by Eric M. Croas
Gigli is a film in which Ben Affleck plays a small-time hood named Larry Gigli, who finds himself with the task of “getting and obtaining” the brother of a certain U.S. Attorney in New York. There are a few obstacles, including that the brother has a mental condition, and Gigli is not known for his own competence. Here is where Jennifer Lopez enters the story as Ricki, the lesbian gangster hired to make sure that Gigli does not screw things up.

The story might have had a chance here, but screenwriter/director Martin Brest dropped the ball. Affleck doesn't seem to know how to play his role of tough guy, and his performance comes off loud and boorish. The closest I came to sympathizing with his character was the fact that no one seemed to pronounce “Gigli” correctly.

Justin Bartha plays the role of Brian who is the brother that Gigli kidnaps, and my problem here is that Bartha is trying too hard to imitate Dustin Hoffman’s character from Rain Man. Instead of being convincing, he merely grates on the nerves.

On the flip side, there are a few performances worth seeing in this film. Lopez does well with what she is given, and smaller roles filled by Christopher Walken, Lanie Kazan and Al Pacino make the DVD worth renting just to watch them work.

The only thing that the DVD offers in terms of extras is the trailers for Gigli, Anaconda, Maid in Manhattan and Mona Lisa Smile.

Eric M. Croas

Trailers: original theatrical trailers for Gigli, Anaconda, Maid in Manhattan and Mona Lisa Smile.