Customer Reviews

Jersey Girl [VHS]

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(53)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(17)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

Jersey Girl is something new for writer/director/star Kevin Smith and, opening to credits, it's his first big-name all-"serious" flick, and it's wonderful. 10/10 material, in this reviewer's opinion. As stated elsewhere, this movie would have been box office gold if not for the media circus surrounding "Bennifer" before its release.

Jersey Girl stars Ben Affleck as Oliver Trinke (Trink-ee), a successful young publicist who falls in love with Jennifer Lopez (er, her character Gertrude Steiney). Tragedy ensues, and not to spoil the moment, but Affleck must raise their daughter as a single parent. Trinke's stress at having to be a single parent drives him to explode at work during a critical press conference, and he loses his job. Now depressed by both the loss of his job and his single parent status, Trinke must find a way to deal with life and love once again as he seeks out a new place for himself in the world.

Liv Tyler makes a splendid performance as a sort of love interest for Ollie, and it's a credit to Smith that Tyler looks so good. Somehow, he made all the makeup artists calm down and just let Tyler look like her natural self- it's a breath of fresh air, and goes a long way to showing how down to earth this movie really is. Look out for Will Smith in a wonderful cameo that's set up perfectly by events in the movie, and George Carlin in the most endearing role I've ever seen him in. There are actually a few near- tearjerker moments delivered by Carlin, a sort of range I've never seen from him before.

But the movie is really about Ollie's (Affleck's) relationship with his child Gertrude ("Gertie")- played by the amazing Raquel Castro. Castro is amazing in her role, and looks perfect as the offspring of Affleck and Lopez- something few movies of this sort ever manage. She's adorable, and she's perfect in her part. Also look out for baby Gertie. I usually HATE this sort of 'chick flick' movie in general, but I was cooing out loud at the wonderfully cute moments in this flick. Again, no spoilers, but there's one scene in particular with baby Gertie and Affleck that won't leave a dry eye in the house, nor fail to put a smile on each and every face. Cinema gold.

Many people will comment that the ideas in this movie are rehashed. A father feels out of place raising kid alone, father tries to get back to his life, conflict arises, ho-hum. But there's something more to that- this story doesn't just recycle ideas, it uses them. Sure, the plot elements have been seen before, but what movie doesn't? You know the action hero's going to get the girl, and you know he'd going to save the day, but you pay for a movie ticket because you want to be entertained on the way there. This movie accomplishes that in spades.

In short: Lots of the performances in this movie should have been Oscar contenders in this reviewer's opinion, even if this flick really is just a light family story in the end (baby Gertie scene!). Affleck demonstrates that his bad name in the press really is undeserved, and Raquel Castro is the perfect daughter to Affleck's Trinke. Marred by Bennifer, and disrespected by former Smith loyals who expected something more crude, this flick may never see the credit that it deserves. Do yourself a favor, round up the kids/spouse/signifigant other, and enjoy this dazzling flick with a box of Kleenex handy. Truly amazing.

This is a comedy that does not present the viewer with novel ideas and that does not use innovative ways to make us laugh. But, even though the plot may be trite, the outstanding Raquel Castro, in her role of Gertie, gives a freshness to this film that makes it worth watching. This little girl captivates the hearts of the viewers, and allows us to enjoy the time spent on this otherwise average comedy.

Ollie Trinke (Ben Affleck) is a successful New York publicist working for the music industry. One day he meets Gertrude (Jennifer Lopez), a serious business woman, who right away makes him fall for her. Everything happens quickly; Ollie takes Gertrude to Jersey to meet his father (George Carlin) and then asks her to marry him, getting her pregnant that same night. Things are going great, the couple is in love, they keep up with their busy lives and they are fashionably late for every event they have to participate in. Everything turns south though when Gertrude dies after an aneurysm she carried ruptures during labor.

Ollie cannot deal with the situation and asks his father, Bart, to take care of the baby. But Bart is not willing to keep it up for long, and Ollie finds himself with a baby under his care and out of a job. That is when he decides to be the best father in the world, and seven years later he is working sweeping the streets of Jersey with his father and trying to get back in the world of publicity.

Besides Raquel Castro, I found the performances of George Carlin (I love this guy's humor) and Liv Tyler to be particularly good. I consider myself lucky by the fact that Tyler got the role of Maya, a graduate student who works in a video store and meets Ollie and Gertie during one of their trips for movies. This allowed Tyler to get much more screen time than Lopez gets, which I think helps the movie overall.

I'm a big fan of Kevin Smith's first five movies, but I was well aware before entering the theater for Jersey Girl that this was not View Askew's classic blend of dick and fart jokes. If I hadn't known that, I might have wondered what the hell was going on, as this is actually a touching movie.

Jersey Girl has less similarities to Mallrats and more to Chasing Amy; it's about how love doesn't always go the way you think it should, but that doesn't mean it sucks completely. One thing that really took me by surprise was that the movie was less about Ollie Trinke and the video store clerk falling in love, but more about Ollie connecting with his daughter, and discovering what he really wants out of life, with a little help from Will Smith (ANOTHER big surprise there! Sorry if I ruined it for ya).

The movie may not be as slapstick and vulgar as Smith's previous works, but that doesn't mean it's squeaky clean and straight-laced; plenty of laughs in this flick. I liked the fact that Gertie, rather than perform something childlike and cute at the pageant, chooses a scene from Sweeny Todd, of all things. The acting here is as top-notch as the cast that delivers it; Jason Biggs and George Carlin were great, and Liv Tyler is cute as a button. Also, the soundtrack deserves a nod, especially for throwing in that Cure song at the end, which fit in perfectly.

The quabbles I had with the movie are few. The biggest one was the scene in which Trinke is talking to his infant daughter about her mother; it's a little too melodramatic. Afflek's acting just wasn't his best there, but it's still a good scene. The choice to include "Landslide" in the soundtrack was poor; not because it's a bad song, mind you (as it's not), but because I'm sure it's been used in plenty of soundtracks before, and it was a "safe" choice. Also, the scene with the diaper-changing was disgusting... though it was supposed to be. Actually, I just don't like watching the scene, heh.

So I give this movie 4/5 stars. I don't think it's his best work ever, and it's dangerously close to chick flick status, but it's a really good movie that will warm your soul. View Askew has by no means lost their touch, and I hope whatever movies they produce in the future are this good or better.

If this film came out by any other writer/director, people would have really liked if not loved it. I'm not a huge Ben Affleck fan and I've never seen Jennifer Lopez in anything longer than a movie trailer. I am a big Kevin Smith fan though.

The dialog was snappy and genuine, the acting was surprisingly understated and moving and while it was a little predictable as to where Ollie's (Affleck) journey was taking him, it was done in a way that was surprisingly funny, disarming and touching. Liv Tyler is more expressive than she's ever been on film, Ben Affleck is more conflicted and more vulnerable than I've ever seen him and George Carlin gives a surprisingly nuanced performance as Ollie's imperfect, loving, alcoholic father. Jennifer Lopez' small contribution to the film is fine. Affleck and Lopez do a fine job convincing the audience that they were in love, so when her character leaves the film, Ollie's heartbreak feels genuine. Why cast Jennifer Lopez? Well, in part, she gives Ollie's time in New York a fantasy-like quality and when her pop star-like beauty is gone, Ollie's world genuinely does seem a little less bright.

Jersey Girl is a modern film about modern themes in the old Frank Kapra style.

Why was this film panned? Is it because Kevin Smith's fans are all under 20 or because we can't stand to see people make something sincere and different after we've made up our mind's about them?

Kevin Smith, like most of us, has grown up. He's still the foul mouthed comic genius he always was, but he's something else too. This film suffers, not from lack of quality or poor execution, but from a shallow public perception. Who knew that Kevin Smith, creator of Jay and Silent Bob could make something unflinchingly heart warming? The saddest thing about this film is that he's taken such a beating over making it that he'll never make another one like it.

Open your mind and forget the hype. This is a good little film.

Honestly, before watching this movie, I've never heard of the name Kevin Smith or his other movies like, Clerks, Chasing Amy, etc. but I must admit, he is one hell of a writer. The scripts were fantastic, and they made me laugh and shed my tears. This is one of those feel good movie, that you can watch over and over again without getting sick of it.

Ok...I love movies where you laugh and you cry. And I really liked Jersey Girl. It is a cute movie ! The little girl is absolutely adorable. The scenes between her and Ben Afleck are great. I think Ben did a good job with this, he is perfect for the character. I also liked George Carlin as Ben's father, that was perfect casting.
The scenes where Ben's character becomes a widower are very sad. And I was crying into my kleenex.
I don't know if small children could relate to this movie, because it does deal with the mothers death. But I thought it was a touching and fun movie.

This movie features Raquel Castro as the precocious 7 year old daughter of Ben Affleck who is a hard driven, fast lane, music publicist. When Gertie (Castro's character) is born, her mother (played by Jennifer Lopez) dies in childbirth. By the way, Castro looks just like a child version of Lopez. Ollie (Affleck's character) is only able to respond to his wife's death by diving right back into work when he is not emotionally ready and before he has come to terms with the fact that he now has a daughter who comes first. He, therefore, has his father (George Carlin), a highway department worker in New Jersey, take care of the child.

Carlin, is the highlight, in my opinion. As a comedian, his stock in trade has been irreverent, sarcastic humor. He has always challenged convention in his comedic routines. Here, however, without losing any of his comedic luster, he plays a solid, grounded father to Ollie and grandfather to Gertie. He knows what's really important and valuable in life and when his son loses his job and comes to live with him in New Jersey, he provides a solid, stabilizing influence. Carlin is the one who is the example of rock solid, family values. He is the one who intruitively knows what's right and wrong in Ollie's behavior towards his daughter. Ollie, being conflicted about wanting to get back into the publicity busuness and rasing Gertie, does not always behave as a good father. However, in a wise and kindly manner, Carlin handles these situations.

Kudos also to Liv Taylor as Ollie's love interest. This romatic comedy aspect to the movie is predictable but the performances are endearing. However, the predictability and implausible romatic situations make the romatic part of the movie it's weakest link. Nontheless, with Carlin's fine performance, I recommend this DVD.

I really liked this movie! I had heard so many bad reviews on this movie so I never went to see it or bother renting it. I think it was just because Gili was so bad. This movie was so cute. It kept me laughing, crying and my interest (which is most important!). I think all the actors worked well with one another and the plot was well thought out. I personally had not ever seen the other movies made by the man who made this one but I really liked this one! I mean if you like chick flicks, with love and hope, you will love this movie; if you don't, you will hate this movie. Because the plot is just like almost every other chick flick.

I'm not sure why I watched this movie because I certainly didn't remember seeing thousands of advertisements for it and I knew virtually nothing about it. But I'm so glad I followed my gut instinct and rented it because this was one of the best movies I watched all last year! The story was a typical one, but it was full of not-so-typical characters and events. George Carlin (who I'm not usually a fan of) was fabulous as the gruff father/doting grandfather, and Liv Tyler was wonderful as a kind of strange but good hearted girl-next-door. The girl who played little Gertie was oustanding - she could have made the entire movie by herself! But it was Ben Affleck I was most surprised by. Sure, he's cute and sure, he's made some decent movies, but I've never really considered him a good actor. This movie changed my mind, however. He positively glowed in this movie - his character went through so many metamorphases throughout the movie that it was remarkable that even he could keep up. The film was moving - the moral basic but completely true - and the very last line made me bawl like a baby. This was a moving film that deserves to be seen by everyone in America.

Kevin Smith...all grown up.
Any Kevin Smith fan who has seen his movies, his College Tour video `An Evening with Kevin Smith' and his interviews, knows that this is a guy who is more like us (the everyday person) than anyone else in Hollywood. That being said, it was only a matter of time before he grew up.

Some people have said that if Jersey Girl had been released before that other god-awful Bennifer movie, it would have done better. I have to believe that is true, mainly because Gigli given so much bad critism it seemed to carry over into Ben's next four films, the poor guy cannot get a break.

In any case, Jersey Girl should be looked individually. Ben and Jen actually do have good chemistry and they both CAN act. Affleck probably gives one of his better performances playing Oliver Trinke, a very successful young music Publicist who meets, falls in love with, and marries another publicist, Gertrude Steiney (Lopez). They seem destined for bliss as they go through marriage, a pregnancy and finally the birth. Then, tragedy; Ollie is forced to raise their daughter himself.

Despite the appearance of Liv Tyler who seems romantically interested in Ollie, this movie really is not a romantic comedy. It's about the father and daughter relationship. Ollie finds the father within himself at first but is later faced with the conflict of possibly getting his old lifestyle back and disrupting the rest of his family.

Kevin Smith has done wonders with this movie. He has grown in leaps and bounds as a director. His style has evolved to incorporate different camera angles and perspectives, something he was criticized for a lot in the past. His story telling is much deeper and personal. Despite this, the movie isn't without flaws. Nothing you can put your finger on, but the concepts are borrowed and reshaped in Smith's image, which is ok. There are only a so many plot lines in the world and this one has been done to death. However, Smith has certainly done everything to keep the movie from falling into the cliché trap. With great dialogue moments that are distinctively Kevin Smith, a good story, a cameo by Will Smith and personal touch of growth, Jersey Girl is his Smith's doorway and proof that he can do more than Lesbian/Religious/Quickie Mart/Fart and Burp movies...not that there is anything wrong with those movies, I hear `Passion of the Clerks' in the pipe.