Fans of Kevin Smith will like Jersey Girl starring Ben Affleck

June 17, 2:15 PMSan Jose Movie ExaminerDanny Derakhshan

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Ben Affleck stars in Jersey Girl.

Ben Affleck stars as Ollie Trinke, a young, smooth music publicist who seems to have it all, with a new wife, and a baby girl on the way. But life has a funny way of kicking people when the you're on top of the world. His wife dies while giving labor, making Ollie deal with single fatherhood, which leads to him losing his career and needing to move in with his father. While at the local video store renting his movies, he meets someone special. The trouble is juggling his love interest, trying to bounce back to top form in the music industry and being a decent father for his daughter.

Some people really just loves all of Kevin Smith's work. Call him a hack, or hate him, but the truth is that he knows how to make a good story. The guy knows what will elicit emotions out of his friends/actors. Again, a realistic universe with a little suspension of disbelief needed to go forward. Not too much suspension is needed. What is great is that so far, all his films have have been low budget. With a little structural work, all his movies could be theatrical plays, off Broadway of course.
Liv Tyler is a good love interest; sweet, charming, witty. J. Lopez has a small role as the wife. She is wonderful in the brief moments she was on the screen. Ben Afleck is a great actor, all around as he is in frame almost the entire time. George Carlin is the father, which is really just an extension of George himself. The father is wise, smarter than the rest and knows that there is BS in the world and to just get over it.
If you agree with Kevin Smith, this film is for you. Many critics have panned the movie as being all over the place, but this is disagreeable. As a lover of film, check this movie out. It has comedy influence but underneath the overtones is a heartwarming story of redemption of fatherhood.

For more info: http://www.jerseygirl-movie.com/