Release Date: March 26, 2004
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for language and sexual content including frank dialogue
Written and Directed by: Kevin Smith
Starring: Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, Raquel Castro, Jason Biggs, George Carlin, Jason Lee (cameo), Matt Damon (cameo), Stephen Root, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, Will Smith (cameo as himself), Mike Starr

Plot:
Ollie Trinke (Ben Affleck) is at the top of his game. A smooth, Manhattan music publicist, Ollie has just married the love of his life (Jennifer Lopez) and has a child on the way. It's a perfect life that is tragically upended when he suddenly finds himself a single father unqualified for his new role. Before long Ollie's big city lifestyle clashes head on with fatherhood. After losing his job, he's forced to move back in with his father (George Carlin) in the New Jersey Suburb where he was raised. With the help of a beautiful young friend (Liv Tyler) who opens him up to love again, and the daughter (Raquel Castro) who gives him the courage to keep going, he begins to realize that sometimes, you have to forget about what you thought you were and just accept who you are.

Review:
Talented Director Kevin Smith has his latest feature out entitled Jersey Girl. The man has some great films and his name although is not widely known, it still is pretty recognized. He takes a different approach with this film than he has with his other work. Just like the Coen Brother's went mainstream last year, Jersey Girl can be defined as Smith's first mainstream film.

Kevin Smith has his set of greatness with Clerks, Mallrats, Dogma and Chasing Amy. With those films you can clearly see that the films have his sense of style. Its hard to put my finger on what exactly makes those films stand out as far as style wise, but they just seem like independent, low budget films that are creative with filmmaking and comedy.

Jersey Girl features Ben Affleck who plays Ollie Trinke who is not in the best position when his wife dies while giving birth to their daughter. And of course like it has been mentioned many times in interviews and other sources, Jennifer Lopez is indeed in the film, but dies within the first fifteen minutes of the film. She played Gertie's mother in the film until then she no longer had enough strength to live and passed away.

The little girl they chose in the film looks a lot like a mix of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez without a doubt. She has a nice innocence to her and cuteness for that matter and is entertaining on the screen. This is the first motion picture for the young Raquel Castro who plays Gertie Trinke, Affleck's daughter. For such a young girl and for a first feature she plays her role just fine.

The mainstream scene is not necessarily for Kevin Smith, while Jersey Girl is pretty good, there is no comparison to Smith's other films. The mainstream will eat this up though and that is why Smith can be called intelligent for what he has done here. Also, for the sake of being out of content, there are some great cameo roles in Jersey Girl that makes it stand out, for its comedy as well.

I enjoyed how the film shows the discoveries of young Gertie Trinke throughout the movie. Slowly she is becoming a more respectable and for the sake of the word, mature. That is the life of childhood and raising children to be the best they can and as smart as possibly.

The film has its few laughs and few smiles, but it is no where near the films we know by Kevin Smith. I am not entitling at all that Jersey Girl fails because it actually succeeds in places that it needed to. With its touching and emotional instances between father and daughter to their relationship with George Carlin who plays Affleck's father, there is enough to enjoy in the film.

Jersey Girl cannot be considered an achievement, but more of a throwback for Director Kevin Smith. While still enjoyable you can sense the lacks from the filmmaking, but you still have a strong story in tact. The script and the characters are the main reason to go ahead and make a recommendation for the film.

This film is not a solid film, it is flawed and at times it is a bit dull. It doesn't end up being a waste because it keeps the audience lighthearted and proud of an everyday relationship between families occur. I got the sense and feeling of how many families react and organize their lives when more people enter their lives.

When it all comes together it certainly is Smith's weakest film, but even his weakest is fairly enjoyable because of its subject matter. In other words, Jersey Girl survives because its a cute father daughter film that can have you emotionally involved. Comedy wise, I expected a lot more from such a good director. I'm slightly disappointed with Kevin Smith, but at the same time this film still values a lot in a relationship between fathers and daughters. Jersey Girl, on its own terms delivers what audiences look for.