Μύ Swapping slacker style for fuzzy slippers in Jersey Girl, director Kevin Smith delivered a comedy drama that's "sometimes charming but frustratingly hackneyed". Smith's man-muse Ben Affleck stars as a high-flying New Yorker left holding the baby when his new bride (Jennifer Lopez) dies in childbirth. In the wake of the debacle that was Bennifer and (gulp) Gigli, critics and audiences were similarly wary of this next collaboration. Thankfully though, J-Lo makes a quick exit and is nowhere to be seen in the special features section of this DVD.
Left Turn To Laughsville
Tangential is a word that perhaps best describes this selection of extras. Director Kevin Smith plays the foul-mouthed raconteur to hilarious effect, which may jar with the soft-centred fuzziness of the movie, but is also far more entertaining.
Roadside Attractions is a wickedly droll selection of TV spots recorded by Smith for Jay Leno's Tonight Show. In an introduction to what he describes as "humorous travelogues", Smith openly acknowledges that all this has "nothing to do with Jersey Girl", but that's probably just as well really. Hold on to your ribs as Smith visits The smallest church in the world in upstate New York (in the middle of a lake!), and asks "the pastor" for his views on his 1999 religious comedy Dogma...
The half hour Conversation With Kevin Smith And Ben Affleck sees the two men in relaxed mode - Affleck back to his bearded, scruffy look post-J-Lo - cracking jokes, insulting each other, and generally clowning around. They barely give Jersey Girl a look-in, instead telling off-the-wall anecdotes concerning their numerous collaborations, but generally allowing an insight into the friendship that began when Affleck asked Smith to "come to my house and hang out". To which Smith matter-of-factly replied, "Nah, I don't socialise. I play Sega."
The Lord Of The Stings
Kevin and Ben are also on top form for their audio commentary, frequently leaping off on trains of thought that have nothing to do with what's playing onscreen. Smith, in particular, embarks on a hilarious rant about the British tabloids, having just returned from junket duty in London. He scalds The Mirror's 3am Girls for tagging him "a fat, bearded, hobbit-like director", but it's water off a hobbit's back as Smith comes back with the stinging retort: "Hobbits are small and thin."
The alternative commentary with producer Scott Mosier and Jason Mewes (aka Jay of Jay And Silent Bob) is similarly raucous. In case you're wondering, Mewes serves as the voice of Joe Public, although he was originally slated to play a supporting role. However, as Smith politely informs him, he was "iced from the film" because he was "abusing drugs" and there was also "a warrant out" for his arrest. At this point the commentary turns into a drug addicts' support group - again, nothing to do with the film but hours of fun!
A run-of-the-mill 'making of' featurette is also included, along with cast and crew (text-based) interviews. The strength of these features is also their weakness, in that they provide the only direct reference to the film. In every other way, Jersey Girl makes a perky package on DVD.
EXTRA FEATURES
