WISH I WAS HERE 

See it at the Movies

Posted

* * *

(Sentimental soap opera)

The ending credits of this sentimental soap opera list the names of the hundreds of fans who contributed on Kickstarter to the making of the movie.

The force behind “Wish I Was Here,” Zach Braff of “Scrubs” fame, also stars as Aiden, an out-of-work actor who depends on his wife’s mundane job to survive.

Aiden’s father (Mandy Patinkin) has been paying for his two children’s tuition to private Jewish school. When Gabe discovers he has terminal cancer, he redirects his money to finding a cure, and the kids have to drop out of school. Aiden home schools Gracie and Tucker, causing a bit of chaos and a few funny moments, while his wife Sarah (Kate Hudson) endures sexual harassment at her office. Aiden has problems with his over-critical father, but nothing like his brother, who refuses to have any contact with his father.

This is a movie about the importance of family and the need to make amends before it is too late. There are touching moments, as well as funny ones, and the story never gets too soupy.

There’s too much use of the F-bomb, which eliminates children from seeing a movie with some good messages. It all relates around a swear jar, but couldn’t a milder expression be used?

If you are Jewish, you’ll appreciate some of the phrases and traditions, but you don’t have to be Jewish to understand the many culture clashes.

The movie wraps up in a touching scene and then does a quick “Where are they now?” ending that works quite well.

Rated R because of that word, which is becoming more prominent in just about every movie being made today.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here