-practiced
comic timing, especially when paired up with the equally funny Patinkin. Braff
still comes off as unnatural dramatically but he's better than when he starred
in The Last Kiss some years ago. The relevance of modern Judaism is explored in surprising detail, mostly through Aidan's daughter (Joey King, truly excellent) who faces an identity crisis similar to her father. It's one of the few subplots that really click, whereas others, like Noah's sudden love affair with a hot cosplay chick (Ashley Greene) feel tacked on and don't really go anywhere. The same goes for a pointless diversion about Sarah being harassed by a workplace colleague. Braff has enough material here to pad out a third movie and that's probably what he should have done. Surely a good chunk of that Kickstarter money is left over because this couldn't have cost but so much. Even if there isn't, Braff's fans who adored Garden State will find something to love in Wish I Was Here and will probably chip in a few dollars for another movie.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
