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As he's forgotten his meds, the trip home is also his first break from lithium and a rainbow of psychotropic drugs.
He's downright alert.
Zach Braff, who wrote and directed Garden State, stars here as Andrew Largeman, a twentysomething actor living in Los Angeles who hasn't seen his hometown or his old school friends for almost a decade.
His return home for his mother's funeral is poignant and yet hilarious, thanks to his childhood buddies -- who have grown up to be, among other things, inventors, grave-diggers, a knight at Medieval Times, a pyramid sales geek and a traffic cop.
Largeman catches up with friends while avoiding a confrontation with his stern and unforgiving father (Ian Holm).
At the doctor's office one day, Largeman meets an odd young woman to whom he is immediately attracted. Sam (Natalie Portman) lies with impunity, has a mysterious African brother and keeps -- and accidentally kills -- many pets.
Could this be love?
There's a lot to like about Garden State, which, as romantic comedy goes, manages to be both very funny and essentially sweet-natured. It's daffy.
The film has a lot to say about family and about the concept of home.
The cast, which includes Peter Sarsgaard, Method Man and Jean Smart, is terrific. The writing is smart and very wise.
(The character of Sam is wonderfully well written, and Portman is absolutely terrific in the role of the brave and optimistic Sam.)
What distinguishes Garden State is what doesn't happen -- little is predictable. The film does not follow the accepted wisdom or plotting of typical romantic comedy, which is a huge relief.
Garden State was shot quickly and cheaply; luckily, those conditions do not affect the charm quotient.
(This film is rated 14-A)