A 20-something California kid walks around in a daze where funny yet depressing things happen to him while he realizes his failure as a human being and simultaneously finds out that his distant parent figure has just died unexpectedly. He meets a cute, spunky girl with good music taste along the way who he ends up spending countless hours with.

Sounds strangely familiar. Garden State perhaps? Certainly there are differences between the two movies, but the overall style and mood of the first half of the film seemed to be a desperate attempt to attract the countless faux-indie kids who thrive on dark humor mixed with cute love interests and a good soundtrack.

But maybe it’s not so unacceptable to copy a successful movie. The entire 80’s and 90’s were filled with romantic comedies based on the Sleepless In Seattle, fate-brought-us-together idea, and not too many people are complaining. Maybe it’s just that the Zach Braff formula is still fairly new to us so it still seems like a cheap knockoff.

Luckily, Elizabethtown sets itself apart in the second half. A heartfelt tribute to a fallen Southern hero comes to life. Kirsten Dunst’s character shows a mind behind the smile. The best “live” performance of Freebird I’ve ever seen. And an Americana-laced road trip that lightens the mood despite Orlando Bloom’s lacking versatility.

This one is worth watching for the occasional well-timed laugh, the “cute but not too cute” factor and, of course, the good music.

If I were watching the movie just for the sake of watching the movie, it would have gotten five stars all the way. It was beautifully made, absolutely funny (although almost too funny at times) and serious all at once, and it left me thinking about several of the story’s aspects.

However, having read the book, there were some significant differences, the biggest being that they really only told half the story. It was arguably the more important half, of course, and the underlying premise of the movie, but the entire history of Trachimbrod that is portrayed so beautifully in the book was almost entirely absent. I can understand it, though, because so much of that half of the story is very internal; there’s not much dialogue, so it would probably be more confusing than helpful if translated into movie form.

Aside from that, there were a few characteristics of Jonathan, Alex and Alex’s grandfather that were slightly misrepresented, but it wasn’t significant enough to make me dislike the film.

Anyone who criticizes this movie for being predictable, cliche, etc. is pretentious and full of themselves.

This movie is absolutely worth seeing. At worst, it’s more entertaining and captivating than most of the crap Hollywood has produced this decade. At best, it’s thought provoking, funny, serious, twisted, brutally honest, realistic in its depiction of how people really are, well written and well acted, with just a hint of tear jerking for good measure.

Almost done with this book. It’s been absolutely amazing!

So far my favorite piece has been “The Futile Pursuit Of Happiness” by Jon Gertner. Not a short story, but still very thought provoking and worth the read. I actually found it online here in case you’re interested in reading it.