Jersey Girl 2004

In New York City, 1995, Oliver “Ollie” Trinké (Ben Affleck), a prominent media publicist, quickly falls for and marries a beautiful young Latina named Gertrude Steiney (Jennifer Lopez). Their early days are filled with happiness until Gertrude discovers she is pregnant. Unfortunately, Ollie becomes increasingly consumed by his demanding job, neglecting her needs as a future mother.

On the day Gertrude goes into labor, Ollie struggles to leave work behind, but tragedy strikes as she dies from internal bleeding during childbirth. Overwhelmed by grief, Ollie throws himself into his work, ignoring his responsibilities as a father to their newborn daughter, Gertie. His father, Bart (George Carlin), steps in to help care for Gertie but soon returns to work, leaving Ollie to confront his parental obligations.

Amidst the chaos of a poor diaper change and Gertie’s constant crying during a press event, Ollie’s frustration erupts, leading him to attack his former client, Will Smith (playing himself), costing him his job. Following the fallout, he relocates to New Jersey with Bart. As time passes, Ollie comes to terms with his grief and begins to reconnect with his daughter.

Seven years later, in 2003, Ollie still lives in New Jersey, struggling to find work in public relations, as the New York firms have blacklisted him due to his past outburst. He now works as a civil servant alongside Bart, while Gertie, now seven, invites him to enjoy movie nights together. During one of these outings at the video store, they meet Maya (Liv Tyler), a lively clerk whose inquisitive nature brings a spark into Ollie’s otherwise mundane life.

Ollie’s role as a civil servant takes a turn when he engages a local group for support on a public works project, rekindling his passion for public relations. This newfound excitement prompts him to reach out to Arthur (Jason Biggs), his former protégé, leading to a potential job interview that would take him back to New York. However, this possibility ignites tension between Ollie, Gertie, Bart, and Maya, particularly when he schedules the interview on the same day as Gertie’s talent show.

In a heated moment, Gertie vents her frustration, expressing that she wishes he had died instead of her mother. Ollie, equally frustrated, retorts with hurtful comments but soon regrets his words. Following a heartfelt reconciliation, Gertie embraces the idea of moving.

As Ollie prepares for the interview, he unexpectedly meets Will Smith again, who remains unaware of their turbulent history. Their exchange inspires Ollie to prioritize fatherhood over his career ambitions. Ultimately, he walks away from the job opportunity and arrives just in time to support Gertie’s performance of Sweeney Todd.

The film concludes with a celebratory gathering at a bar, where Ollie, Gertie, Bart, and Maya come together, hinting at budding feelings between Ollie and Maya. As Ollie reassures Gertie that they are remaining in New Jersey, she inquires why he made this choice despite his passion for New York. With sincerity, he reveals that while he believed he loved his career, nothing compared to the joy of being a father, which is where his true talent lies.