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Review: Braff’s fan-funded film doesn’t pay off

By WTOP Staff

JOCELYN NOVECK
AP National Writer

When Zach Braff took to Kickstarter to fund his new movie, “Wish I Was Here,” he explained to fans where their money would go: It would ensure his creative control, allow him to cast the actors he wanted, and enable him to shoot in Los Angeles, rather than someplace cheaper.

We can argue about whether these were worthy reasons to ask for $2 million (in fact, fans ultimately gave Braff more than $3 million, after which he also got traditional financing.) Certainly there was controversy — maybe not deserved — over whether a wealthy actor should be seeking money on Kickstarter. (If people are willing to pay, isn’t it up to them?)

But here’s a more urgent question: Why didn’t Braff use this money to make a better film?

For all the brouhaha, “Wish I Was Here,” which Braff directed, stars in and wrote (along with brother Adam), is so much less interesting than the circumstances of its making — not terrible, just frustratingly mediocre, and also corny, overly broad, meandering, not so funny where it intends to be, and not so sad where it intends to be, either.

And that’s a shame, because it’s taken Braff 10 years to get a follow-up to his debut, “Garden State,” into theaters. Fans of that film — presumably, they’re the ones who ponied up cash — deserved something better.

Braff plays Aidan Bloom, a struggling actor in LA in his mid-30s, who’s far luckier in the family department than he deserves: He has two nice kids and a gorgeous, generous wife, Sarah (a very solid Kate Hudson, who also deserved a better film.)

Because Braff is cute and charming, we are, apparently, supposed to find Aidan cute and charming — which he might have been, 10 years younger. But there’s little cute or charming about the way he stubbornly eschews a decent career to pursue his “dream” — auditioning for bit parts in sci-fi movies that he doesn’t even get.

Naturally, he can’t afford his kids’ private school tuitions — that’s taken care of by his dad, Gabe (Mandy Patinkin, always a welcome presence.) Implausibly, though Aidan and Sarah are totally non-observant Jews, the kids (nicely played by Joey King and Pierce Gagnon) go to what looks like a full-fledged Orthodox yeshiva, run by a rabbi with a long, flowing white beard (Grandpa pays, so he chooses the school.)

One day, Gabe can no longer pay the tuition; his cancer has returned, and he’s getting experimental treatment. Sarah’s dead-end job, inputting data at the water authority, can’t pay the bills either. So Aidan decides he’ll home school the kids. The first day ends with him duct-taping them to chairs in front of the TV.

But it turns out Aidan’s actually more responsible than his brother, Noah (Josh Gad), a bitter, unemployed misanthrope hasn’t spoken to his father in ages. Told Dad is dying, he declines Aidan’s plea to go visit. He even refuses to take care of the dog, Kugel (yes, kugel — one of many, many broad Jewish jokes.)

There’s also an extraneous subplot in which Sarah’s office mate harasses her with inappropriate sex talk. When Sarah complains, her boss tells her to lighten up. The purpose of this scenario is telegraphed early: It sets up a chance for Aidan to show strength later by standing up for his wife. (Likewise, when Aidan’s daughter mentions she doesn’t know how to swim, a big flashing sign goes off, saying: Wait For Touching Swim Scene With Dad.)

The movie is filled with jokes that don’t seem particularly thought out. Maybe you’ll find this hilarious: at one point, one of the kids confuses al-Qaeda with weatherman Al Roker. (Well?)

The indie soundtrack, like that of “Garden State,” plays a big role; the title song, “Wish I Was Here,” is by Cat Power and Coldplay. It’s a very nice tune. Sitting in the theater for two hours, though, you may wish you were “Anywhere But Here.”

“Wish I Was Here” is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America “for language and some sexual content.” Running time: 120 minutes. One and a half stars out of four.

___

MPAA rating definition for R: Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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