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| Jersey Girl |
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 (10/10)
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Runtime: 103 |
| Public Rating: 7.34 (32 votes) |
Director: Kevin Smith |
| MPAA Rating: PG13 |
| Genre: Comedy/Drama |
Year: 2004 |
| Writer(s): Kevin Smith |
| Distributor: Miramax |
| Reviewed by: Nate Anderson |
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"I work all day, I hang out with my kid all night..."
"That's really sweet. I'm kinda crushing on you right now, Trinke."
~Ollie and Mya.
Okay, it's official. Kevin Smith has grown up. Jersey Girl has to be the most honest, mature and heartwarming film I've seen in at least the last year. Yes, I used the word "heartwarming" to describe a film by the guy that gave us Jay and Silent Bob.
Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler star together for the first time since Armageddon and have the same sort of chemistry this time as well, although there are no animal crackers this time. Joining them are George Carlin as Affleck's Dad and newcomer Raquel Welch, who pretty much steals the show as Affleck's daughter.
The film begins with Oliver Trinke (Affleck), a popular P.R agent for the music industry. He works long hours, but enjoys his job for the most part. He meets Gertrude (Jennifer Lopez), they fall in love, and get married. Before long, they have a kid. But, tragically, Gertrude dies in childbirth and a devastated Oliver is left to deal with the child all by himself. Oliver buries himself in his work and leaves the duties of taking care of the kid to his dad, Pops Trinke (Carlin, in a wonderful performance). After about a month of watching his son ignore his kid, he puts his foot down and forces his son to take care of the kid. Forced to take his daughter (named Gertie, after her mother) to a press conference, and already stressed, a badly timed outburst leaves him jobless. So, Oliver moves back to New Jersey and into his Dad's house.
Later that night, while giving baby Gertie her bottle, he suddenly realizes what he's been doing and promises her he'll "be the best Daddy in the world!" From then on, he gets a job working for the city with his Dad and crew and devotes himself to his daughter.
Now, I know this film sounds sappy and corny, but there are some genuine surprises and some really great acting going on that helps mask some of the sappiness. It also has some downright hysterical moments, including the shower scene that is in all the trailers and the performance of a number from the musical Sweeney Todd for a school pageant. A Catholic school pageant, if you catch my drift.
I'll admit it. Jersey Girl is a sappy, gooey confection of feel-goodness. And you know what? I don't care. I loved every minute of it.
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