Jersey Girl (12) (From Warrington Guardian)

Jersey Girl (12)

BENNIFER, and the media frenzy that followed Ben Affleck and J-Lo's relationship, may be over but cinema is less fortunate, and Jersey Girl follows in the unenviable footsteps of ultra-turkey Gigli.

Audiences at test screenings in America said they would only recommend the film to friends because, and I do not think I am giving anything away here, J-Lo dies within the first ten minutes.

But all is not lost as this is king of slackers, Kevin (Clerks) Smith's first stab at a mainstream romantic comedy.

Affleck plays fast-talking music publicist Ollie Terke whose New York life is torn apart when his wife (Lopez) dies during childbirth, four months into their marriage.

He subsequently loses his job, when grief takes it toll, and finds himself back in his home town of New Jersey, living with his alcoholic father - with a daughter he does not want.

This tale picks up events seven years later and concentrates on the central relationship between father and daughter.

With Terke meeting loveable film store worker Mia (Liv Tyler) and being torn between family and work and New Jersey and New York.

This tale of two cities probably sounds familiar and it is undeniably formulaic.

All the rom-com clichs are present: cute kid, horse drawn carriage through Central Park, cheesy achievement-in-the-face-of-adversity montage.

Unlike many though, Jersey Girl is refreshingly foul-mouthed and manages to sustain a fair share of laugh-out load gags through its 100 minutes.

Stand out moments include a hilarious restaurant scene where a frank discussion about the merits of masturbation ends with Mia offering to 'mercy jump' Ollie to end his seven years of celibacy.

There are some superb cameos from Smith favourites Jason Lee and Matt Damon, and the fresh prince himself Will Smith turns up to cap off a running in joke.

Affleck is back to his best and Liv Tyler is loveable but it is veteran George Carlin who steals the film and most of the laughs as Ollie's Dad.

The official Bennifer swansong is then an extremely sweet and touching, if predictable film, which carries it off with an impeccable sense of humour.

6/10 It's a love thing.