Review: Wish I Was Here

Wish I Was Here, actor Zach Braff's sophomore directorial outing, should at least find an audience in the 46,520 people who contributed to the Kickstarter campaign to fund the film. It may also be a curiosity for fans of his sitcom Scrubs, his directorial debut Garden State, Kate Hudson, Josh Gad, Ashley Greene, Jim Parsons, Mandy Patinkin, and anyone who finds enjoyment in being bored for two hours.

Deeply unfunny and formulaic, Wish I Was Here tells the coming-of-age tale of thirtysomething Aidan Bloom (Braff), a struggling actor with a supportive working wife (Hudson) and two wisecracking kids Grace and Tucker (Joey King and Pierce Gagnon) whose tuition at a costly yeshiva school is paid for by their grandfather Gabe (Patinkin). When Gabe pulls the funds to pay for an experimental cancer treatment, Aidan is forced to home school his kids and, most importantly, confront the realities of his father's impending death.

There is fertile ground for Braff and his brother Adam to explore in their screenplay - for example, Grace finding her identity and growing into womanhood while sustaining her belief in her Jewish faith, Aidan attempting to grant his father's dying wish by convincing his Internet-trolling, trailer park-living, IQ-off-the-charts, wayward brother Noah (Gad) to come home, and how Aidan teaches himself and his kids about life and death. Yet these topics are diluted with scenes of Aidan's fantasies of being a superhero, a foray into the San Diego Comic Con (the sole purpose of which is to have the visual gag of Gad and Ashley Greene fornicating in their cumbersome costumes), and nausea-inducing lines such as "You know what the problem with hiding in a fishbowl is? Everyone can see you." Or: "Pick any one you want...just as long as it's unique and amazing. Like you."

Braff's Aidan is far too obnoxious a character to elicit the viewer's continued interest much less sympathy. It's a wonder why Sarah married him in the first place. Hudson and Patinkin share a heartfelt scene as do Gad and King, but these are oases in a film chock full of clichés, sentimentality and derivations. There's also the shuffling soundtrack featuring The Shins, Hozier, Bon Iver, and Cat Power to assist in telegraphing the movie's emotions.

Wish I Was Here

Directed by: Zach Braff

Written by: Zach Braff, Adam Braff

Starring: Zach Braff, Kate Hudson, Joey King, Josh Gad, Ashley Greene, Mandy Patinkin, Pierce Gagnon, Jim Parsons