Talkin’ Bout Zach Braff’s Generation
The backlash has been coming for a long time, the people have been agitating against this mousy, over-sensitive, not super talented actor being the voice of our generation. And, in the blogosphere at least, Ross has finally cracked - declaring him to be “a no-talent poseur.” The Wise Old Ezra, perhaps showing some solidarity for a fellow member of the tribe, doesn’t entirely go the full Ross, but sure is happy to see Gawker launch a devastating attack on him.
The “I Hate Zach Braff” founding document is, of course, Josh Levin’s classic Slate article of the same name. It is, in fact, absolutely hilarious and hits on all the right reasons why those of us (well maybe not me, I might be a tad young for Braff’s generation) should be disgusted that this guy is our culturo-generational representative. Here’s the nut:
What has Braff’s keen ear picked up about the nation’s young people? If Garden State is to be believed, they spend their days squinting and staring wistfully while slowly learning that it’s OK to feel and, like, live. When they do speak, yearbook quotes come out. For example: “Maybe that’s all family really is. A group of people who miss the same imaginary place.” In The Last Kiss, Braff furrows his brow solemnly and ponders a question that’s paralyzed millions: Should I replace my incredibly hot girlfriend with an incredibly hot college student?
Yes, this is really why people find him annoying. Because he writes movies that has him sleeping with multiple incredibly hot women, or in Garden State, just one. And then he wraps up his translucent lust in lame profundity, gets more hot girls, and the ressentiment comes on pretty quick.
It’s odd because many of the Braff haters are probably, like most men between 16-35, huge Entourage fans. Entourage is just about how an actor and his hanger-on friends use a scintilla of acting ability to get with a bunch of girls. Zach Braff, by all accounts, does this in real life. So, I think we should all just step off, and respect Braff’s gangster. Don’t hate the player, hate the fact that you (and me) aren’t able to play the game.
PS – I have watched many episodes of Scrubs much more recently that I’ve seen Garden State, and I’ve never seen The Last Kiss, so maybe I’m just more predisposed to being sympathetic to Braff.
This is how Garden State’s infamous “this song will change your life” scene should have turned out:
