History Trivia / JerseyGirl

* UnderminedByReality: A bit of an unusual case. Originally the plan was to advertise the movie as being all about the relationship between Affleck and Lopez's characters, making Lopez's [[spoiler:death]] early on a huge shock. But by the time it was released, the failure of ''Film/{{Gigli}}'' and the general public being utterly sick of Ben and J.Lo as a couple had killed this plan's viability, so the twist was put right in the trailers, leaving the film with little real identity of its own.

* UnderminedByReality: A bit of an unusual case. Originally the plan was to advertise the movie as being all about the relationship between Affleck and Lopez's characters, making Lopez's [[spoiler:death]] early on a huge shock. But by the time it was released ''Film/{{Gigli}}'' and the general public being utterly sick of them as a couple had killed this plan's viability, so the twist was put right in the trailers, leaving the film with little real identity of its own.

* RoleEndingMisdemeanor: Jason Mewes was going to play Arthur (Ollie's assistant), but was in rehab after he and Kevin Smith had a serious falling out.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The movie gets dated to the 2000s by having a major character work behind the desk at a video rental store. The store still has a majority of VHS tapes, rather than [=DVDs=], and of course video rental stores went out of business due to the rise of online streaming services. The film also takes place when Creator/WillSmith was at the height of his popularity as a blockbuster star. In TheNewTens he opted for TomHanksSyndrome and a couple of bombs caused his star power to lessen slightly. And if you go meta, the film features Creator/JenniferLopez and Creator/BenAffleck as a couple, immediately marking it as a product of the 'Bennifer' era. (AvertedTrope since the film was originally set in the 80's, with Ollie losing his job by trashing Bruce Willis' singing aspirations.)

* SoMyKidsCanWatch: Creator/KevinSmith made the film because he'd just had a daughter and wanted to make a movie that wasn't filled with crude humor. Unfortunately, a lot of his fans were angered by their hero "going soft," and he was forced to make a return to form. Watching the movie knowing that it was made for and about Smith's daughter does make the movie much sweeter, though.

* CreatorInJoke: Ollie is named after the ComicBook/GreenArrow. Creator/KevinSmith had written fifteen issues for the comic just before finishing the script.
* CrossCastRole: Twin boys play the newborn Gertie.

* TroubledProduction: Though the film turned out fairly close to how Smith wanted, it wasn't for a lack of attempted ExecutiveMeddling on the part of Miramax, who tried to pressure Smith into filming more scenes involving Jennifer Lopez after her relationship with Creator/BenAffleck hit the tabloid headlines. Fortunately for Smith, the epic critical and commercial failure of the "Bennifer" vehicle ''Film/{{Gigli}}'' caused the studio to quickly retract these requests. Smith, who wasn't working with his usual ProductionPosse, also had some trouble dealing with veteran cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond on-set, though later admitted that he was just as much at fault as Zsigmond.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The movie gets dated to the 2000s by having a major character work behind the desk at a video rental store. The store still has a majority of VHS tapes, rather than [=DVDs=], and of course video rental stores went out of business due to the rise of online streaming services. The film also takes place when Creator/WillSmith was at the height of his popularity as a blockbuster star. In TheNewTens he opted for TomHanksSyndrome and a couple of bombs caused his star power to lessen slightly. And if you go meta, the film features Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck as a couple, immediately marking it as a product of the 'Bennifer' era. (AvertedTrope since the film was originally set in the 80's, with Ollie losing his job by trashing Bruce Willis' singing aspirations.)

** An early idea had Ollie using clips from ''{{Film/Jaws}}'' when he was giving his daughter TheTalk. He wasn't allowed to use footage and so it was dropped.
** While Bart had aways been written with Creator/GeorgeCarlin in mind, Carlin had originally asked Smith to write him his dream role: a clergyman who strangles six children. When Smith sent Carlin the script, Carlin, true to form, called him the next day asking [[CrossesTheLineTwice why his character doesn't strangle the little girl]].

** The film was originally going to be set in the late 80s and Ollie would have badmouthed Creator/BruceWillis. When a deal with Bruce Willis couldn't be secured, it was changed to Creator/WillSmith.

* PlayingAgainstType: Creator/BenAffleck was at the time best known for being a serious action star. Here he plays an {{Adorkable}} BumblingDad.

* MakingUseOfTheTwin[=/=]CrossCastRole: Twin boys play the newborn Gertie.

** One cut of the scene where Ollie finds out that Gertrude died in childbirth ended with him vomiting on the floor because Ben Affleck was so LostInCharacter that [[EnforcedMethodActing the heavy emotion of the scene began to make him physically ill]]. It was rejected when [[{{Narm}} test audiences started laughing]].

* TroubledProduction: Though the film turned out fairly close to how Smith wanted, it wasn't for a lack of attempted ExecutiveMeddling on the part of Miramax, who tried to pressure Smith into filming more scenes involving Jennifer Lopez after her relationship with Creator/BenAffleck hit the tabloid headlines. Fortunately for Smith, the epic critical and commercial failure of the "Bennifer" vehicle ''Film/{{Gigli}}'' caused the studio to quickly retract these requests. Smith also had some trouble dealing with veteran cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond on-set, though later admitted that he was just as much at fault as Zsigmond.

* BoxOfficeBomb: Budget, $35 million. Box office, $25,268,157 (domestic), $36,098,382 (worldwide). The second film to star Creator/BenAffleck and Creator/JenniferLopez flatlined in the wake of their disolved relationship and their disastrous [[Film/{{Gigli}} first film from the previous summer]]. Fans of Creator/KevinSmith were turned off by its mainstream approach.

* TroubledProduction: Though the film turned out fairly close to how Smith wanted, it wasn't for a lack of attempted ExecutiveMeddling on the part of Miramax, who tried to pressure Smith into filming more scenes involving Creator/JenniferLopez after her relationship with Creator/BenAffleck hit the tabloid headlines. Fortunately for Smith, the epic critical and commercial failure of the "Bennifer" vehicle ''Film/{{Gigli}}'' caused the studio to quickly retract these requests. Smith also had some trouble dealing with veteran cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond on-set, though later admitted that he was just as much at fault as Zsigmond.

* RealLifeRelative: Creator/KevinSmith's wife appears as a receptionist, while his daughter is an extra.
* RoleEndingMisdemeanor: Jason Mewes was going to play Ollie's assistant, but was in rehab after he and Kevin Smith had a serious falling out.

* ActorAllusion:
** Creator/BenAffleck and Creator/LivTyler had been a couple in ''{{Film/Armageddon}}'' as well. What's more is that Creator/BruceWillis was meant to be in the film AsHimself, and he had also been the lead in ''Armageddon''.
** One of the movies on display at the video store is ''Stealing Beauty'', Liv Tyler's breakout role. Some of Ben Affleck's movies are also displayed such as ''Film/ShakespeareInLove'', ''Film/GoodWillHunting'' and ''{{Film/Phantoms}}''.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The movie gets dated to the 2000s by having a major character work behind the desk at a video rental store. The store still has a majority of VHS tapes, rather than [=DVDs=], and of course video rental stores went out of business due to the rise of online streaming services. The film also takes place when Creator/WillSmith was at the height of his popularity as a blockbuster star. In TheNewTens he opted for TomHanksSyndrome and a couple of bombs caused his star power to lessen slightly. And if you go meta, the film features Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck as a couple, immediately marking it as a product of the 'Bennifer' era. (AvertedTrope since the film was originally set in the 80's, with Ollie loosing his job by trashing Bruce Willis' singing aspirations.)

** Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler had been a couple in ''{{Film/Armageddon}}'' as well. What's more is that Bruce Willis was meant to be in the film AsHimself, and he had also been the lead in ''Armageddon''.

* CreatorInJoke: Ollie is named after the ComicBook/GreenArrow. Kevin Smith had written fifteen issues for the comic just before finishing the script.
* PlayingAgainstType: Ben Affleck was at the time best known for being a serious action star. Here he plays an {{Adorkable}} BumblingDad.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: A scene featuring Ollie and Gertrude's wedding was filmed, but cut from the film after Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez broke off their engagement.
* TitledAfterTheSong: The Music/BruceSpringsteen cover of Music/TomWaits' original from ''Music/HeartattackAndVine'' plays over the end credits.

** Jason Mewes was going to play Ollie's assistant, but was in rehab after he and Kevin Smith had a serious falling out.

** The film was originally going to be set in the late 80s and Ollie would have badmouthed Bruce Willis. When a deal with Bruce Willis couldn't be secured, it was changed to Will Smith.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The movie gets dated to the 2000s by having a major character work behind the desk at a video rental store. The store still has a majority of VHS tapes, rather than [=DVDs=], and of course video rental stores went out of business due to the rise of online streaming services. The film also takes place when Creator/WillSmith was at the height of his popularity as a blockbuster star. In TheNewTens he opted for TomHanksSyndrome and a couple of bombs caused his star power to lessen slightly. And if you go meta, the film features Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck as a couple, immediately marking it as a product of the 'Bennifer' era.

** One cut of the scene where Ollie finds out that Gertrude died in childbirth ended with him vomiting on the floor because Ben Affleck was so LostInCharacter that [[EnforcedMethodActing the heavy emotion of the scene began to make him physically ill]]. It was rejected when [{{Narm}} test audiences started laughing]].

** The scene where Ollie finds out that Gertrude died in childbirth originally ended with him vomiting on the floor because Ben Affleck was so lost in character that [[TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody the heavy emotion of the scene began to make him physically ill]]. It was rejected when [[RealityIsUnrealistic test audiences started laughing]].

** While Bart had aways been written with Creator/GeorgeCarlin in mind, Carlin had originally asked Smith to write him his dream role: a clergyman who strangles six children. When Smith sent Carlin the script, Carlin called him the next day asking [[CrossesTheLineTwice why his character doesn't strangle the little girl]].

** The scene where Ollie finds out that Gertrude died in childbirth originally ended with him vomiting on the floor because Ben Affleck was so lost in character that [[TheMindPlayingWithTheBody the heavy emotion of the scene began to make him physically ill]]. It was rejected when [[RealityIsUnrealistic test audiences started laughing]].

* TitledAfterTheSong: the Music/BruceSpringsteen cover of Music/TomWaits' original from ''Music/HeartattackAndVine'' plays over the end credits.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Jason Mewes was going to play Ollie's assistant, but was in rehab after he and Kevin Smith had a serious falling out.
** While Bart had aways been written with GeorgeCarlin in mind, Carlin had originally asked Smith to write him his dream role: a clergyman who strangles six children. When Smith sent Carlin the script, Carlin called him the next day asking [[CrossesTheLineTwice why his character doesn't strangle the little girl]].

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Jason Mewes was going to play Ollie's assistant, but was in rehab after he and Kevin Smith had a serious falling out.

* TitledAfterTheSong: the Music/BruceSpringsteen cover of Music/TomWaits' original from ''Music/HeartattackAndVine'' plays over the end credits.

* TitledAfterTheSong: the BruceSpringsteen cover of TomWaits' original plays over the end credits.