When a popular director decides that his or her next project will be a departure from their regular genre of movies, they are sometimes pigeon holed and the new film gets an undeserved failing mark. That is what has happened with this Kevin Smith movie, it is not the raunchy, over the top comedy that most people would expect from him. It is a romantic comedy that tugs at your heart strings from beginning to end, with a cast that works well together and supports each other along the way in the real life situations that are presented to them. When love strikes a self-centered publicist he is unprepared for the ultimate sacrifice when his young wife dies during childbirth and he must raise his new daughter on his own. The role of seven year old Gertie is played by Raquel Castro with the flair and bounce of a seasoned film veteran, it will be nice to see where her career goes to after a breakthrough performance like this. The relationship that is presented by George Carlin and Ben Affleck is so close to a real father and son that the feelings will hit close to home for some of the audience. The acting that Carlin did amazed me so much that I would go out of my way to say that he could branch out into a whole new career if he did more roles in romantic comedies or dramas. With the realistic situations that are throughout the film it is easy enough see your own reactions reflected in the characters on the screen.
Reviews for this film when it first went into theaters were very good, but the public response is what killed this delightful film, people weren't ready for something that wasn't a Clerks type comedy. Also with Jennifer Lopez in the role of the wife brought along the Bennifer curse, which probably didn't help smooth over Smith fans. When you watch this film you can't go into it with any preconceptions about this being a regular Smith comedy, and once you get past that it rates right up at the top of the list of his very best.
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