IMDb RATING
6.2/10
73K
YOUR RATING
A widower must look after his precocious daughter and rebuild his life and career after he's sidelined by an unexpected tragedy and a personal blowup.A widower must look after his precocious daughter and rebuild his life and career after he's sidelined by an unexpected tragedy and a personal blowup.A widower must look after his precocious daughter and rebuild his life and career after he's sidelined by an unexpected tragedy and a personal blowup.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 8 nominations total
Paulie Litt
- Bryan
- (as Paulie Litowsky)
Jennifer Schwalbach Smith
- Susan
- (as Jennifer Schwalbach)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
I'm certain that if I had been Kevin Smith, approached by Miramax with this idea and screenplay, I would definitely have turned it down.
Maybe that's exactly why he had chosen to do it. And what a wise decision it was indeed... The movie didn't promise much judging it by the trailers, but in the end, I was quite satisfied with it when I finally saw it. I'm sure, that an average, or below-the-average Hollywood director would have made it into a blunt, silly, sentimental, and instantly forgettable, "soap-bubble-like" movie. But not Smith... There were many, many crucial points along the storyline that just called and yelled for directors to commit fatal errors... Smith had succeeded to avoid these errors, creating a really enjoyable, lovable, deeply emotional and yet funny piece of work. But still... this isn't the Kevin Smith that I admire so much. I believe that with "Dogma" he created a milestone in American film-making, by daring to speak fiercely openly and frankly about very delicate issues. I missed this part of him from "Jersey Girl" - but there was no room for it because of the plot.
With "Jersey Girl" he had showed more real emotions than he ever did in all of his works. He had proved himself an expert of human emotions. He showed the audience that he really understands about deep feelings, love, loss, family ties, ambition...
The only thing this film is lacking is really great acting. None of the actors gave bad performances, not by long shot, but still... there could have been some more... especially from Affleck. Tyler gave a surprisingly fresh, and believable performance, showing some real theatrical talents in the scene when she performs in Gertie's 'musical'.
The unavoidable Star Wars jokes, and celebrity "nose-pricks" are present of course, maintaining the overall "Smith-feel" to the movie. To be adequate, I quote Darth Vader: "Impressive... Most impressive."
Maybe that's exactly why he had chosen to do it. And what a wise decision it was indeed... The movie didn't promise much judging it by the trailers, but in the end, I was quite satisfied with it when I finally saw it. I'm sure, that an average, or below-the-average Hollywood director would have made it into a blunt, silly, sentimental, and instantly forgettable, "soap-bubble-like" movie. But not Smith... There were many, many crucial points along the storyline that just called and yelled for directors to commit fatal errors... Smith had succeeded to avoid these errors, creating a really enjoyable, lovable, deeply emotional and yet funny piece of work. But still... this isn't the Kevin Smith that I admire so much. I believe that with "Dogma" he created a milestone in American film-making, by daring to speak fiercely openly and frankly about very delicate issues. I missed this part of him from "Jersey Girl" - but there was no room for it because of the plot.
With "Jersey Girl" he had showed more real emotions than he ever did in all of his works. He had proved himself an expert of human emotions. He showed the audience that he really understands about deep feelings, love, loss, family ties, ambition...
The only thing this film is lacking is really great acting. None of the actors gave bad performances, not by long shot, but still... there could have been some more... especially from Affleck. Tyler gave a surprisingly fresh, and believable performance, showing some real theatrical talents in the scene when she performs in Gertie's 'musical'.
The unavoidable Star Wars jokes, and celebrity "nose-pricks" are present of course, maintaining the overall "Smith-feel" to the movie. To be adequate, I quote Darth Vader: "Impressive... Most impressive."
Jersey Girl I think is an average movie. Definitely not one of my favorites, but at the same time not the worst movie I've ever seen. The plot of the movie is well thought out and is a good idea for a movie. Ben Affleck who plays Ollie Trinke is a Manhattan music publicist. He later meets the girl of his dreams and she becomes pregnant. However, his life completely changes when she dies while giving birth. He moves back in with his father in New Jersey to raise his daughter, Gertie, by himself. This movie has emotion and drama, but also comedy at the same time. This film is heartwarming because of the way Ollie Trinke steps up to be the best dad he can be. He really ends up caring for his daughter after getting thrown a curve ball of becoming a single dad. This would be a great family movie.
So after reading many a disconsolate review from Kevin Smith fans I decided to purchase the DVD anyway. Yet all the negative comments had left their toll on me and the DVD stayed on the shelf in its shrink wrapper for FAR TOO LONG. You motor heads! Yes this movie is sweet and yes it's sometimes even sickly but it's endearing and moving. Ben Athleck switches in and out of competence a few too many times to make his performance IMO a completely solid one but frankly he does a good job of holding all the disparate threads of the movie together.
If you want to live in 1994 dick & fart jokes then simply put Clerks in the DVD player and play it again! However each of Kevin's films go someway in their own right into the exploration of inter-personal relationships and the impact of consequence in our daily lives. Jersey Girl is no different in this respect than Clerks.
If you want to live in 1994 dick & fart jokes then simply put Clerks in the DVD player and play it again! However each of Kevin's films go someway in their own right into the exploration of inter-personal relationships and the impact of consequence in our daily lives. Jersey Girl is no different in this respect than Clerks.
First off, let me say that Jersey Girl is a great film. Kevin Smith has done a great job of blending the romantic comedy genre with his trademark humor to create a fresh and original movie. This is an obvious sign that Smith is maturing both as a director and a person, and should be great news for those fans who enjoy his movies for more than the fart jokes. The crowd at the theater tonight might have been the oddest mix of people I have ever seen at an opening night. Stoners looking for more silent bob, teen girls giggling over Ben, young couples on dates, and older people looking for something lighthearted and fun. The stoners were the most disappointed, as the closest thing they got to Silent Bob was the new View Askew graphic at the begining of the movie.
This was definately Ben Afflecks best performance to date. He was amazingly good as Ollie. He gave the character a ton of depth, and Smith should be commended for this choice. The rest of the cast is also excellent. In fact, they are the best part of the movie.
My complaints are few, but I do have a couple. Firstly, the movie takes so long to setup, and it has a few spots throughout that tend to drag. Liv Tylers character is also a problem. Although she does a great job with what she is given, her character lacks depth and is thusly difficult to connect with as the new love interest.
All in all, this is charming and light hearted enough to take a date to, but has enough depth to keep it from being a cookie cutter affair. 8/10
This was definately Ben Afflecks best performance to date. He was amazingly good as Ollie. He gave the character a ton of depth, and Smith should be commended for this choice. The rest of the cast is also excellent. In fact, they are the best part of the movie.
My complaints are few, but I do have a couple. Firstly, the movie takes so long to setup, and it has a few spots throughout that tend to drag. Liv Tylers character is also a problem. Although she does a great job with what she is given, her character lacks depth and is thusly difficult to connect with as the new love interest.
All in all, this is charming and light hearted enough to take a date to, but has enough depth to keep it from being a cookie cutter affair. 8/10
I remember back in the day when Jersey Girl came out and it was right around the time the "Bennifer" days were coming to an end and we just suffered the mass bomb that was "Gigli". Many were calling this movie "Gigli 2", I just couldn't believe they would put Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck together in a film again after all the innocent bystanders had to put up with, but they did. But I don't know why, maybe because it's already 4 years later after all that craziness, I decided to go ahead and rent Jersey Girl and just see what it was about. I watched it last night and I couldn't believe my eyes, I actually liked this movie. It wasn't your typical romantic comedy, it was something different and really enjoyable. Kevin Smith, who is more famous for Clerks, made a funny and genuinely good film that anyone can enjoy.
Gertie Trinke is a little girl who is telling her story about her family and how they came to be. Her father, Ollie, was once a successful man in New York who was the publicity for famous musicians. But when his wife Gertrude dies in childbirth with their daughter, Ollie has to learn to grow up, but he looses his job after calling Will Smith a no body who won't get another movie. So Ollie and his dad raise Gertie, who teaches Ollie that there's more to life than just the riches.
Jersey Girl is a good film, I don't know why anyone would say that this is a bad film, I understand people not liking it, but the story was very decent and the acting was I'd say above average. One of the things I loved was that the story was very human, the little girl who played Gertie, Raquel Castro, was perfect for the role and didn't over do anything or made her character annoying. Ben Affleck, who I normally cannot watch in a movie was very good in Jersey Girl, his little talk with his infant girl about loosing his wife was touching. Maybe because I'm a girl or something, maybe that's why I loved the film, but I just thought it was good and I do recommend it.
7/10
Gertie Trinke is a little girl who is telling her story about her family and how they came to be. Her father, Ollie, was once a successful man in New York who was the publicity for famous musicians. But when his wife Gertrude dies in childbirth with their daughter, Ollie has to learn to grow up, but he looses his job after calling Will Smith a no body who won't get another movie. So Ollie and his dad raise Gertie, who teaches Ollie that there's more to life than just the riches.
Jersey Girl is a good film, I don't know why anyone would say that this is a bad film, I understand people not liking it, but the story was very decent and the acting was I'd say above average. One of the things I loved was that the story was very human, the little girl who played Gertie, Raquel Castro, was perfect for the role and didn't over do anything or made her character annoying. Ben Affleck, who I normally cannot watch in a movie was very good in Jersey Girl, his little talk with his infant girl about loosing his wife was touching. Maybe because I'm a girl or something, maybe that's why I loved the film, but I just thought it was good and I do recommend it.
7/10
Did you know
- TriviaFollowing the failure of Amours troubles (2003), Miramax removed all images of Jennifer Lopez from all promotional spots, out of fear that people would think it was another Ben Affleck-Jennifer Lopez vehicle. The release date for Père et fille (2004) was pushed back from autumn 2003 to early 2004 and the studio also attempted to play down the presence of Lopez's character, Gertrude, in the movie, which included a public revelation about her character's fate.
- GoofsOllie rips the buttons off his blue shirt as he gets into the costume for the Sweeney Todd skit. After the skit, the buttons are sewn back on and he isn't wearing the white T-shirt underneath.
- Crazy creditsTHE DIRECTOR WOULD LIKE TO THANK: God - Who still seems to be a fan of mine. And vice versa. Jenny - The proof that God's still a fan. I love you so, so much, my muse. Scott - Love you too. You're the James Brown of film, dude. Mom - Thanks for raising me right. Harley - The original Jersey Girl. Gail and Byron - The Glue. Philbert - aka Mosier Junior. Laura - She who makes it all happen. Lehrman - An A.D. so good, he was practically the D. Vilmos - The master of light. Ben - You were flat out brilliant. George - Funny, smart, and a great actor. It's just not fair. Liv - My new favorite actress. You elevated Maya. Raquel - Kid, you're a star. Jen - Who inspired Ben to greatness and while being great herself. Root and Starr - The mid-life Jay and Silent Bob. Biggs - You've now lived down the Pie. Betty - The best teacher the kids could have. Will - I love you all the way to the moon and back down to the dirt. The Crew - The true filmmakers. Carol - For riding shotgun. Sue - For grace under pressure. Charlie - For our third act show-stopper. Jon G. - Officially Miramax, unofficially View Askew. You're the fourth Beatle, dude. Harvey - For an excellent suggestion. Phil - My deal-maker and friend. Sloss - The legal eagle. Pierson - Who keeps me honest. Mas - For support from day one. Sondheim - For "Sweeney" in both our movie and real life. The Boss - For lending us his art. Twice. Stevie, Aimee, Ben, and Pete - For flick-defining tunes. Joey, Zack, and Donald - For lots of Crystal Light, Baja Fresh chicken, and smoke runs. Carol - Who keeps me rolling in dough. Ming - The Architect. Chappy - My merch partner in crime. The City of Philadelphia - For being great hosts. The Town of Paulsboro - For the locations and the street. The Town of Highlands - For giving a fat kid a nice place to grow up. And the Tabloids - For nothing. When in Red Bank, New Jersey, visit Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash. When in Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash, Red Bank, New Jersey, purchase a ton of quality merchandise manufactured by Graphitti Designs.
- Alternate versionsKevin Smith has a 2 hour and 20 minute "director's cut" version that has screened in Los Angeles and in New Jersey at his 2005 Vulgarthon all-day film events. Smith says he will release the longer version on DVD for the film's tenth anniversary in 2014. As of 2014, that never materialized. This current year, 2024, is the films' 20th anniversary, and there is still no word of the original version of Jersey Girl being released on DVD/Blue-Ray.
- ConnectionsFeatured in This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006)
- SoundtracksEveryone's A Kid At Christmas
Written by Aurora Miller and Ronald Miller
Performed by Stevie Wonder
Courtesy of Motown under license from Universal Music Enterprises
- How long is Jersey Girl?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $35,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $25,268,157
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $8,300,000
- Mar 28, 2004
- Gross worldwide
- $35,492,921
- Runtime1 hour 42 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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