Andrew returns to his hometown for the funeral of his mother, a journey that reconnects him with past friends. The trip coincides with his decision to stop taking his powerful antidepressants. A chance meeting with Sam - a girl also suffering from various maladies - opens up the possibility of rekindling emotional attachments, confronting his psychologist father, and perhaps beginning a new life.
His movie is sweet-natured and skillful, but its biggest problem is perhaps one Braff wasn't prepared to deal with: his own performance -- or, more accurately, the decision to place a deliberately flat performance at the film's heart.
– Moira MacDonald,
Seattle Times,
13 Aug 2004
fresh:
Cleverly written, sensitively directed and very well-acted.
– Jay Boyar,
Orlando Sentinel,
20 Aug 2004
fresh:
Mr. Braff, Ms. Portman, Mr. Sarsgaard and Mr. Holm never strike a false note as a remarkably coherent acting ensemble, and it is good to see Ron Leibman again in the small role of Doctor Cohen.
– Andrew Sarris,
New York Observer,
10 Sep 2004
rotten:
This is a movie where 'sensitivity' and 'sincerity' are signposted by songs by Paul Simon and Nick Drake, which I guess says it all.
– Geoff Andrew,
Time Out,
9 Feb 2006
rotten:
Feels too piecemeal and ultimately inconsequential to grab the public where it counts.