"Jersey Girl" is so different from every other movie that's come from writer-director Kevin Smith that it almost requires an occasional reminder that it's from him . . . perhaps a "crawl," or subtitle, that occasionally pops up with "a film by Kevin Smith — honest!"
Among the bigger surprises in this rather low-key comedy-drama is that actually looks and sounds like a real movie, rather than Smith's usual a collection of semi-connected skits (including both "Chasing Amy" and "Dogma").
Perhaps the biggest surprise is that this is Smith's first PG-13 film. What's next, a PG-13 film from Quentin Tarantino?
The material here isn't exactly new but it is emotionally honest, more than a little sweet and even a bit touching. And it is by far Smith's best film.
Still, audiences should be warned that it does contain some questionable and tasteless humor — just not nearly as much as we've come to expect from Smith.
"Jersey Girl" refers to the women in the life of Ollie Trinke (Ben Affleck), a New York publicist who lost his wife during childbirth. (A character played — briefly — by Affleck's real-life former fiance Jennifer Lopez.) Her death leaves Ollie to raise their daughter alone, and the strain quickly sinks his career. So, he finds himself back in the Garden State, living with and working alongside his father (George Carlin).
Though he's not exactly pleased by this turn of events, Ollie is trying to make the best of it. And as the years roll by, he makes an effort to be a good father to young Gertie (Raquel Castro). He also has a chance to rebuild his personal life when he meets Maya (Liv Tyler), a graduate student and video-store clerk who's taken an interest in him. But Ollie still feels a tug for the life and career he once had outside of Jersey.
The tonal shifts between comedy and drama work quite well here, and the pacing is perfect. Also, it's refreshing to see Affleck playing a normal character, at which he's actually pretty good (the role even requires him to sing, believe it or not). And Affleck's chemistry with his co-stars is believable, especially with newcomer Castro, who's a charmer. Best of all is Tyler, whose sly, sexy turn here reminds you of just how good she can be with the right material.
"Jersey Girl" is rated PG-13 for crude humor about and references to sexual and other bodily functions, occasional use of strong profanity, references to drug use, a brief sex scene, a scene of violence (slapping) and brief hospital gore. Running time: 103 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com