Could this be the worst film ever?

GIGLI stars Ben Affleck as Larry Gigli, a mafia heavy who is ordered by his bosses to kidnap Brian (Justin Bartha), the mentally ill brother of a federal prosecutor.

The kidnapping goes according to plan, but Larry’s bosses don’t think he’s really up to the job so they send Ricki (Jennifer Lopez) along to keep an eye on things. Ricki doesn’t appear to have any real purpose in this film other than to supply Larry with a love interest. The fact that she is a lesbian is overcome in a manner that’s insensitive and insulting to our intelligence.

Mind you, most of this film is insulting to our intelligence.

Despite rumours of a real-life romance between Affleck and Lopez, the on-screen chemistry between the pair is nonexistent.

This is in no small way due to the fact that they have to wade through some of the worst dialogue in living memory. One example of this is when Ricki forgets she’s a lesbian and decides to bat for the other side. She woos Larry with the never to be forgotten line: “It’s turkey time, gobble gobble”.

You have to feel somewhat sorry for Affleck. He’s given nothing to work with here and he just gives up the ghost. This one is going to haunt him for the rest of his career.

Lopez, on the other hand, is about the only one who lives up to her previous billing. She’s been rubbish in most of her previous films and she continues the trend here.

Not to be outdone, Justin Bartha’s portrayal of the mentally handicapped Brian is straight out of the Rainman school of acting. What’s good enough for Dustin Hoffman is good enough for him. But he’s no Dustin Hoffman, and if this performance is anything to go by, he never will be.

Gigli may be remembered as one of the worst films ever, and for that it may be worth renting. I can’t think of any other reason.

Action, 15. 0/5