History Film / GardenState

* WrongfullyAttributed: An in-universe half-example, there's a scene where Andrew's friend Jesse mentions ''Literature/BraveNewWorld'' and attributes it to Aldous [[Series/TheCosbyShow Huxtable]] rather than Huxley.

* RuleOfFunny: Large's argument with the customer at the restaurant probably wouldn't come up in RealLife. Vietnamese restaurants are actually far more likely to serve bread than most other Asian restaurants; Vietnam was a protectorate of France for over a century, so its cuisine has a very strong French slant, and baguettes are frequently eaten there.

* DoubleMeaningTitle: It can refer to a popular nickname for New Jersey, or to the emotionless, static state of Large's life since he went on his medication.

* NerdsSpeakKlingon: Mark is displeased to see that his [[ParentWithNewParamour mother has a new boyfriend]], Tim. It doesn’t help that he wears knight armour and speaks Klingon. The best part is that Tim was played by Creator/JimParsons, a.k.a. [[Series/TheBigBangTheory Sheldon]].

* ClifftopCaterwauling: One of the most well-known scenes of the film has Andrew, Sam and Mark climbing on an abandoned crane and scream into a chasm.

''Garden State'' is a 2004 romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Creator/ZachBraff, who also stars along with Creator/NataliePortman, Creator/PeterSarsgaard, and Creator/IanHolm. The title [[DoubleMeaningTitle alludes both]] to the nickname for New Jersey, where the film takes place, and to lines from Creator/AndrewMarvell's poem "The Garden" ("Such was that happy garden-state, / While man there walked without a mate").

The film was shot on location over 25 days in April and May 2003, became an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival and won Best First Feature at the Independent Spirit Awards. It contains many [[ShoutOut allusions]] to the similar coming-of-age film ''Film/TheGraduate'' (1967), most notably the opening airplane scene that both pictures share.

''Garden State'' was a substantial success upon release, even more so considering it lacked the publicity machine of most mainstream Hollywood films. Braff instead set up a blog on the film's official site, with which he generated a devoted fanbase. The film's soundtrack, consisting of songs handpicked by Braff, grew arguably as popular as the film itself, winning a UsefulNotes/GrammyAward[[note]]For Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Pictures, Television or Other Visual Media[[/note]] and being considered a perfect capsule of early-to-mid-2000s indie music by many.

However, a sizable part of ''Garden State''[='=]s legacy was also made out of the shifts in public opinion since its release. Among other reasons, people have taken it to task for its contributions to the ManicPixieDreamGirl trope through Sam's character ([[OldShame which have made Natalie Portman herself embarrassed by the role in retrospect]]).

However, a sizable part of ''Garden State''[='=]s legacy was also made out of the shifts in public opinion since its release, turning it into one of the most infamous cases of HypeBacklash of its time. Among other reasons, people have taken it to task for its contributions to the ManicPixieDreamGirl trope through Sam's character ([[OldShame which have made Natalie Portman herself embarrassed by the role in retrospect]]).

* ApologisesALot: Sam tends to apologize for her quirks or anything really in fear of freaking Andrew out. He even mocks her for this at one point.

* TimePassesMontage: During the party, a montage shows Andrew sitting on the couch while everything around him happens Fast Forward.

* BigDamnKiss

* BoyMeetsGirl
* CandlelitBath

* DreamSequence: Opens with one.
* DysfunctionalFamily
* [[EmotionlessGirl Emotionless Guy]]: Andrew Largeman. He gradually opens up during the course of the film because he's finally off his psychiatric medications and because he meets [[ManicPixieDreamGirl Sam]].

* NerdsSpeakKlingon:Mark is displeased to see that his [[ParentWithNewParamour mother has a new boyfriend]], Tim. It doesn’t help that he wears knight armour and speaks Klingon. The best part is that Tim was played by Creator/JimParsons, a.k.a. [[Series/TheBigBangTheory Sheldon]].

* RedemptionInTheRain
* RomanticComedy

* SpinTheBottle

''Garden State'' is a 2004 film written and directed by Creator/ZachBraff (''Series/{{Scrubs}}''), who also stars along with Creator/NataliePortman, Creator/PeterSarsgaard, and Creator/IanHolm. The title alludes both to the nickname for New Jersey, where the film takes place, and to lines from Creator/AndrewMarvell's poem "The Garden" ("Such was that happy garden-state, / While man there walked without a mate").

The film centers on Andrew Largeman (Braff), a 26-year-old Los Angeles-based actor/waiter who has been living in a catatonic emotional state attributable in part to him being kept on at least one form of the drug lithium since he was 10. He receives a phone call from his dad, with whom he has not spoken in a long time, and learns that his paraplegic mother drowned in the bath. Andrew then returns to his hometown in New Jersey to attend her funeral, and soon after meets Sam (Portman), a [[ManicPixieDreamGirl free-spirited girl that brings him out of his shell]].

''Garden State'' was a substantial success upon release, even more so considering it lacked the publicity machine of most mainstream Hollywood films. Braff instead set up a blog on the film's official site, with which he generated a devoted fanbase. The film's soundtrack, consisting of songs handpicked by Braff, grew arguably as popular as the film itself, winning a UsefulNotes/GrammyAward and being considered a perfect capsule of early-to-mid-2000s indie music by many.

''Garden State'' was a substantial success upon release, even more so considering it lacked the publicity machine of most mainstream Hollywood films. Braff instead set up a blog on the film's official site, with which he generated a devoted fanbase. The film's soundtrack, consisting of songs handpicked by Braff, grew arguably as popular as the film itself, winning a Grammy Award and being considered a perfect capsule of early-to-mid-2000s indie music by many.

However, a sizable part of ''Garden State''[='=]s legacy was also made out of the shifts in public opinion since its release, turning it into one of the most infamous cases of HypeBacklash of its time. Among other reasons, people have taken it to task for its contributions to the ManicPixieDreamGirl trope through Sam's character ([[OldShame which has made Natalie Portman herself embarrassed by the role in retrospect]]).

The film centers on Andrew Largeman (Braff), a 26-year-old Los Angeles-based actor/waiter who has been living in a catatonic emotional state. Since he was ten, he has been kept on at least one form of the drug lithium. After receiving a phone call from his dad, with whom he has not spoken in a long time, Andrew returns to his hometown in New Jersey upon finding out his paraplegic mother drowned in the bath. Visiting the place where he grew up, he soon meets Sam (Portman), a [[ManicPixieDreamGirl free-spirited girl that brings him out of his shell]].

* BlackComedy: Definitely. Some of the darkest, {{squick}}iest clips were cut from the theatrical release, but they're available on the DVD.

** Several books' spines are visible on a shelf in Mark's room. Their distinctive coloration is that of the Clan books, in alphabetical order, from the LegendOfTheFiveRings role-playing game.

* SpiritualSuccessor: If ''Garden State'' went one state over, it would be called ''Film/{{Adventureland}}''.
** Braff made a proper SpiritualSuccessor called ''Wish I Was Here''

The film centers on Andrew Largeman (Braff), a 26-year-old actor/waiter who has been living in a catatonic emotional state. Since he was ten, he has been kept on at least one form of the drug lithium. After receiving a phone call from his dad, with whom he has not spoken in a long time, Andrew returns to his hometown in New Jersey upon finding out his paraplegic mother drowned in the bath. Visiting the place where he grew up, he soon meets Sam (Portman), a [[ManicPixieDreamGirl free-spirited girl that brings him out of his shell]].

''Garden State'' was a substantial success upon release, even more so considering it lacked the publicity machine of most mainstream Hollywood films. Braff instead set up a blog on the film's official site, with which he generated a devoted fanbase. The film's soundtrack, consisting of songs handpicked by Braff, grew arguably as iconic as the film itself, winning a Grammy Award and being considered a perfect capsule of early-to-mid-2000s indie music by many.

''Garden State'' is a 2004 film written, directed by and starring Creator/ZachBraff (''Series/{{Scrubs}}''), who also stars along with Creator/NataliePortman, Creator/PeterSarsgaard, and Creator/IanHolm. The title alludes both to the nickname for New Jersey, where the film takes place, and to lines from Creator/AndrewMarvell's poem "The Garden" ("Such was that happy garden-state, / While man there walked without a mate").

''Garden State'' was a substantial success upon release, even more so considering it lacked the publicity machine of most mainstream Hollywood films. Braff instead set up a blog on the film's official site, with which he generated a devoted fanbase. The film's soundtrack, consisting of songs handpicked by Braff, grew arguably as iconic as the film itself, winning a Grammy Award and being considered a perfect capsule of mid-2000s indie music by many.

However, a sizable part of ''Garden State''[='=]s legacy was also made out of the shifts in public opinion since its release, turning it into one of the most infamous cases of HypeBacklash of its time. Among other reasons, people have taken it to task for its contributions to the ManicPixieDreamGirl trope through Sam's character ([[CreatorBacklash which has made Natalie Portman herself embarrassed by the role in retrospect]]).

''Garden State'' is a 2004 film written, directed by and starring Creator/ZachBraff (''Series/{{Scrubs}}''), who also stars along with Creator/NataliePortman, Creator/PeterSarsgaard, and Creator/IanHolm.

The film centers on Andrew Largeman (Braff), a 26-year-old actor/waiter who has been living in a catatonic emotional state. Since he was ten, he has been kept on at least one form of the drug lithium. After receiving a phone call from his dad, with whom he has not spoken in a long time, Andrew returns to his hometown in New Jersey upon finding out his paraplegic mother drowned in the bath. Visiting the place where he grew up, he soon meets Sam (Portman), the girl that brings him out of his shell. The title alludes both to the nickname for New Jersey and to lines from Creator/AndrewMarvell's poem "The Garden" ("Such was that happy garden-state,/ While man there walked without a mate").

It was filmed over 25 days in April and May 2003 and released on July 28, 2004. The main setting and primary shooting location was New Jersey. It was an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival. The film won Best First Feature at the Independent Spirit Awards. The film contains many [[ShoutOut allusions]] to the similar coming-of-age film ''Film/TheGraduate'' (1967), most notably the opening airplane scene that both pictures share.

''Garden State'' was well received, and is considered a major success for Braff, as it was his feature film debut as a director. Lacking the publicity machine of most mainstream Hollywood films, it generated a devoted fan base from people who read and responded to Braff's blog on the film's official site. Fans drove hours to see the film and saw it repeatedly in theaters. The film also spawned a popular soundtrack for which Braff, who picked the music himself, won a Grammy award.

* ManicPixieDreamGirl: Sam. Certainly not the UrExample, but one of the most famous examples. Notably, the term was [[TropeNamer coined]] in an article about ''Film/{{Elizabethtown}}'', which was released the year after this film (and was a pretty blatant clone of it).

* ClifftopCaterwauling: One of the most well known scenes of the film has Andrew, Sam and Mark climbing on an abandoned crane and scream into a chasm.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: A particularly jarring one occurs when Andrew sees Mark ''stealing jewelry from a casket'' while they're hanging out at the cemetery. Andrew barely reacts, Jesse doesn't notice (or care), and Mark never faces any consequences.

The film centers on Andrew Largeman (Braff), a 26-year-old actor/waiter who has been living in a catatonic emotional state. Since he was ten, he has been kept on at least one form of the drug lithium. After receiving a phone call from his dad, with whom he has not spoken in a long time, Andrew returns to his hometown in New Jersey upon finding out his paraplegic mother drowned in the bath. Visiting the place where he grew up, he soon meets Sam (Portman), the girl that brings him out of his shell. The title alludes both to the nickname for New Jersey and to lines from Andrew Marvell's poem "The Garden" ("Such was that happy garden-state,/ While man there walked without a mate").