“Jersey Girl” Interview: Director Kevin Smith

On the eve of his new release, Jersey Girl, Kevin Smith isn’t sweating it—much.

The director, best known for his satirical but sweet films including Chasing Amy and Dogma as well as his over-the-top humor in films such as Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, has gone family-friendly with Jersey Girl–a film about a New York ad executive, Ollie (Ben Affleck), who, along with the help of his cantankerous father (George Carlin), has to raise his precocious daughter (Raquel Castro) after his wife (Jennifer Lopez) dies in childbirth.

The fact it’s been labeled another Ben & Jen movie (even though Lopez dies within the first 15 minutes of the film) doesn’t seem to faze the laid-back Smith; he believes Jersey Girl will redeem Affleck as a major star and wash all the bad Gigli memories away.

Did Gigli screw things up for you?

The world without Gigli would be a much better one for us right about now. But at the same time, it kinda affords this to be [Ben Affleck‘s] comeback picture, right? If it works, thank god for Gigli. But if we tank, then I’m going to hate Gigli more than anyone on the planet. It’s getting people past the perception that [Jersey Girl] is the other Ben & Jen movie.

Is the Ben and Jen in your movie, in love and happy, how they were in real life?

Exactly. They weren’t acting, you can tell. They were just really into one another. I’m still really grateful that we cast them both at that time. It plays and worked really well on camera. I mean, people have asked me if I could have recast, would I? And the answer is no. I think she’s great in the movie and because of her, we got a better performance out of [Affleck]. Better than we ever would have had if it were some other random actress. Not only in his scenes with Jen but after she’s gone. You feel it. You feel his devastation. Also with Raquel [Castro], who we wanted because of her uncanny resemblance to Jen. If we hadn’t cast Jen, we wouldn’t have found Raquel, who is wonderful. Jennifer was the lynchpin and I’ll never regret casting her.

If only Affleck and Lopez could have put that energy and chemistry into Gigli.

I remember when [Ben] took [Gigli]. I asked him what [the script] was like and he said, “Honestly, dude, there’s a bit of Chasing Amy in it.” I said, “Whattya mean?” And he said “Because she’s gay and we wind up together.” And I’m like, “You really want to do that movie again so soon? Shouldn’t you wait a few years before you repeat?”

So is Ben hanging in there?

Yeah, he’s great. He’s sad but he also understands. It was tough, getting to that point where it finally ended. I went to see him the other day and he was on the horn. He got off and I asked who he was talking to and he said Jen. I said, “You two are still talking? You’re broken up! Breakups mean you got to cut your ex off!” He said, “Dude, I’m not in high school anymore. We spent a year together, we are really good friends.”

This is the second time you’ve cast George Carlin in your movies. You must be a huge Carlin fan.

Huge. All my life. But it was a pleasure working with him, to let him let his hair down and emote. He’s basically a frustrated actor. He’s always wanted to act, said he got into radio and comedy because he wanted to act. He’s had some chances but he’s never had a chance to sink his teeth into a role. After Dogma, I told him that I was writing a big part for him in my next movie. He said, “You know what part I also wanted to play? I wanted to play a clergyman who strangles six children.” And I said, “Well, you’re playing a grandfather, does that count? Is that close? I can’t have you stranglin’ the kid, but…”

Were you nervous the first time you met him?

I was like a schoolgirl. I couldn’t play aloof, couldn’t do it. I just became gushing dude. There I am, spitting out his routines. But he’s a great guy and takes the craft very seriously. He created a back story for his character, Bart [in Jersey Girl] on why he is always giving Greenie [Bart’s drinking buddy, played by Stephen Root] a hard time in the movie. Carlin came into work one day and said, “I just want you to know I came up with a back story on why I give Greenie grief all the time. You don’t have to know it. I’ve already memorized it, forgotten it and thrown it away. I just needed to go through that for my process.” I was like, “Right on, dude” and then I turned to Affleck and said “Why don’t you do s**t like that?”

From what you learned since starting out with Clerks (1994), give me some of your insights on showbiz.

Well, um, it’s packed full of liars. Horrible liars. Most people seem to be in it for the buck. That’s why I like working at Miramax. They are definitely in it to make money but they are also in it for the films. Truly. Harvey [Weinstein] is sometimes in it for the awards. And the limited experience I’ve had outside of Miramax, it’s not always the case. I mean, I’d rather take the guy who yells from time to time because he is passionate about moviemaking over a studio where everything is real passive-aggressive, quiet, where everyone is just punching a clock.

I’m sure Harvey Weinstein is a bit intimidating.

My heart still races a little when he calls. “Kevin, hold for Harvey,” and I’m like, “Am I in trouble?” They were doing marketing screenings a couple of weeks ago [for Jersey Girl]. And Harvey called me after one screening in Kansas and barks “Did you see your numbers?” I was like, “Um, numbers? I mean I heard about Kansas–?” and he started laughing. “Relax, I’m kidding. Numbers are awesome.” I just kinda dread a call from him, ’cause I’m sure they are going to call and say, “Hey, we gave ya Green Hornet but just realized that’s a bad move, so we’re taking it back.”

Being the comic book guy, you must be psyched to do Green Hornet.

It’s a little scary. I don’t want to reinvent the wheel. I could never be the Wachowski brothers. Those dudes reinvented the wheel. I am not that creative. Gotta know your strengths and weakness. Characterization is my strong suit, so I’m kinda hoping to make a movie where you care more about the guy when he is not in the costume than when he puts it on. That’s the key. Mostly you end caring about the guy in the suit. My feeling is you gotta care about the guy before you give a crap about what he does at night.

Jersey Girl opens Mar. 26.

10 Quirky Questions for Kevin

What is Silent Bob’s favorite word?
Smokes.

If you could have dinner with one world leader and one famous dead person, who would you pick?
I’d have to go with Franklin Roosevelt on both. ‘Cause a dude in a wheelchair running the country, it would never happen in this day and age, you know? Also he was a guy smart enough to take more than two terms and then limit it after that, so that nobody else could top his record.

How much money did you spend on comic books as a kid?
A lot but then again I used to shoplift a lot, so maybe not as much.

Who’s your favorite superhero?
Batman.

What’s one thing about Ben Affleck we don’t know?
He’s hung like a horse.

What’s the one thing we should know about New Jersey that we don’t?
It really is a Garden State. Most people think of it as a toxic waste dump and oil refinery capital of the world. But it’s a gorgeous, lush state once you get away from the turnpike.

What other profession would you have attempted?
Own a deli, ’cause I can make a helluva sandwich.

What makes you laugh?
The Simpsons, still to this day. Also Jason Mewes and Affleck, who is one of the funniest people I’ve ever known.

What’s your favorite line from The Empire Strikes Back?
When Princess Leia tells Hans Solo, “I love you” and he replies “I know” [before he’s encased in liquid carbon].

What would you want God to say to you at the pearly gates?
See, you didn’t need a big d**k after all.