Jersey Girl
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Movie Reviews of Jersey Girl
Movie Review: Give it a chance
Summary: 5 Stars
Look, this is not typical Kevin Smith fare. I think that he is pretty funny, and I won't even get into Dogma, but this one is different. I think that the critics and people that do not like Kevin Smith (yes I think that they are one in the same) passed on this one just because it was a KS project.
The movie is about a guy who has his world turned upside down and tries to get back to his idea of normal, however, along the way he finds out what is really important. Granted there is crude language, etc. butits use is pretty realistic in my view. The story is good and the cast is excellent (especially George Carlin).
The music that was used cues up pefectly with the story. The music director was inspired when it came to selections.
This is an all around good one, although not one for the kids.
Give it a chance and you might be suprised. If not sorry for steering you wrond.
Movie Review: Kevin Smith Owes Me 2 Hours...
Summary: 2 Stars
"Jersey Girl" is not very good at all. What the hell was Kevin Smith thinking with this movie? The thing is all over the place. It's completely unbalanced, and the acting is less than stellar. Ben Affleck should not have to show any range of emotions in movies. He should always just be the charming, funny guy. When he tries to act, it's like watching a foal take her first steps. The effort is really cute to watch, but the result is just awkward and only resembles real acting in the way that stumbling resembles walking. No wonder Matt Damon has distanced himself from this ass-clown.
So many horrible mixed messages. So many horrible montages set to poignant music meant to take the place of actual storytelling and acting. At least the music is good. The Cure, Aimee Mann, Ben Folds, etc. Also least Liv Tyler is cute and engaging. However, the Affleck/Tyler flashbacks to the horrible "Armageddon" almost negate her energetic performance. Oh well, at least she took her shirt off.
It would have been a much better movie had they just gone ahead and done the full "Sweeney Todd." Their production was fabulous (even though it was just one more complete lapse in reality). Kevin Smith owes me 2 hours of my life back. Jerk.
Movie Review: A surprisingly touching, funny film.
Summary: 4 Stars
If this film came out by any other writer/director, people would have really liked if not loved it. I'm not a huge Ben Affleck fan and I've never seen Jennifer Lopez in anything longer than a movie trailer. I am a big Kevin Smith fan though.
The dialog was snappy and genuine, the acting was surprisingly understated and moving and while it was a little predictable as to where Ollie's (Affleck) journey was taking him, it was done in a way that was surprisingly funny, disarming and touching. Liv Tyler is more expressive than she's ever been on film, Ben Affleck is more conflicted and more vulnerable than I've ever seen him and George Carlin gives a surprisingly nuanced performance as Ollie's imperfect, loving, alcoholic father. Jennifer Lopez' small contribution to the film is fine. Affleck and Lopez do a fine job convincing the audience that they were in love, so when her character leaves the film, Ollie's heartbreak feels genuine. Why cast Jennifer Lopez? Well, in part, she gives Ollie's time in New York a fantasy-like quality and when her pop star-like beauty is gone, Ollie's world genuinely does seem a little less bright.
Jersey Girl is a modern film about modern themes in the old Frank Kapra style.
Why was this film panned? Is it because Kevin Smith's fans are all under 20 or because we can't stand to see people make something sincere and different after we've made up our mind's about them?
Kevin Smith, like most of us, has grown up. He's still the foul mouthed comic genius he always was, but he's something else too. This film suffers, not from lack of quality or poor execution, but from a shallow public perception. Who knew that Kevin Smith, creator of Jay and Silent Bob could make something unflinchingly heart warming? The saddest thing about this film is that he's taken such a beating over making it that he'll never make another one like it.
Open your mind and forget the hype. This is a good little film.
Movie Review: Kevin Smith's Jersey Girl is a big disappointment
Summary: 2 Stars
Ben Affleck (Dogma, Phantoms) stars as Ollie, whose wife Gertrude, played by, well you guessed it, Jennifer Lopez (Out Of Sight, The Cell), dies while after giving birth to their daughter and Affleck names her Gertrude after her mother. Affleck is this big music industry publist who loses his job after saying that the Fresh Prince Of Bel Air will make an appearance but Will Smith doesnt show up. So, years later, after Affleck loses his job he's living with his pop, played by George Carlin (Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back) and his daughter Gertrude, played by the adorable Raquel Castro, is now 7 years old. Affleck meets video store clerk Liv Tyler (Lord of the Rings Trilogy) and they hitch it off. A big disappointment for Kevin Smith who's always so good at writing this stuff but it, for me, didnt really go anywhere. The opening sequence with the kids in class telling about their parents was a funny scene, one of a few in this movie. Will Smith (Independence Day, Ali) shows up later and their's brief cameos by Matt Damon (Bourne Identity, Bourne Supremacy) and Jason Lee (Tv's My Name Is Earl, A Guy Thing) as well...but the 3 cameos dont even help that the film doesnt work and yeah, well, all I can say for Lopez is she cant act....and please dont crack a laugh when she dies (said with sarcastic chuckle)Also starring Mike Starr (Tv's ED, Dumb and Dumber), Stephen Root (Office Space, Tv's New Radio) and Jason Biggs (Anything Else, Loser). Too bad for this. Affleck is alright but it still doesnt pick him up from what the dreadful Gigli dropped on him. Hopefully Affleck finds resurrection soon....even Surviving Christmas was horrible and let's not forget Paycheck...I did. Movie Review: Painfully underrated
Summary: 5 Stars
Jersey Girl is something new for writer/director/star Kevin Smith and, opening to credits, it's his first big-name all-"serious" flick, and it's wonderful. 10/10 material, in this reviewer's opinion. As stated elsewhere, this movie would have been box office gold if not for the media circus surrounding "Bennifer" before its release.
Jersey Girl stars Ben Affleck as Oliver Trinke (Trink-ee), a successful young publicist who falls in love with Jennifer Lopez (er, her character Gertrude Steiney). Tragedy ensues, and not to spoil the moment, but Affleck must raise their daughter as a single parent. Trinke's stress at having to be a single parent drives him to explode at work during a critical press conference, and he loses his job. Now depressed by both the loss of his job and his single parent status, Trinke must find a way to deal with life and love once again as he seeks out a new place for himself in the world.
Liv Tyler makes a splendid performance as a sort of love interest for Ollie, and it's a credit to Smith that Tyler looks so good. Somehow, he made all the makeup artists calm down and just let Tyler look like her natural self- it's a breath of fresh air, and goes a long way to showing how down to earth this movie really is. Look out for Will Smith in a wonderful cameo that's set up perfectly by events in the movie, and George Carlin in the most endearing role I've ever seen him in. There are actually a few near- tearjerker moments delivered by Carlin, a sort of range I've never seen from him before.
But the movie is really about Ollie's (Affleck's) relationship with his child Gertrude ("Gertie")- played by the amazing Raquel Castro. Castro is amazing in her role, and looks perfect as the offspring of Affleck and Lopez- something few movies of this sort ever manage. She's adorable, and she's perfect in her part. Also look out for baby Gertie. I usually HATE this sort of 'chick flick' movie in general, but I was cooing out loud at the wonderfully cute moments in this flick. Again, no spoilers, but there's one scene in particular with baby Gertie and Affleck that won't leave a dry eye in the house, nor fail to put a smile on each and every face. Cinema gold.
Many people will comment that the ideas in this movie are rehashed. A father feels out of place raising kid alone, father tries to get back to his life, conflict arises, ho-hum. But there's something more to that- this story doesn't just recycle ideas, it uses them. Sure, the plot elements have been seen before, but what movie doesn't? You know the action hero's going to get the girl, and you know he'd going to save the day, but you pay for a movie ticket because you want to be entertained on the way there. This movie accomplishes that in spades.
In short: Lots of the performances in this movie should have been Oscar contenders in this reviewer's opinion, even if this flick really is just a light family story in the end (baby Gertie scene!). Affleck demonstrates that his bad name in the press really is undeserved, and Raquel Castro is the perfect daughter to Affleck's Trinke. Marred by Bennifer, and disrespected by former Smith loyals who expected something more crude, this flick may never see the credit that it deserves. Do yourself a favor, round up the kids/spouse/signifigant other, and enjoy this dazzling flick with a box of Kleenex handy. Truly amazing.