Sweet and sincere are not words that are often used to describe a movie by writer-director Kevin Smith, but "Jersey Girl" seems to defy all preconceptions that anyone might have about the director, the stars and the romantic comedy genre itself.
Even calling it a romantic comedy might be a little off base, because one of the surprises of "Jersey Girl" is that it turns out to be a touching family drama with a genuinely heart-felt message. It may seem impossible that the same man who made the often crude and off-color indies like "Clerks" and "Chasing Amy" could create such a bright and sensitive new film, but that just shows that Smith is a director who can do it all.
Ben Affleck stars as a man who is down on his luck and raising his daughter alone in New Jersey, with the only help coming from his street-sweeping, wisecracking father, played by a surprisingly low-key George Carlin. Liv Tyler co-stars as the first woman in Affleck's life in seven years, and her somewhat flighty, bright-eyed cheerfulness is the perfect antidote to Affleck's moping character.
Newcomer Raquel Castro plays Affleck's seven-year-old daughter, Gertie, and she is the spark that makes this film so enjoyable. Castro is enthusiastic, wide-eyed and articulate, but not to that sickening Dakota Fanning degree. Most child characters just come off looking like annoying child actors, but Smith's biggest achievement in "Jersey Girl" was finding this girl who could play Gertie as a real person. The complex, well-rounded character has some heavy emotional scenes, including a realistic, hard-hitting screaming match with Affleck. The two play off each other as equals, even though Castro might steal the show.
Smith should be applauded for the restraint he shows in keeping the film focused on this unique relationship between the father and daughter. He rightly steers the plot away from the stale Affleck-Tyler romantic comedy it could have become, and this decision really makes the movie stand out. The father-daughter relationship is uplifting and believable, and the entire film hinges on this chemistry between Affleck and Castro.
The movie begins by taking the audience back to the distant past of 1994, complete with perfect references about this foreign world where George Michaels was hot, Blues Traveler was at the top of the music scene, and Will Smith was still just the "Fresh Prince." The "Fresh Prince" references continue as a running gag that ultimately has a huge pay-off.
It is in this world where Affleck's character, Ollie, then a music company PR executive in New York, meets, falls in love with, and marries Gertrude, played by Jennifer Lopez. As you've probably heard by now, Lopez is only in the movie until her character dies in childbirth shortly after the opening credits, but she still manages to shine in the few scenes that she does have.
Affleck delivers some really touching scenes, especially in the heartbreaking sequence in which he grieves over the loss of his wife. Some actors might have been reluctant to take a role that calls for both serious crying scenes and a standard 'inept guy changing a diaper' scene, but Affleck is in good hands with this director, who happens to be his good friend and frequent collaborator.
And what would a Kevin Smith movie be without cameos by Affleck's fellow Smith regulars, Jason Lee and Matt Damon? They pop in briefly, but actually seem to disrupt the flow of this world that "Jersey Girl" has created. Jason Biggs plays a supporting part as Affleck's office assistant, but this inconsequential role really could have gone to anyone.
The only noticeable flaw of this film is that it begins with a narration by Gertie that is never picked up again. On the positive side, the movie includes a perfect use of the Fleetwood Mac song "Landslide," and even though the film's family-over-work message might recall other movies like "The Family Man," Smith never allows his movie's sweetness to get too out of control.
Still ever the pop-culture cynic, Smith is sure to infuse "Jersey Girl" with his own twisted touches in order to please his fan-base and keep the movie in the left-of-center territory that this director knows best. Just to keep things clever and edgy, Smith has the teacher in Gertie's classroom commend her students for their "excellent droning," and Tyler's video store clerk is conducting a thesis study on porn rentals.
And in a truly masterful move, the director includes Affleck, Castro and the cast giving a climactic school-recital performance of a song from "Sweeney Todd"- a musical about a barber who kills his clients and turns them into meat pies. The hilarious use of this disturbed play in such a sweet film is a perfect example of this director's unique talent for combining heart with some unexpected touches that keep audiences coming back for more.
Be the first to comment on this article!