DVD Alert: 'Jersey Girl'

Watch the trailer: http://videodetective.com/TitleDetails.aspx?publishedid=66220&st=Jersey%20Girl%20(2004)


I haven't talked about Mom lately. She turned 91 and is doing well at her assisted living home. Because she's a bit wobbly, we can't take her to movies with stadium seating and there's only one theater on one level that usually shows films not of her interest. We hooked up a DVD player in her room so we can bring over movies and concerts. Last week she loved watching her favorite opera Tosca and so did we. She's seen two Tony Bennetts, a Diana Krall, and a Carly Simon concert. Today we brought this charming movie from 2004 that got mixed/mostly poor reviews and sank at the box office.
There's a reason that audiences stayed away from Jersey Girl but it wasn't the movie's fault. If you recall what the media referred to as Bennifer, you know that's why. We got tired of hearing about Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's romance and their films flopped for a while. Affleck stayed out of the spotlight and redeemed himself directing Gone Baby Gone written here a while ago and taking small parts in films to rebuild his career. Both stars married others in show biz, are busy raising families, and stay out of the limelight.
So forget all that and give this forgotten movie a try. Affleck plays a NYC publicist who puts his job first and family second. When he loses his wife in childbirth and soon his job when he insults a client at a press gathering, his world collapses and he and his newborn daughter are forced to move into his dad's home in New Jersey. It's a struggle for him to learn humility and selflessness by becoming a single parent and working for the city like Dad (George Carlin) and his friends who become 'uncles' to young Gertie (Rachael Castro) named after her late Mom played by Lopez. Before you groan, Lopez is good here and her brief, early appearance echoes throughout the film. The casting agents make you believe Castro could be Lopez's daughter in real life.
The late and lamented Carlin is wonderful as Ben's gruff but kind father and doting grandpa. As for Ben he's very good here and you feel his pain when he drops his guard. Liv Tyler is sweet as the video shop clerk who wants to change him. There's a nice surprise near the end when he goes for a job interview set up by his former employee who wants to help him return to his career.
Kevin Smith usually directs movies like the recent Zack & Miri Make a Porno written about here but this is a real change of pace. Can you see Mom watching the Zack one? Uhhh I don't think so..... She liked Jersey Girl and I liked it even more this time. It's funny, sentimental and never sappy. I was misty-eyed a few times but the salty laughs keep it balanced and we all like happy endings where everyone in the plot comes out ahead. It's too bad the Bennifer backlash overshadowed this fine film. It deserves a second chance on video so go rent it and tell me what you think.....