Review of Jersey Girl (2004) by Carl P — 24 Oct 2008

I have decided to write a review that will annoy the masses (nothing new there then)...

Jersey Girl is, in most people's opinions, NOT a Kevin Smith film. But what exactly makes a Kevin Smith film? I know full well that 90% of the people reading this will say, "Duh, a Kevin Smith film has Jay and Silent Bob in it". To you I say, "Shut the hell up PLEASE!!".

An auteur is determined through many ways - style, characters, actors, narrative, use of locations - take your pick, there are many more. What he has done with Jersey Girl is break away from the childish humour (which I love in his other works) and built a truly emotional story. To me a Kevin Smith film is about relationships. Don't believe me? Well look at his other films. Clerks is about the relationship between Dante and Randal, Dogma is about the relationship between Bethany and her religion, Chasing Amy is more tricky as it's a triangle of sorts between Holden, Alyssa and Banky. All of those films have another thing in common, the relationship between Jay and Silent Bob. Oh, and let's not forget the biggest relationship in his films - the one he has with his cast! Why else would they keep returning - Jason Lee, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and obviously Jason Mewes?!? So the reason "the masses" have slagged off this film is because of the lack of Jay and Silent Bob? Sadly, that's the truth. If this film was directed by someone different (yet strangely EXACTLY the same) it would have been 2 things; A. more mainstream and B. not slagged off for what is essentially no reason!

If you didn't guess, I love this film. Ben Affleck is actually really good in it, as are Liv Tyler, George Carlin and Raqel Castro (a name for the future). I read a review earlier where someone said "Liv Tyler uses the same whiny voice in every film"... THAT IS HER VOICE FOR CHRIST SAKE! Stop picking fault with this film just for the sake of it and enjoy it for what it is - a truly emotional film about a man coming to grips with losing his life (to be fair, he did - his wife died and he lost his job!) and having to bring up his daughter knowing that she is the reason his life has changed (trust me, that would play on a lot of people's minds in reality).

Other notable moments are the Sweeny Todd scene at the end (which reminds me of Little Miss Sunshine) and Will Smith's cameo as himself.

Please, watch this film. I'll admit, it's not for everyone, but I hope that people would watch this and make their own opinion and, if they don't like it, come up with a better argument than "it's not a Kevin Smith film"...