Zach Braff's career, post-Scrubs, has been one largely bereft of mainstream audiences. His latest project, Wish I Was Here, does not buck the trend.
Funded by Kickstarter, Wish I Was Here is a quirky indie comedy fused with a tick-list of emotional dilemmas. As well as directing the picture, Braff is Aidan Bloom: a perpetually out-of-work actor, father of two children and husband to Sarah (Kate Hudson), who seems destined to forever pay for his reluctance on giving up his dreams.
When his father - the wonderful Mandy Patinkin - falls ill, reality hits Bloom like a freight train. He has to juggle home-schooling his two children with his auditions, his marriage, his father's illness, and his responsibility as an older brother to Noah (Josh Gad): a man with enormous 'Dad' issues.
It is an unfortunate fact that life has a cruel habit of 'kicking one when one is down'. Thus, it doesn't ever feel as though Braff's multiple struggles have been shoe-horned into the story to add weight. In fact, Wish I Was Here is a grounded film that takes a very honest look at emotional suffering.
The acting is excellent; Braff is very likeable and Gad stands up to be counted with a performance that moves. A mention should also go to young Joey King, playing Bloom's daughter, who steals the spotlight from Patinkin and Braff in a few wonderful scenes.
In short, Wish I Was Here is a lovely film. It verges on saccharine but it's funny and it's touching. For that, Braff deserves congratulations.
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