Plot

A struggling actor, father and husband finds himself at a major crossroads, which forces him to examine his life, his family and his career.

'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 winds up trying to home school his two children when his father can no longer afford to pay for private education and the only available public school is on its last legs. Through teaching them about life his way, Aidan gradually discovers some of the parts of himself he couldn't find.—Anonymous

Aidan Bloom, a struggling actor, father and husband, is 35 years old and still trying to find 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 and the only available public school is on its last legs, Aidan reluctantly agrees to attempt to home-school them. Through teaching them about life his way, Aidan gradually discovers some of the parts of himself he couldn't find.—yusufpiskin

Aidan Bloom (Zach Braff) is a 35-year-old father of two struggling to be an actor in L.A. while his wife, Sarah (Kate Hudson) works a tedious data job at the Water Department. Their sex life is non-existent even though Sarah is in stunning shape.

Sarah is very dissatisfied at work as she only inputs data into a spreadsheet, which she feels even a scanner can do. Yet she laments, that there is too much bureaucracy for anyone to notice the same. Sarah feels that she has to keep doing her job as the whole house depends on her, and if she doesn't work, her kids don't eat.

In order to send their kids, Tucker (Pierce Gagnon) and Grace (Joey King) to a good school, they rely on help from Aidan's father, Gabe (Mandy Patinkin), who insisted they go to an Orthodox Hebrew day school. Gabe has not paid the fee for the current semester and the kids will be kicked out if the check is not received by the end of that week.

Grace is very orthodox in her views and doesn't like swear words, while Aidan cannot stop swearing. Grace wants to shave her head off and wear a modesty wig in line with Hebrew tradition. Tucker wants a ride in an Aston Martin, but the family cannot afford it. Aidan is opposed to moving the kids into public school as he himself was beaten up at school and was picked on for being a nerd. The fence of Aidan's house needs repairs, and the pool hasn't been cleaned in many months.

Aidan meets Gabe to ask him to write a check for the pending tuition fee. Gabe reveals his cancer has come back, he tells Aidan that he's decided to put the rest of his money into a new stem cell treatment, meaning his grandchildren can no longer afford to attend their school. To top it off, Gabe asks Aidan to take care of his dog named Kugel, who has the annoying habit of urinating everywhere except in the garden.

The school Rabbi Rosenberg refuses to provide any aid to the Blooms. The Rabbi is angry at Aidan for choosing a career as an actor, which he thinks is the reason that Aidan can't provide for his family.

Sarah suggests that Aidan home-school his kids, and their adventure of self-discovery begins. Through teaching them about life his way, Aidan gradually discovers some of the parts of himself he couldn't find.

His brother Noah (Josh Gad) is a shut-in who can only be bribed to babysit for his brother (when Aidan and Sarah go for a dinner date, they pay Noah a Lego Death Star, mint condition, in box to take care of the kids) and refuses to see his dying father, from whom he is estranged. Noah falls for his neighbor Janine (Ashley Greene) who is a furry costume maker, which gives him the idea to impress her by making a costume for Comic-Con.

A nice boy Jesse wants to ask Grace out, but somehow, she has become ultra conservative religious type and keeps missing all the hints that are dropped. Sarah tries to get Grace to wear more colorful clothes, but she refuses. Grace says that God is testing her faith and that she should not make any drastic changes.

The home schooling starts and it's pretty clear that Grace is smarter than her dad (Aidan was trying to teach geometry and Grace knew more about triangles, supplementary and complementary angles than Aidan) and Tucker is not interested in studies. Sarah is angry at Aidan as she feels that she is supporting the whole family and needs Aidan to stand up and be counted for his family.

The bad news keeps coming as Gabe's doctor tells Aidan that the stem cell treatment is not working, and his Gabe's organs have started to fail. In addition, while Noah is babysitting the kids, Grace shaves her head frustrated with her life and that nobody can understand her religious beliefs. Aidan tries very hard to cheer everyone in the family.

But Noah won't compromise on making peace with his dad. and Gabe won't forgive Aidan for choosing a profession as an actor and not being able to provide for his family. Even on his death bed, Gabe insults Aidan in front of his kids.

Meanwhile Sarah is being sexually harassed at work by a co-worker named Jerry (Michael Weston) and no-one will take notice of her complaints. Jerry has put up offensive posters of half-naked women at his desk and makes highly inappropriate sexual jokes to Sarah.

Aidan starts to spend more time at home and makes group activity out of normal stuff. Aidan takes the kids on a field trip, camping in the desert. Another day, they are able to test drive an Aston Martin, as Grace is wearing a wig, and the salesman mistakenly believes she is dying. Another he works with the kids fi xing up their yard, referring to it as Mr. Miyagi learning, working to repair the fence and pool. Aidan fools a wealthy neighbor's maid into believing he and the kids are there to clean the pool so he can teach Grace to swim. He even makes an effort to improve his sex life with Sarah. Sarah tells him about the harassment at work but asks him not to interfere.

Gabe tells Aidan that he wants to have a toasted almond as his last meal and wants to meet Noah. Aidan talks to Noah into convincing him to visit Gabe, but Noah refuses. Grace talks to Noah again and Noah confesses that he is very afraid. Grace feels that Noah will not visit Gabe. Aidan runs into the sexual harasser at the supermarket, and he sucker punches Aidan. Aidan reaches Gabe's home to find Noah there. Gabe passes away peacefully.

Sarah & Aidan sue Sarah's firm, and the worker who punched Aidan is fired. Sarah is given one year's salary as compensation. Aidan is offered a job as an acting teacher, something that he is very good at.