Unlike what's been said about Jersey Girl in the media and by Smith fans, Jersey Girl actually isn't much of a departure for Kevin Smith.
In fact, it's terrible in the way that all his other movies are. He evidently doesn't understand people, the way they interact, the way they talk to each other. He's like a teenager trying to write movies about grown-ups. He's clearly just guessing about his subject.
The best indication of this is the way he overwrites his scripts. His characters say things so ludicrous and baroque that it's completely impossible to take them seriously for a second, even for entertainment's sake. They never for a moment exist beyond characters written by some guy.
I'll ignore the always-irritating Ben Affleck, and simply note as Exhibit A the way Smith misuses Liv Tyler -- who can be either utterly passive onscreen, not making any impact at all, or absolutely captivating and memorable. All it takes for a winning but passive actress like Tyler is a strong director to make her deliver that potent charm -- and the fact that she barely makes a wave on-screen in Jersey Girl speaks for itself.
Fortunately, eventually Smith will expend the last of his ill-earned 90's indie creds and he'll disappear from the industry altogether.
In fact, it's terrible in the way that all his other movies are. He evidently doesn't understand people, the way they interact, the way they talk to each other. He's like a teenager trying to write movies about grown-ups. He's clearly just guessing about his subject.
The best indication of this is the way he overwrites his scripts. His characters say things so ludicrous and baroque that it's completely impossible to take them seriously for a second, even for entertainment's sake. They never for a moment exist beyond characters written by some guy.
I'll ignore the always-irritating Ben Affleck, and simply note as Exhibit A the way Smith misuses Liv Tyler -- who can be either utterly passive onscreen, not making any impact at all, or absolutely captivating and memorable. All it takes for a winning but passive actress like Tyler is a strong director to make her deliver that potent charm -- and the fact that she barely makes a wave on-screen in Jersey Girl speaks for itself.
Fortunately, eventually Smith will expend the last of his ill-earned 90's indie creds and he'll disappear from the industry altogether.