'Wish I Was Here' Trailer: The Shins Make Good on Zach Braff IOU

Coinciding with the 10-year anniversary of "Garden State," Zach Braff is debuting his sophomore directorial effort "Wish I Was Here." And its first trailer, featuring a track from the Shins, is here.

The film, which Braff launched with a Kickstarter campaign, has much in common with 2004 counterpart.

Braff Stars (and Directs): Check.
In "Garden State," Braff got an earful of cheer and cool music from Natalie Portman. This time he's getting his cheer from Kate Hudson, who plays his wife — and who also provides her meager paycheck for their family. (Braff plays a struggling actor named Aiden. And they have two kids to raise while money is tight.)

Death: Check.

The tragedy that spurs all of that 20-something late-night, beer-fueled philosophizing (set to awesome music) in "Garden State" is the death of Andrew's (Braff's) mom. This time it's Aidan's dad, played by Mandy Patinkin, who is at death's door as his cancer has come back.

Transcending the Melancholy: Check.
Kind of like when Braff and Portman screamed into the quarry (then kissed) as it rained and Simon and Garfunkel's "The Only Living Boy in New York" played — we see strong hints of this kind of character evolution in the new trailer as Andrew lets his daughter (Joey King) pick any wig she wants "just as long as it's unique and amazing, like you." She wisely chooses the brightest of magenta hairpieces and Andrew and kids go out on an existential treck. And, oh yeah, he belts out "This Is it" into the vastness of the quarry desert as he and his offspring have their arms outstretched.

Braff Brings the Shins Back: Check.
Remember when Portman throws her headphones on Braff's head, promising, "You gotta hear this one song. It will change your life…" and "New Slang" played? Well, that moment also changed the lives of the members of the Shins.

That's not an understatement: The Shins would not be where they are today without their big breakthrough on the "Garden State" soundtrack. The indie film, made for just $2.5 million, was a sleeper hit and prominently featured the new group's music as key to the plot. And now they've returned the favor as their 2012 tune, “Simple Song,” appears, at least, in the trailer. (Did they waive the licensing fee for Braff? They have a good enough reason to do so.)

"Wish I Was Here" enters theaters on July 25, just less than a month shy of "Garden State"'s 10-year anniversary on Aug. 20.

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