Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86670 posts
Tue Jul-29-14 03:35 AM
"Wish I Was Here (Braff, 2014)"
Nobody?
It's kind of a mess. God Patinkin rules, and Josh Gad and Kate Hudson both tone it down to nice effect-- the best scene is a tender one between Hudson and Patinkin.
However, Braff's acting is in full-blown sitcom/theater mode, proclaiming his lines loudly and making his faces as broad as possible. The trailer's first line gives you a good example of what you'll be dealing with.
Also, Josh Gad gets to fuck Ashley Greene, which is beyond infuriating and insane.
If some of the story lines had been cut (the spaceman shit, which is pointless) or trimmed/re-tuned (the Hudson harassment bit), and if some of the "quirky comedy" had been trimmed (an old rabbi on a Segway, WOOF), this could have been decent. Again, Patinkin is terrific in it, and the actors around Braff mostly do strong work.
But yeah, Braff sinks it. Could've been better with a different leading man.