Fringe Benefit: Jersey Girl

Okay, have had precious few shifts at the video store (getting more tho), but am getting there. But am now taking advantage of my primary benefit--free rentals. So, in addition to the ever-popular Summer Reading series, we're going to begin a series called "Fringe Benefit"--me talking about the DVD's I take home for the night.

I'm having a hard time coming up with films to bring home that Scribbles and I can watch together--dunno why--just not seeing anything that jumps off the shelf. So, I'm bringing home flicks that I couldn't justify spending money on before. You know, you have a limited budget, you can afford 1 movie--what do you get? Something you want to watch, or something you can watch with your main squeeze? Easy answer. So I'm left with a long list of stuff I've been wanting to see and haven't.

So, I start with Kevin Smith's much maligned Jersey Girl. This poor movie came out in the shadow of Gigli and featured Beniffer--the "iffer" part of that was only in it for 15 minutes or so. Still didn't save this charming little flick from being savaged by most of the press because it was "Gigli 2" or whatever.

Ben Affleck (who, honestly surprised me in this--best job I've seen from him) is a high profile music publicist, falls head over heals over this gal in the publishing biz. They get hitched, have a kid. Wife dies in childbirth. Dad's life gets turned upside down--moves back home, lives with his dad, gets a blue collar job, and becomes a dad. Daughter turns out to be sweetheart spitfire, they meet a nice girl working in a video store (shock! Smith has a primary character working in a video store!).

Liv Tyler was sweet, and vulnerable; George Carlin was impressive; Steven Root and Mike Starr were as funny as ever; like I said, best Affleck I've ever seen. Great cameo by Will Smith--and Lady bleepin' Aberlin!!?! What a coup for Smith to land her! But it was Raquel Castro that made this thing work. This little nine-year-old nailed it. What a sweetheart!

Not a hilarious comedy. It was touching, tho--call me a sap if you will, but I liked that--love story about a Dad and his Daughter. Relatively clean flick--as Smith notes on a commentary, probably his first movie that'll end up on Cable/Network TV (not just the premium channels). But it's a nice little look at a Dad learning how to be a Dad. Learning how to be an adult son. Making decisions about how to live his life. Not my favorite thing that Smith has done, but I really enjoyed it. Don't go into this expecting a typical Kevin Smith feel--doesn't have it, sorta like Tarantino and Jackie Brown, or the last part of Kill Bill, Vol. 2--it's the same guy, the same skill (for lack of a better word at the moment), but doing something different. I know this movie would've done pretty well if it had come out before Gigli. Alas, it didn't, so it has been (and will be) ignored.

DVD features:
Now, the Smith-Affleck commentary is useless as far as a commentary on the movie itself. Very interesting listening to a conversation between a couple of friends riffing on the press, media coverage of movies, the business of movies, acting with kids, acting with people you're in a relationship with, and so on.

The commentary with Smith and Scott Mosier (producer) with Jason Mewes sitting in as "the voice of the viewer." Gets pretty raunchy from time to time, but a pretty good look at the movie. Appreciated it. Fairly amusing, too.

Roadside Attractions: A collection of bits that Smith did for the tonight show. Amusing, but, eh, it's from the Tonight Show. 'nuff said.

Interview with Affleck and Smith--that was pretty cool, a little review of their friendship (betcha they don't get invited on Oprah to talk about it tho' like Matt & Ben did ).

Behind the scenes--yeah pretty much what you'd figure them to be.

Okay, good movie, decent special features. Grade: B/B+