Not your normal Kevin Smith

"Jersey Girl" isn't your typical Kevin Smith movie. Jay and Silent Bob are nowhere to be found. There are no lesbians, no mall-rats, no one works at a convenience store, and Ben Affleck turns in a subtle performance. And while it is sappy at times, the movie hits more than it misses, leaving audience members to walk out of the theater feeling upbeat.

Right off the bat, this movie distinguishes itself as different. The plot, while slightly clich‚, is moving. Stylish music advertising executive, Oliver Trinke (Ben Affleck), and his wife Gertrude (Jennifer Lopez) are a happy young couple living in New York City in the early 1990s. Warning bells immediately sound. "Oh no," the wary audience thinks. "Will this be more of the hair-pulling, stomach twisting excrement that was 'Gigli'?"

But fears are quickly put to rest: Gertrude dies during childbirth ten minutes into the movie and the baby, Gertie (Raquel Castro), survives, leaving a heartbroken, embittered Oliver to take care of the child on his own. He moves back to his father's (George Carlin) house in New Jersey, and subsequently gets himself fired when, stinky baby in arms, he lashes out in frustration at the media and up-and-coming star Will Smith.

Flash forward seven years and Oliver is driving a street cleaner, having developed a wonderful relationship with Gertie. The rest of the film is devoted to exploring that relationship as Oliver struggles to regain the life he once had and begins a clumsy romance with a sexy video store employee (Liv Tyler).

Those expecting a comedy about sex, weed, and shopping malls will be disappointed. Smith's first films worked extraordinarily well because they were directed at 14-18 year olds. "Jersey Girl" is aimed at the same audience, but ten years further into their lives. Fans that were acne and braces ridden teens when "Clerks" came out are now full fledged adults, looking to marry, have kids, and join book groups. As such, their movie tastes, and those of the director, have changed.

Although "Chasing Amy" was a romantic comedy, Jay and Silent Bob were present and raunchy language was commonplace. Not so in "Jersey Girl" -- the movie is rated PG-13. The tamer rating alone is enough to make younger Smith fans pout, as they will unfortunately have to continue stealing "Maxim" from convenience stores and watching the Super Bowl halftime show for their fix of breasts.

Above all else, the acting is most impressive. Ben Affleck is moving as the main character; somehow managing a believable performance as a music exec, public works employee, and a confused father. Liv Tyler is at her absolute best as Maya, a funny, nerdy, oversexed sociology major. George Carlin is sweet and likeable as the elderly father, a non-comedic role that is a departure from the actor's norm, and seven-year-old Raquel Castro is perhaps the most enjoyable child actor since Jonathan Lipnicki in "Jerry Maguire." The child star's performance is indeed a testament to Kevin Smith, as her dialogue and emotions are believable and funny without being saccharine sweet.

The movie is new territory for Smith in a number of ways. Many moments in this film show Smith's evolution as a director. When Affleck's character is informed of his wife's death, Smith uses music to convey the emotion of the moment, which is quite a change from the verbal fireworks of "Clerks." The story itself is much more adult, centered on a young man confronting his fears of parenthood. The fear of inadequacy in the real world is one to which all twenty-somethings can relate.

As is to be expected when a filmmaker departs from his bread and butter, the movie is not perfect. The story is a bit forced, and the ending is a tad "It's A Wonderful Life." But perhaps these shortcomings are what make the movie so endearing. Smith, like the rest of our generation, is not perfect, and the movie is a charming tribute to his wife and daughter, and indeed to young parents everywhere. As in the movie, growing up involves a seemingly unending stream of awkward sexual and cultural encounters.

"Jersey Girl" is announcing to the film world and to the viewing audience that Kevin Smith is no longer just Silent Bob; at this point, he's Invisible Bob, content to remain behind the lens and let his movies speak for themselves (pun intended). It seems that Kevin Smith has grown up with his audience.

Give "Jersey Girl" a chance; while it isn't perfect, it's worlds better than "Agent Cody Banks 2," and you can still take your significant other without fear of awkward glances.