Director: Zach Braff
Starring: Zach Braff, Kate Hudson, Mandy Patinkin, Joey King, Pierce Gagnon, Josh Gad
Certificate: 15
Running Time: 106 minutes
Synopsis: Aidan Bloom is a 35-year-old man who finds himself at major crossroads, which forces him to examine his life, his career, and his family.
I’m a huge fan of Zach Braff’s directorial debut GARDEN STATE (2004) and I found that I both related to and enjoyed on its own merit; in equal measure. Braff merged a curious mix of cleverness with reality and now in WISH I WAS HERE he does it again but with additional heart alongside a positive flirtation with nostalgia.
WISH I WAS HERE has been co-written with Zach’s brother Adam J. Braff, and while it primarily focuses around 35-year-old Aidan Bloom (Zach Braff), who’s found himself struggling at a crossroads in his life, it also dives deeply to discuss relationships with family and the people that you love around you.
Bloom is an actor but with an empty career that’s not kicking off and as he fights with personal demons and questions, it’s revealed that his father Gabe (Mandy Patinkin) is trying to fend off an aggressive cancer. Further changes come because Gabe needs the money for his treatment and previously he’s been paying for the private education of Aidan and Sarah’s (Kate Hudson) children, Tucker (Pierce Gagnon) and Grace (Joey King). With no money, and no way to keep the kids in an expensive school, the Bloom’s decided to try and home school them instead.
What makes WISH I WAS HERE particularly impressive is although it could easily be hankered down in sentimentality; the cast are outstanding and bring a real sense of reality with an empathetic nature to a very hard, tangible situation.
While Aidan still seeks out what he believes are his dreams, his wife Sarah keeps the house afloat. Kate Hudson plays this role perfectly as both a Mother and as an incredibly strong, authentic character, it’s one of the best things I’ve seen her in since ALMOST FAMOUS. Their children are also a vital part to proceedings and not just additional cast members; you can see a young Aidan Bloom in Tucker, played by LOOPER’s Pierce Gagnon, a young lad rebelling against everything and probably given too much freedom, just waiting for rules to be applied. Then there’s Grace, played by Joey King, a truly resounding young actress who you would have seen recently in WHITE HOUSE DOWN and Fargo. She’s feisty like her Mother but also unique, and super smart along with it – both kids being a perfect reflection of their parents.
There’s also an additional role for Josh Gad as somewhat estranged brother Noah, another intelligent member of the family who’s decided to live in a caravan to ‘make him happy’ but you can tell he’s not achieving what he could be. But there’s still time for a stand-out performance and it comes in full throttle from Mandy Patinkin as Noah and Aidan’s Dad, Gabe. After their mother and his wife has died years earlier, you can feel that he’s struggled with his connection to his children but loves them endlessly still. Patinkin is funny, honest, heartfelt and understated as Gabe but most of all just wants what’s best for everyone. It’s an extraordinarily moving portrayal with the emotional bar set to high throughout the movie.
WISH I WAS HERE will make you laugh, cry, smile and sigh and along with it bring one of the strongest ensembles from recent years in an indie movie. Alongside a perfectly balance soundtrack, it’s quickly become one of my favourites this year and with epiphany-loaded discussion, you can’t fail to be moved and comforted by this delightful film.
[usr=4] WISH I WAS HERE opens in the UK on Friday, 19th September.
