Ever Been to New Jersey?

Rating: 1/10 (4 July 2014)

I just watched the first 40 minutes of this movie, and I had to shut it off. The acting is good. In fact, I especially like all of the leads - always have. But the story is stupid and obnoxious. And there are issues. Serious issues. For one, it's extremely crass. There's almost enough porn to qualify as a porn movie. But that's not what bothered me. What I HATED about this movie was its complete detachment from reality when it comes to New Jersey, where the film is set. Joseph-Gordon Levitt's character Johnny is a self-obsessed guido jackass, and his friends are all the same. Everyone in the movie uses the same fake Brooklyn accent that ignorant Hollywood types think is the way New Jerseyans sound. Maybe they should listen to Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson, Ray Liotta, Peter Dinklage, Kevin Spacey, Jason Biggs or Zach Braff. These are all well-known people who live in Hollywood and speak with an ACTUAL New Jersey accent. I don't think anyone involved with this movie has ever been to New Jersey. It seems as though the entire research effort for this film involved watching a few episodes of "Jersey Shore." For those who think reality shows are real, please note that Snookie and her friends are NOT from New Jersey, and that show is by far the least popular program at the real Jersey Shore. And one more thing, Mr Levitt: if you're going to do the Catholic confession scene in a movie (especially if you're going to do it over and over again) it might be a good idea to find out how it really works and looks. Among other things, you missed the fact that Catholics do not call it "The Lord's Prayer." For your penance, please say 20 "Our Father's" and stay the hell out of New Jersey! P.S. It wasn't funny, either - not even a little.