Focus Features has released a trio of Wish I Was Here clips and a batch of new images from co-writer/director Zach Braff’s long-awaited Garden State follow-up.  Braff also stars in the film as a struggling actor, father, and husband who is seeking purpose in life and trying to come to terms with the impending death of his father (Mandy Patinkin).  I saw the pic at Sundance (read my review here), and I’d say these three clips are indicative of the film as a whole: really funny, occasionally touching, but also saccharine and a tad pretentious at times.  We see a great scene between Braff and Patinkin, another of Braff taking his children out in the desert to get philosophical, and a third where he visits his temple and has a frank discussion with a rabbi.  The pic is worth seeing (Kate Hudson is fantastic), but I found myself coming away rather disappointed.

Hit the jump to check out the new Wish I Was Here clips and high-resolution images.  The film also stars Joey Lucas, Josh Gad, Pierce Gagnon, Ashley Greene, Jim Parsons, and Donald FaisonWish I Was Here opens in limited release on July 18th.

Here’s the official synopsis for Wish I Was Here:

“Wish I Was Here” is the story of Aidan Bloom, a struggling actor, father and husband, who at 35 is still trying to find his identity; a purpose for his life. He and his wife are barely getting by financially and Aidan passes his time by fantasizing about being the great futuristic Space-Knight he’d always dreamed he’d be as a little kid.

When his ailing father can no longer afford to pay for private school for his two kids (ages 5 and 12) and the only available public school is on its last legs, Aidan reluctantly agrees to attempt to home-school them.

The result is some funny chaos, until Aidan decides to scrap the traditional academic curriculum and come up with his own. Through teaching them about life his way, Aidan gradually discovers some of the parts of himself he couldn’t find.

Clips via Focus Features.

Click on any image for high-resolution.