6/10

Zach Braff directs, writes and stars in this heartfelt narrative about taking charge of our lives when we are called upon to do more. Wish I Was Here is definitely speaking an impactful message, but it’s presentation gets lost in the shuffle of recycling from Braff’s previous directing efforts in Garden State. There is a similar outlook and almost commentary views that comes from Braff’s writing. Braff stars as an unemployed actor who is trying to save his family from losing everything when he finds some tragic news out in the form of his father months away from dying. If the movie was simply just about taking charge, it would be a lot better of a film. Make no mistake, i enjoyed Wish i Was Here, but i feel like this film had the ability to be a top twenty film of 2014 for sure. One of the problems that takes away from this is some of the funny imagery that is used in between as meaningless fluff. One scene shows Braff portraying a video game character in his mind, and it comes across as almost laughable for all the wrong reasons when it is supposed to be dramatic. Another completely meaningless part is when Braff’s brother (Played by Josh Gad) is trying to hook up with his neighbor. We are introduced to this female character who hates him and then we hear nothing from her until the end of the movie when the two hook up. It’s just bad storytelling that is only topped by it’s terrible pacing issues and predictability. The pacing in question makes some scenes feel like they are out of order with the way the movie is being presented. It almost feels like a sitcom with some scenes not geling with others to make them feel like a series of segments. The things i did enjoy about the movie other than it’s inspiring message was a wonderful cast led by Kate Hudson, Mandy Patinkin, and the ever improving young actress known as Joey King. King is that perfect mix of awkwardness and maturity in her role as Braff’s daughter. She has the moments in the film that give you the most goosebumps, and is more suited for a film like this than anything else she has done to this point. Hudson has more to do in this film, and that is good because there is a decent actress under there that can do more than just chick flicks. She is the glue that holds the family together when it feels like they are minutes from being ripped apart. The soundtrack is also arguably one of the best of 2014. New tracks from Coldplay, Bon Iver, and Radical Face highlight a score that is beautifully instrumental as well as sentimental to make us think of our own childhood memories. I must confess that The Shins song “So Now What” is my absolute favorite track in the film. There isn’t a song better suited for it’s film this year, and That is because The Shins wrote this song specifically for the movie. Another thing i enjoyed was that this film is a loveletter to Los Angeles without showcasing the typical cliches that you would normally see in any film about LA. Braff is clearly someone who loves his home city, and shows it in the small ways like the 60’s style homes with children chasing lightning bugs as the ice cream truck is jingling down the street. It’s all a painting of Los Angeles that casts it in light that it isn’t often given attention to. Wish I Was Here is a meager comedy that feels more like a vanity project than a profound examination of upper-middle class family dynamics. It’s a film that should be more dramatic and less punchline. Recommended, but can wait until DVD.