Good luck exploring the infinite abyss again

by Thom Yee

Wish I Was Here images courtesy of Focus Features

I watched Garden State again last night. Written by, directed by and starring Zach Braff, Garden State told the story of Andrew Largeman, a young, minor celebrity actor who returns to his hometown for his mother’s funeral, whereupon he reunites with old friends and family, finds new (first?) love, and faces the demons of his youth. Over the last ten years it’s gained a reputation as perhaps the pre-eminent modern movie symbol of angst, unearned self pity, Peter Pan Syndrome, and, of course, the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. It’s also a movie I rag on a lot, but the truth is, up until just now, I really didn’t remember that much about it. I watched Garden State again last night, and y’know what? It was actually pretty good.

Garden State, the virtually forgotten The Last Kiss and now Wish I Was Here form Braff’s ode to young adulthood, from early 20’s all the way up to married with kids, and while the preceding volumes of this quasi-trilogy arrived fully formed, Wish I Was Here took a much more visible road in its production process. Continue reading →

Don’t Get Married… and Don’t Have Kids… and Don’t Trust Anyone

by Thom Yee

Images courtesy of 20th Century Fox

When I was a kid, I never understood why marriage was so tough. Why is it such a big deal? Why does it take so much hard work? And maybe most of all, how can two people who (in most cases) consciously and willingly entered into a relationship end up hating each other so much? While there may not have been many of them, there were people in my life who I could act normally around, spend enormous amounts of time with, and never really get that tired of. Was it really that different being married?

Examining the marriages I had most ready access to, generally it seemed like the best most couples could hope for in their days of supposed wedded bliss was quiet back talking and mild relief that that inevitable fight would have to wait for another day. It took me a long time to realize why it was so different finding friends and confidants — with whom communication came easily, without guile or deceit — and finding somebody to spend the rest of your life with. It took me a long time to see the difference, but eventually I figured out why a good marriage is so hard to find.

It’s because all you married couples suck. Continue reading →