No one put more love into a film or showed more love on film than Zack Braff as forlorn Andrew Largeman in the screwy romantic comedy Garden State. Heretofore seen only as oddball Dr. Dorian on television's Scrubs, Braff burst onto the film scene by writing, directing and starring in his own love story.
His personally telling and disarming performance is refreshing for a Gen X actor. Playing someone flawed and in desperate need of love, Braff shows a welcome lack of vanity. He also wisely keeps the camera lens aimed at the object his character's affection, the equally quirky Sam (Natalie Portman), who arrives on-screen like a breath of fresh air. It's through Andrew that we fall in love with her, too. (Rodger Pille)
