Review of Jersey Girl (2004) by Alex R — 31 Jan 2013

Jersey Girl. Hmm, that's a tough one. It has it's pros, but it's got its cons too. I'll start with the cons.

What doesn't work about Jersey Girl is obviously what drags it down. Yes, it does have many silly cliches, but there are much worse problems to worry about. For example, the story starts off with Gertie telling us and her class the story, so as common narrative films go, at the end it should go back to the classroom, but it doesn't. It just ends.

I also found that besides Affleck and Carlin there was a lack of character development, especially with Liv Tyler's character, who just seems to appear and then they're all best friends.

Now, the critics are correct when they say that there are many cliches in this films, which is true, but come on. There's stupid cliches in every romantic comedy, most of which are not at all funny, (every Hugh Grant film) but as sappy and "we're gonna try our hardest to make you cry" as it is, Affleck's performance is great, Carlin is just fun to hear speak, even if it's serious. And the real kicker:

It's funny. Not all the time, not every joke works, but it's funny. The whole Sweeney Todd thing, great. Ben Affleck grabbing Bi-Sexual porn, I chuckled. I don't know why, but this movie works. It's not Kevin Smith's best film, no, but for his first movie outside Jay and Silent Bob, it works.

And that's coming from a guy who hates Rom-Coms.