Kevin Smith's latest light-hearted dramedy "Jersey Girl" is a study of one person's struggle to determine what's most important in his life, his child or his career. Ben Affleck (Pearl Harbor) did a pleasing job, creating a character whose indecision between these aspects of his life is believable.

Smith, known for such quality hits as "Clerks" and "Chasing Amy"--one of my favorites of the last decade, steps outside himself in many ways with "Jersey Girl," particularly in material. This time around his involvement of a child changes some of the familiar deliveries his characters are known to spout off.

"Jersey Girl" follows the plight of Ollie Trinkle, an entertainment spin doctor who meets Getrude, played by everyone's favorite self-involved prima hooker Jennifer Lopez. Soon, he knocks her up, and she gives birth and dies in the process. Smith is a genius for killing off Lopez in the first 15 minutes of the film. Brilliance, I tell you.

Now, Ollie is a single father who is relying on his own father, played by the great George Carlin in a somewhat surprising dramatic role. That is, until dad is fed up with Ollie not being a part of the baby's life. Eventually, Ollie must take his infant daughter to a press conference where he gets stressed out and mouths off about how Will Smith will never amount to anything as a motion picture star. Smith, at the time period represented, was just breaking onto the big screen. The press hangs Ollie, and his career is finished.

Years later, Ollie is now the most dedicated dad in the world, working on the public works crew of the town his father lives in New Jersey. However, superdad finds conflict as Jason Biggs, playing Affleck's protégé, finds an opportunity for Ollie to return to the spin-doctors' arena.

Affleck does well, but it is not surprising. The part was literally written for him, and its the kind of role he is best at. George Carlin is the surprise of the picture, as I expected his presence to be exploited with filthy language and playing some sort of stereotyped lower income Jersey dad. However, Carlin's presence was very wise, understanding and believable as an authority in Ollie's life.

The weight of the film is carried on the back of the very young Rachel Castro as Ollie's daughter. The youngster is extremely talented and was challenged with several heavy moments during intense father-daughter fights.

Laughs for the picture are believe it or not minimal. There is a handful of situational ha-ha's, but for the most part, the tale was very subdued and caring about its characters. It is definitely one of Smith's best, but not THEE best he's ever done.

Truthfully, Smith had much more to say in "Chasing Amy," probably because he had experienced much of the material first hand. However, in "Jersey Girl" he has NEVER attempted to manage a son or daughter, as a single dad, while keeping up with his filmmaking career. The difference is noticeable.

I adore this picture, but the writing seems to manipulate the material in a way a puppeteer would a marionette. The tale is told with strings attached and doesn't seem to fly high on its own at times. That's about the worst I can say about it. Otherwise, it's a gem.

Benn - Where's the Humanity?