Jersey Girl (PG-13)

A Review
By M. Chad Durham

Ten years ago a foul-mouthed slacker working in a convenience store decided to make a little black and white film. He sold his precious comic book collection, applied for every credit card under the sun, and made that movie for $26,685. Clerks went on to become a critical and commercial success, but rest assured its writer/director Kevin Smith would eventually grow up. He was also bound to get a little more sentimental. Having a daughter tends to force maturity and sentimentality upon the best of us.

I must first confess that I’m a Kevin Smith aficionado. It hasn’t been easy being a Smith fan all these years. It’s not like I’ve kept my affinity for his films in the closet all this time.

My wife bought me a Chasing Amy movie poster for Christmas a few years ago, signed by Smith himself. It is hanging proudly on my wall right now, only a few feet away from my keyboard. I get only two reactions from guests who see that poster for the first time. Half of them ask, “What’s Chasing Amy?” At that point, I breathe a sigh of relief because I know I’m safe. The other half… well, they just don’t get it and I doubt they ever will. For me, Chasing Amy was about our innate ability to destroy relationships merely because we can’t put the past away. Simply put, it is a metaphor that reflects my own personal past and as such the poster hangs on my wall.

Other Smith films proved equally controversial, including his indictment of organized religion (and Catholicism in particular), Dogma. Whereas many deemed it sacrilegious, I found it thought provoking. That is, of course, when Smith isn’t busy writing like a twelve year-old. Smith’s predilection towards anatomical jokes and his childish preoccupation with flatulence aside, his movies almost always manage to strike a chord.

Jersey Girl is no exception. As the father of a precocious seven-year-old daughter (fancy that), I eagerly anticipated the release of this film. I was dismayed as its release date kept getting pushed back: first, because Gigli bombed, and second, because Bennifer bombed. The latter seemed to carry more weight and it just seemed to me that the J-Lo/Affleck tabloid fodder would wind up wrecking two movies. Then again, Gigli was REALLY bad! So bad in fact the marketing campaign for Jersey Girl focused on the fact that Jennifer Lopez buys it twelve minutes into the film. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, I’m not giving anything away.

Under Smith’s friendly wing Affleck always shines. And why shouldn’t he? Without Smith, there would be no Affleck, leastwise not the juggernaut that is Ben Affleck as we know him today. The two came together on the set of Mallrats and quickly became friends. Smith cast him in the leading role for Chasing Amy then handed a little screenplay Affleck wrote with his pal Matt Damon over to Harvey Weinstein. Good Will Hunting won an Oscar for Best Screenplay and the rest is history.

Essentially, there are only four characters in this film—each player rendering heart-warming performances. Newcomer Raquel Castro is little bundle of energy on the screen as Gertie, the Jersey Girl. Her natural believability will no doubt remind countless fathers of their own daughter.

George Carlin takes a turn in a role written specifically for him and he is perfect as the doting grandfather who never misses a chance to exchange quips with his fully-grown son.

Liv Tyler offers a little sugar on the edge of a razor blade as Maya, a grad-student moonlighting as (of all things) a clerk at Gertie’s favorite video store. She’s exactly the kind of woman Ollie Trinkie (Affleck) needs in his life.

That leaves Affleck. Smith has created a wonderful character in this fellow named Ollie Trinkie and Affleck brings him life with a noteworthy performance of warmth and sincerity. It is safe to say that this dynamic duo (Smith/Affleck) has struck gold once again. This is by far Affleck’s most controlled and poignant performance since… since…

Chasing Amy.

As for the much ballyhooed PG-13… Smith had to fight the MPAA to get it, but not because of a preponderance of foul language. Obviously this film is not for children or sensitive viewers. There are a few obscenities scattered here and there, but they aren’t as prevalent and pervasive as they are in the Austin Powers series. Actually, Smith caught grief this time around over the use of a technical term relating to a specific sexual act. (The kind of word that gets used on “Oprah” on a regular basis.) One could argue that Smith’s woes with the MPAA had little to do with the word and more to do with his name being attached to the project. Smith is known for his frank sexual dialogue and even though it is toned down for this project, there are a few scenes of this nature in Jersey Girl.

So what if Jersey Girl is sentimental? So what if it’s downright sappy in parts? There are redundant moments in this film and there are some clichés, but I really don’t care. I spent half this movie laughing, the other half crying, and that’s what movies are supposed to be about. They are supposed to move us. And besides that, almost every scene with Gertie was like watching home movies so I’ll offer up my highest rating for Jersey Girl—Hot Date. This one makes a great night out for Mom and Dad.

This copyrighted article was originally published (March 2004) in Grace-Centered Magazine - A daily publication for Christians that examines tradition and aspects of living the Christian life.