SET in mid-90s New York, Kevin Smith's romantic comedy is inspired by his own experiences as a father to a two-year-old daughter.

Handsome Ollie Trinke (Ben Affleck) believes he has a full and contented life, with a good job and a loving family.

His perceptions are shattered when his beloved wife Gertrude (Jennifer Lopez) dies during childbirth, shortly after delivering their beautiful daughter, who he names Gertie in her honour.

Ollie struggles to come to terms with his loss and he throws himself into his work as a high-flying music PR, ignoring baby Gertie in the process.

The pressures of parenthood eventually take their toll and Ollie loses his job.

He is forced to move back home to live with his father Bart (George Carlin), where Gertie blossoms into a feisty, intelligent and precocious eight-year-old (Raquel Castro).

Romance is unexpectedly kindled with a spunky video store clerk called Maya (Liv Tyler), who helps Ollie to forge a special bond with his little girl.

Smith has an impeccable ear for dialogue and there are a number of scenes which really crackle, like an explosive argument between Ollie and Gertie that culminates in the frustrated single father snarling, "I hate you too, you little freak! You and your mother ruined my life!"

Unfortunately, every time the writer-director strikes a note of painful emotional honesty, he sweetens it with sentimentality, like Ollie cooing to his daughter "You're the only thing I was ever good at," or the contrived school concert finale which sees Ollie, Gertie, Maya and friends murdering a musical number from Sweeney Todd.

About A Boy used a similar set-up to far greater comic effect.

Affleck's limited acting range seriously hampers Jersey Girl.

He breezes through the film's many lighter moments and generates a fiery sexual chemistry with Tyler, but when it comes to portraying Ollie's overwhelming grief, it's clearly a struggle for him.

Castro possesses an innocence and vulnerability which carries the film while Tyler conveys a boundless sense of joy as the sparky love interest who doesn't mince her words when it comes to getting her man.

Jersey Girl is entertaining and sweet, but next to Smith's other films (Clerks, Chasing Amy), it feels rather lightweight.

Rating: 6/10