When Garden State hit theaters in 2004, the story of Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff) going back home after his mom dies captivated audiences. Along the way, he reconnects with quirky friends, like Mark (Peter Sarsgaard), and falls in love with the strange but charming Sam (Natalie Portman).
The movie has become a cult favorite among hipsters and Portman's character is considered one of the "Manic Pixie Dream Girls" who tend to show up in indie films. Set to a killer soundtrack and exploring the beauty of New Jersey, Garden State MBTIs still holds up well today. And the characters are still as interesting as ever. Here are the of the cast of Garden State.
Gideon Largeman: ISFJ
Gideon Largeman (Ian Holm) is Andrew's dad, who he has a terrible relationship with. Instead of talking to his son and telling him that he loves and cares about him, Gideon, a psychiatrist, has Andrew take anti-depressants. Needless to say, he's a very dark character.
ISFJs or "Practical Helpers" are "patient individuals who apply common sense and experience to solving problems for other people." Gideon would be this personality type because he thinks that he's helping his son and he doesn't realize the harm that he's actually doing. He's "concrete" and "practical."
Aunt Sylvia Largeman: INFP
Andrew's aunt Sylvia Largeman (Jackie Hoffman) is another hilarious Garden State character. When she tells him "I made you something. It's a shirt," it turns out that he literally matches the wallpaper. She asks him to put it on and she says, " Well, in case I have to fix it before you leave again and we don't see you for another nine years. I wanna make sure it fits."
Sylvia's MBTI is INFP or "Thoughtful Idealist." She's caring and sweet and really does want her nephew to have a nice shirt. She's "loyal" and "sensitive" and "individual."
Jesse: ESTJ
It's always funny when a film or TV character invents something silly, and in the case of Jesse (Armando Riesco), his idea might take the cake: he figured out a type of Velcro that doesn't make any noise at all. What's more, he made a pile of money and now has a huge house.
Jesse's MBTI would be ESTJ or "Efficient Organizer." He had an idea, he knew what he wanted (to be rich and successful), and he made it happen. He's "outspoken" and "direct" and "take charge." Jesse doesn't even have furniture in his house: when Mark asks why not, Jesse says, "I bought a chair, but I didn't like it." That's a very honest response, which makes sense since ESTJs are "matter-of-fact."
Dana: ESFJ
Dana (Amy Ferguson) may have a brief appearance in Garden State but it's arguably a fairly important one. In one scene, she and Andrew make out at a party.
Based on this very small scene, we could say that Dana is an ESFJ or "Supportive Contributor." She's "sociable and outgoing" and she seems to understand that Andrew needs to let loose and have some fun. She's "enthusiastic" and "personable" and "energetic."
Dave: ISFJ
Dave (Alex Burns) has another fairly brief appearance in the movie, playing a friend of Mark's and also his coworker since they're both gravediggers.
Dave seems like an ISFP or "Practical Helper." He pretty much goes along with whatever Mark does and seems to really look up to him. He's a chill, easy-going person that enjoys parties and is "low-key."
Tim: ISTJ
It's fun to recall that Jim Parsons played the character of Tim in Garden State. He dates Mark's mom Carol. (Okay, "date" might not be the right word. He sleeps over.) He also wears a knight's costume, which is definitely memorable.
Sometimes people say that someone is "honest to a fault" and that seems to describe Tim. He says to Andrew, "By the way, it says balls on your face" and it seems like he just can't hold that in. Tim's MBTI would be ISTJ or "Responsible Realist." He's "calm" and someone who will "respect the facts."
Carol: ENFP
Jean Smart's Garden State character offers more than a little bit of comedic relief in the movie. Her best scene is when she's sitting in the kitchen with her son, Mark, and Tim, dressed in his knight's costume. When Carol says to her son, "Mark, he's a knight," Mark says, "He's just a fast food knight" in such a calm, sad tone that it's hard not to smile even just thinking about it.
Carol's MBTI would be ENFP or "Imaginative Motivator." She's friendly and "lively" and fits the ENFP description of people who have "a tendency to move quickly from one project to another." One of her funniest lines is when she says, "Oh... guys? Don't stay in here all day. I had to take the batteries out of the carbon monoxide detector; it was beeping all night."
Mark: ESTP
Mark is in a lot of the movie and he and Andrew take off from where they left off. They were pals before Andrew moved away and now they're hanging out a lot, mostly going to parties together.
Mark has a super big personality. He's a gravedigger who takes jewelry from dead people to sell later, and he spends a lot of time getting high and having fun. He sounds like an ESTP or "Energetic-Problem Solver" especially the description, "They apply common sense and experience to problems, quickly analyzing what is wrong and then fixing." He figures out some, let's say, creative ways of getting cash. He has "good humor" and is "persuasive."
Sam: ENTP
While it's true that some can see Sam as simply another "Manic Pixie Dream Girl," she's got a truly great personality that sparkles in this film. When she and Andrew meet, they have a real connection from the start, and it's like they've always been friends. She has epilepsy but doesn't let that define her or her life.
Sam is an ENTP or "Enterprising Explorer." She fits the description of someone who will "solve problems creatively and are often innovative in their way of thinking, seeing connections and patterns within a system." For example, in one memorable scene, she has a ceremony for her hamster who has passed away. She's "curious" and asks many questions, and she's also very "clever."
Andrew Largeman: ISFP
Andrew Largeman carries around the pain of a childhood tragedy: when his mom ended up in a wheelchair, Andrew thought that it was all his fault, and he's been taking anti-depressants since then. It takes him until the end of the movie to realize that this wasn't the case and that he can have a bond with his dad again.
For most of the movie, Andrew is an ISFP or "Versatile Supporter." He helps people, he's there for them, and he doesn't think about his own wants or needs. He's "caring" and "adaptable" and "sensitive." Andrew is an easy character to root for, and thankfully, he and Sam end up together.