Wish I Was Here is a 2014 comedy-drama film directed by Zach Braff. It stars Braff himself as Aidan Bloom, and Kate Hudson as his wife, Sarah. Josh Gad, Mandy Patinkin, Joey King, and Pierce Gagnon also star in the film.
Aidan Bloom is a struggling actor living in Los Angeles with his wife and their two children. When his father gets sick and can no longer afford to pay for private school, Aidan decides to home-school his two children, Grace and Tucker. However, the process of home-schooling proves to be more difficult than he anticipated, and Aidan struggles to find a balance between teaching his children and pursuing his acting dreams.
Throughout the film, Aidan also deals with personal issues, such as his strained relationship with his father, his wife's dissatisfaction with their life, and his own existential crisis. He finds solace in his daydreams of being a futuristic Space-Knight, which provide him with a sense of purpose and adventure.
As he spends more time with his children, Aidan begins to see the value in the unconventional education he is providing them. Through teaching his children about life in his own unique way, Aidan begins to reconnect with his own passions and discovers parts of himself that he had previously neglected.
Wish I Was Here received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising the film's exploration of family dynamics and personal growth, while others criticized its lack of depth and reliance on cliches. Despite the mixed reception, the film was praised for its soundtrack, which featured songs by artists such as The Shins, Bon Iver, and Cat Power.
