Ben Affleck: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

4. Jersey Girl (2004)

Jersey Girl is by and large considered to be Kevin Smith's worst film, or at least the worst film that he has written - but don't think we've forgotten Cop Out, Kev... - and with good reason; it's the director in his most sentimental mode, writing a film that is almost completely inaccessible to his fanbase. It is Smith trying to write a popular film that makes money, and though one can't deny its good intentions as a sweet - that is, saccharine - family film, it really shows no mercy on its largely clueless cast. Though it gets points for killing off Affleck's former flame Jennifer Lopez in the opening reel, Affleck is forced to go through the motions of the conventional rom-com; he mourns his wife while raising his cute kid, meets a woman (Liv Tyler) who might get him out of his lull, but there's some tension, yet by the time the credits roll, everything is hunky dory. While Affleck has the looks and charm to be a fine romantic lead, he needs a script with much more meat; instead, Smith has him be summarily humiliated with cheesy daddy gags and corny romantic interludes. Avoid.
 
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Frequently sleep-deprived film addict and video game obsessive who spends more time than is healthy in darkened London screening rooms. Follow his twitter on @ShaunMunroFilm or e-mail him at shaneo632 [at] gmail.com.