Next from this week’s outta-character-outta-nowhere movie binge was “Wish I Was Here”.



(Silent little comical interjections like these always make Zach’s films so much fun.)

And… I liked it. I say that with a sort’ve’a shrug, though. It wasn’t “Garden State” level “liked it”, mind you, but it was good. The basic plot surrounded this struggling actor (Braff) dad who’s got recurring superhero fantasies, a couple kids, and who’s supported by both his breadwinner wife and his dad. When his financially – but not emotionally – supportive dad learns he’s sick and has to pay for cancer treatment, Braff’s character finds he won’t have enough money to fund his kids’ schooling anymore. So he slowly wakes up to the fact that following your “dream” at the expense of everyone else is really the most anti-superhero-y thing you can do. That’s the gist. And it played out well. It was funny, picturesque, and had a decent soundtrack I’ll probably buy (or just listen to on Youtube on repeat until I get bored of it).

However… it was ruined by one thing for me:

The stretch of time following the dad dying.

Not because it punched me in the feels or anything, but because of the dad’s unfulfilled deathbed request. All’s he wanted to taste before heading into the white light was toasted almond ice cream. So Braff went and got it for him, got punched along the way, came back in time, long lost brother showed up, they had an emotional moment, and old dude died never actually having eaten any of it. That annoyed me. I keep trying to draw a deeper meaning out of why Mr. Braff would torture me with this, but all I can get is that it had to do with the fantasy theme. The dad’s memory for and desire for said treat was mentioned as an aside to part of a fantasy he had (something about fireflies and an ice cream truck and if you’re lost, so am I – still). So, like, maybe he was breaking from his fantastical expectations in his last moments of what he wanted his sons to do and be (because he was now finally telling them he was proud as he laid dying). That’s the best I can generate – because the whole “superhero” theme fantasy follows Braff’s character throughout the movie – and culminates in him kinda dismissing his own fantasies, being realistic, and taking on a teaching job behind the camera instead of the more glorious one of acting in front of it. Might be a bit of a reach, but it’s the only way I can make sense of the “Wish I Was Here” title – that whole “being present and in reality versus fantasy” concept.

Also, I like the departure from stereotypical quirky and affable Braff.

This sardonic, porn wanking dude with an ashtray full’a weed and zero fckks to give?

Equal parts realistic and fantastic.

Next up on Cin Binge: “American Sniper”