Jersey Girl is a romantic comedy from 2004. It was written and directed by Kevin Smith and stars Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, Raquel Castro, Liv Tyler, George Carlin, Stephen Root, and Jason Biggs. Will Smith, Matt Damon, and Jason Lee have small cameo roles in the movie. It is probably one of the best and most underrated of Kevin Smith's movies. Affleck plays a widower who has to raise a daughter with the help of his dad (played by George Carlin) after his wife (played by Jennifer Lopez) dies in childbirth. He strikes up a romance with a clerk at the local video store (played by Liv Tyler) while trying to get back to his old life as a rich publicist in NY. Ultimately, the movie is about the importance of family in the grand scheme of things.
Like the vast majority of Smith's movies, there are cameos from actors in his other movies (like Matt Damon and Jason Lee). While Smith is known for making pretty vulgar comedies, this is about 95% drama and 5% comedy, and there is no Jay and Silent Bob to be seen. While there is swearing in it (as one of the Amazon reviewers is apparently shocked by), it is much more toned down from all his other movies.
The DVD just has the movie. No extras of any kind. The video transfer is okay but not great, which is fine, given that it is not packed with special effects. It would have been nice to get some deleted scenes, cast interviews, or a commentary track. While I cannot say this movie is going to appeal to everyone, even die-hard fans of Kevin Smith, it tells a very good story and is well-written and acted. The little girl who plays Gertie (Raquel Castro) pretty much steals every scene she is in. If you accept that you are not getting comedy in the same vein as Clerks, Mallrats, or even Chasing Amy and accept that it is going to be different than what you might expect, it is definitely worth checking out.
Like the vast majority of Smith's movies, there are cameos from actors in his other movies (like Matt Damon and Jason Lee). While Smith is known for making pretty vulgar comedies, this is about 95% drama and 5% comedy, and there is no Jay and Silent Bob to be seen. While there is swearing in it (as one of the Amazon reviewers is apparently shocked by), it is much more toned down from all his other movies.
The DVD just has the movie. No extras of any kind. The video transfer is okay but not great, which is fine, given that it is not packed with special effects. It would have been nice to get some deleted scenes, cast interviews, or a commentary track. While I cannot say this movie is going to appeal to everyone, even die-hard fans of Kevin Smith, it tells a very good story and is well-written and acted. The little girl who plays Gertie (Raquel Castro) pretty much steals every scene she is in. If you accept that you are not getting comedy in the same vein as Clerks, Mallrats, or even Chasing Amy and accept that it is going to be different than what you might expect, it is definitely worth checking out.
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