# Why should I see "Garden State?"
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [March 12, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117 "2005-03-12T00:07:04Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Merl\_Minnozza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merl_Minnozza)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117/1 "2005-03-12T00:07:04Z")
Garden State.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Napoleon Dynamite.
These are three movie that have been embraced by the hipster culture here (and I’m sure everywhere else.) The music used in them has launched indie bands into a raging storm of popularity among trendy hipsters (like Iron and Wine) and their “feel” is constantly lauded by people I talked to.
I saw Eternal Sunshine when it first came out. It was alright. Just alright. It wasn’t particularly moving, it didn’t seem like an “ingenious” film; all I still remember from it is that Jim Carrey looks more handsome with some stubble on his face.
I saw Napoleon Dynamite last week and you already know what I thought of that (over-rated and kind of lame.)
Now I’m thinking about seeing Garden State. Should I? Is it as good as all the trendsters say it is? Knowing that I feel the way I do about hipster movies, should I see this?
---
### Author:  [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2005, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117/2 "2005-03-12T00:10:33Z")
[You should have been here about a week ago.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=5912924#post5912924)
---
### Author:  [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2005, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117/3 "2005-03-13T03:55:21Z")
In case that thread isn’t enough, I found Garden State to be, well, ok. It wasn’t that great. It was pretty well-written, and well-acted, but the cinematography was more pretentious than interesting, and its conclusion sort of depends on the main character’s revelation. For that to work, the revelation would have to be a little more interesting. Instead, it was a pretty silly cliche. Which sorta ruined the whole movie for me.
---
### Author:  [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117/4 "2005-03-13T03:56:32Z")
The Shins were on the soundtrack, though. That rocks.
---
### Author:  [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2005, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117/5 "2005-03-13T06:25:09Z")
If you see Garden State you will be cured of all ills.
Really!
Tumors in your body will shrink, you won’t have bad breath and love and money will come into your life.
What do you want from a movie? What do you expect? It is a couple of hours of your life that guess what, no matter how good the movie is you won’t get them back.
How coudl you not see that Eternal Sunshine was not “ingenious” in the way it approached the story? That movie was pedestrian to you?
Tel us what movies do you consider worth your time and then maybe we can tell you if you might like Garden State.
---
### Author:  [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2005, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117/6 "2005-03-13T11:25:07Z")
> [@Zebra](#):
>
> If you see Garden State you will be cured of all ills.
>
> Really!
>
> Tumors in your body will shrink, you won’t have bad breath and love and money will come into your life.
It will not, however, put you into labor. I went to see _Garden State_ when my baby was a few days overdue, thinking that it would be a good labor-inducer—you know, _there I was, really interested in this movie I had paid $8 to see, and then I went into labor_. Didn’t work.
I liked it somewhat, but I have to wonder if my irritable frame of mind didn’t have an effect on my verdict. I agree with others, though, that knowing what you usually do or don’t like would help us recommend or dissuade.
---
### Author:  [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117/7 "2005-03-13T14:33:21Z")
I watched Garden State after reading all the kudos about it here on the SD. I thought it was only OK. A cute story, but nothing to write home about. Not sure why so many people thought it was great. I liked Eternal Sunshine a lot more, but don’t think that one is a stunning film either.
---
### Author:  [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2005, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117/8 "2005-03-13T15:22:03Z")
Eternal Sunshine is my new favorite movie, so I’m quite biased, but if all it’s going to cost you is a rental, just watch the damn movie.
Who cares if you _know_ you’re going to like it or not? If you go into it biased that it’s for hipsters, no, you’re not going to like it.
---
### Author:  [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2005, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117/9 "2005-03-13T17:46:44Z")
I liked Garden State better than Eternal Sunshine, and less than Napoleon Dynamite.
See it, it’s nothing like the other two, despite it’s hipster status.
I’m not even sure what a hipster is, but I don’t think I am one. I watch movies of all variety, especially now that I have Netflix. Just Friday I watched some Queer as Folk, and Schindler’s List. Variety being the spice of life and all.
---
### Author:  [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117/10 "2005-03-13T17:49:32Z")
I got dragged to it by my SO, and went in expecting to hate it. Turned out that I really enjoyed it - maybe from the lowered expectations. I thought it was a little better than Eternal Sunshine and much, much better than Napolean Dynamite (which I was extremely disappointed with).
---
### Author:  [@RealTronic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealTronic)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2005, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117/11 "2005-03-14T06:53:15Z")
I loved all three of those movies - possibly **Eternal Sunshine…** the best.
I strongly recommend it; however based on your comments of the other two movies, I can see our tastes do not match and I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t like it.
---
### Author:  [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2005, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117/12 "2005-03-14T08:29:01Z")
I loved **Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind** but thought **Garden State** wasn’t much. Poor underused Ian Holm: just because the target demographic is under 30, does that make everyone over 30 a cardboard cutout? Wait, don’t answer that…
---
### Author:  [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2005, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117/13 "2005-03-14T08:52:15Z")
Why should you see it? Because it’s quite good, and as someone pointed out in the other thread, Zach Braff is yummy. And if you’re not into him, there’s Natalie Portman.
I’m about as far from a hipster as it’s humanly possible to get and still be under 50 years of age, and I loved this movie. The “feel” of the movie is lauded because it perfectly captures this feeling that hits in your late twenties. It’s not the quarter-life crisis, though it’s got elements of that, more of a disjointed, disconnected feeling. I can’t articulate exactly what it is, though I perfectly recognize it in the movie. I guess that’s why Zach Braff writes, directs, and stars in popular, critically acclaimed movies while I’m scooping dog poop.
---
### Author:  [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2005, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117/14 "2005-03-14T13:36:39Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#):
>
> Zach Braff is yummy.
He is?
I spent the whole movie wondering why this strange looking guy played the protagonist, until I got to the end and realized he directed it, too. He was about as far from attractive as I can imagine.
---
### Author:  [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2005, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117/15 "2005-03-14T14:22:59Z")
Garden State is a friend to all children.
Or am I thinking of Gamera.
---
### Author:  [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2005, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117/16 "2005-03-14T15:40:55Z")
I’m going to go ahead and say you probably shouldn’t bother seeing it. I loved all three of the movies in your OP, for different reasons, and my instinct is that if you said “meh” regarding the other two, you’ll do the same (or worse) for this one.
Also, if you’re willing to dismiss something based on its appeal to the “trendy hipsters” (which, really, makes you sort of a meta-hipster), you’re already halfway to hating it, and it probably won’t turn you around.
Dr. J, proud Trendy Hipster
---
### Author:  [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2005, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117/17 "2005-03-14T15:55:30Z")
Loved **Eternal Sunshine** and very much enjoyed **Garden State**. [b}Napolean Dynamite[/b}? Bleh!
Is it really a huge decision whether to see it or not?
---
### Author:  [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117/18 "2005-03-14T16:50:02Z")
So if I loved Eternal Sunshine and Garden State, would I like Napoleon Dynamite? It looked pretty dumb from the trailers, with the potential to be horribly depressing (like a movie I hated called Welcome To the Dollhouse, also about a high school outsider).
If it helps, I consider myself a hipster. I even drink Pabst Blue Ribbon!
---
### Author:  [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2005, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117/19 "2005-03-14T17:01:34Z")
I’ve seen all three movies and there’s really no comparison between them other than them being hits amongst the indie “hipster” crowd – _Garden State_ is basically a Woody Allen film, _Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind_ is a modern day fable, _Napoleon Dynamite_ is … I don’t even know, and I ranked them at 5, 3, and 1 on a five star scale, respectively.
---
### Author:  [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-see-garden-state/294117/20 "2005-03-14T19:26:19Z")
> [@Athena](#):
>
> He is?
Oh my, yes, he is. He just _oozes_ that hot nerd vibe. Not particularly pretty, but oh so yummy.