Reviewed by: Joe

Directed by: Kevin Smith

Produced by: Scott Mosier & Kevin Smith

Cast: Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Raquel Castro, George Carlin, & Jason Biggs

Released: March 26th, 2004

Drama 1 hr. 43 min. 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.

Despite lacking the bite and edginess that Kevin Smith’s features are known for, Jersey Girl showcases not only his talented writing ability but his belief in the value of the family and its importance in life as well. No doubt several “Jay & Silent Bob” fanatics will come out of this ranting on how Smith has sold-out but if that’s true then perhaps Smith is the only true one within the ViewAskew universe that has matured. Granted the film is far from perfect with the cinematography being off at times, the plot trailing off every so often into the obscure realm of predictability and the musical score not working with the actions on screen, this despite the fact that several songs used worked much better. So what should make you go see this film out in theatres? Its message. In the modern world where society has been taught that the most important element in life is success and anything else prior to that must take a backseat, Smith recalls the values we once had prior to the Hilary-esque village concept. Family, most importantly the children, must be the most essential part of a person’s life and nothing; absolutely nothing should come before that. Smith also emphasizes the idea most prominent in The Great Gatsby in that although many of us would love to return to the life we had in the past, realistically we know that’s not going to happen and giving up on an unobtainable dream to focus on the present reality isn’t always the life of quiet desperation. Not necessarily Kevin Smith’s most fanatically successful film but showcases maturity in the realm of filmmaking.