Jersey Girl is a 1992 American romantic comedy film directed by David Burton Morris and written by Gina Wendkos. It stars Jami Gertz as Toby, a New Jersey schoolteacher who becomes romantically involved with Sal, a wealthy Manhattan salesman played by Dylan McDermott.
Plot Toby Mastallone is a working-class preschool teacher from New Jersey who has grown dissatisfied with her life and dreams of finding a more glamorous future in Manhattan. After discussing her ideal man with her friends, she visits a Mercedes-Benz dealership in New York. While leaving, she nearly collides with Sal Torme, a successful salesman driving a new Mercedes. Smitten with him, Toby follows Sal and accidentally causes a crash that damages his car. They exchange information, giving Toby an excuse to contact him again.
Toby begins pursuing Sal, repeatedly calling him and inserting herself into his life. Although initially reluctant, Sal becomes attracted to her, and the two begin dating. Sal takes Toby to a charity event and later visits her home in New Jersey, where he meets her protective father, Bennie. As their relationship deepens, Toby learns that Sal's polished Manhattan lifestyle conceals a working-class upbringing similar to her own. Sal, however, has spent years distancing himself from his background and is determined to continue climbing socially and professionally.
Sal's former girlfriend Tara, a wealthy gallery owner, re-enters his life and encourages him not to return to the type of world that he has worked to escape from. Influenced by her and by his own ambitions, Sal ends his relationship with Toby, telling her that they come from different worlds and that he needs something more. The breakup forces Toby to recognize how much she has changed while trying to become the sophisticated 'city girl' she imagined Sal wanted, and she reconciles with the friends she had begun looking down on.
Toby's friends later confront Sal at his workplace and accuse him of throwing away the best relationship he has had. Their intervention prompts Sal to reconsider his priorities. He then clashes with his mentor Mitchell, who disparages Toby and reminds Sal of how carefully he has been groomed for success. Sal rejects Mitchell's values, quits his job and ends his relationship with Tara, acknowledging that he no longer wants the life they represent.
Sal eventually finds Toby at the preschool where she works and tells her that he loves her and wants her back. Toby initially refuses, explaining that she has learned to accept herself and will no longer change to fit someone else's expectations. Sal insists that he does not want her to change, and the two reconcile after he deliberately bumps her car, echoing the accident that first brought them together.
Cast The cast includes: Jami Gertz as Toby Dylan McDermott as Sal Sheryl Lee as Tara Aida Turturro as Angie Molly Price as Cookie Star Jasper as Dot Joseph Mazzello as Jason Joseph Bologna as Bennie Philip Casnoff as Mitchell Pat Collins as Gabe Regina Taylor as Rosie Amy Sakasitz as Monica Mary Beth Peil as Day Care Center Teacher Jordan Dean as Tim Richard Maldone as Bobby
Production Jersey Girl was written by Gina Wendkos and directed by David Burton Morris. Staffan Ahrenberg, David Madden and Nicole Seguin produced the film, with Ron Fortunato serving as cinematographer, Norman Hollyn as editor and Misha Segal composing the score. Filming began on June 5, 1991, and was completed on July 24, with locations in New York City and Hackensack, New Jersey.
After the film was completed, its planned release became uncertain. Contemporary Variety reporting said Columbia Pictures executives Peter Guber and Mark Canton responded more positively to the premise than to the finished film and considered remaking the material with a larger budget and better-known stars. Jami Gertz later recalled being told that the film might be remade with "bigger stars", describing the experience as humiliating and devastating.
Release Jersey Girl received a theatrical release in the United Kingdom in August 1992. Its wider release plans remained uncertain; in September 1992, musician John Cafferty, whose band had recorded songs for the film's soundtrack, said that the project had been postponed and that he didn't know when it would be released. The film was subsequently released on home video in the United States on March 30, 1994, with Columbia TriStar Home Video handling the video release.
Reception Variety critic Adam Sandler criticized the film's implausible story and argued that Gina Wendkos's characters were neither interesting nor endearing, despite director David Burton Morris's efforts. Kevin Jackson of The Independent described the film as a conventional "date movie", finding its central dates only mildly amusing and its message about remaining true to oneself trite. Time Out was similarly negative, describing the romance as contrived and criticizing its predictable exchanges and treatment of materialism. By contrast, a review in Cash Box praised Jami Gertz's performance, the dialogue, supporting performances and direction, while acknowledging that the story was predictable.
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