I actually really enjoyed this movie. Tom Cruise does a great job in this one, famous for his line "Show me the Money!" Great storyline and reminded me a lot of the Pursuit of Happyness.. There was a bit too much dialogue, else it would be 4.5 stars. Recommended.
"I am out here for you. You don't know what it's like to be ME out here for YOU. It is an up-at-dawn, pride-swallowing siege that I will never fully tell you about, OK?"
There's a scene in a recent episode of "How I Met Your Mother" in which Ted explains the reason why Marshall didn't enjoy Jerry Maguire by saying he doesn't have a heart. Now, I apologize to those who aren't familiar with the show - which is awesome, btw - but that's also the best thing I can think of to say to anyone who can't seem to enjoy this film. Those people should, by law, be forbidden to use the expressions "show me the money!" and "you had me at hello." whenever they're trying to make a '90s cultural reference.
At the time of its release, which was twelve years ago, Jerry Maguire received mostly positive reviews. It's easy to understand why: it's funny, cute, harmless, and has an iconic, much beloved actor in the lead role. The first time I watched it I found it to be all those things, nothing more. But, growing up and getting to know the work of Cameron Crowe, it started to grow on me, eventually becoming a sort of "guilty favourite", a film I'm always ready to defend against anyone. This is after all perhaps the best example of why the world loves Tom Cruise in spite of all the craziness. The Scientology bullshit, his relationships, jumping on the couch on Oprah, all that has absolutely nothing to do with his work as an actor. This film did its best to exploit the Tom Cruise we still pay money to see in theatres. No one can really think of Tom Cruise, the actor and not remember Jerry Maguire.
He's a fast-talking, hard-working young sports agent who works side-by-side with a group of young people at SMI (Sports Management International) in Los Angeles. During a tumultuous exposition-laded, terrifically edited opening credit sequence - note to "serious" filmmakers: see, they're good for something, as opposed to just starting the film with no sense of focus or pace - Jerry has a dark night of the soul, sits in front of his computer and writes a "mission statement" ("not a memo") pleading to shift the focus of the business from the bottom line to hands-on managing of fewer clients per agent.
The memo brings public cheers from his colleagues, most of whom remain privately cynical. Is there room for the truth? Apparently not; Maguire is fired by his boss, whose unremorseful callousness will make him the vague focus of Jerry's professional redemption. Stalking out of the office with only a goldfish and humble accountant Dorothy Boyd (Renée Zellweger), Jerry pours his not-immodest energy into two clients, clean-cut college quarterback Frank Cushman (Jerry O'Connell) and eccentric Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.). When his shepherding of Cushman hits an unexpected obstacle, it costs Jerry his relationship with hard-as-nails NFL publicist Avery Bishop (Kelly Preston) and opens the door to the awkward but inevitable courtship of Dorothy, whose young son Ray (Jonathan Lipnicki) has taken an immediate liking to the agent - who is surprised and touched by his own seemingly endless tolerance for the kid.
The climaxes of the film, such as they are, involve redemption: Rod learns the importance of singing for his supper in a hysterical send-up of celebrations that was reportedly choreographed by Paula Abdul; Dorothy's sceptical, wise-cracking sister Laurel (Bonnie Hunt) makes her peace with their relationship ("If you fuck this up, I'll kill you," she tells Jerry); But most significantly, Jerry Maguire has the courage of not making its convictions about a revenge against SMI, opting instead for a graceful story arc of discovery and growth followed by an unabashedly sweet fade-out that makes extraordinarily effective use of Bob Dylan's classic "Shelter from the Storm" (the awesome soundtrack includes other giants such as The Who, Elvis Presley, Neil Young, The Rolling Stones, Nirvana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, AC/DC or Gloria Estefan).
Remarkably, at 19 minutes over two hours, Jerry Maguire never plays long, due entirely to the informed immediacy and precise balance of the script. It took Crowe three years to write, and the care shows in the depth of the characterizations and the logic of the plot. Originally conceived as a vehicle for Tom Hanks, the film cries out for an actor going through what one character fleetingly refers to as a "pre-mid-life crisis". Crowe has trusted his instincts to go with - at the time - relative unknowns in the large supporting cast, and the gamble has paid off handsomely. The acting is uniformly first rate, without a sour note in the entire ensemble. Gooding Jr. is outstanding (as would be his Oscar-win celebration), Zellweger is a revelation of precise comic acting, while little Lipnicki is constantly adorable, and his finely-timed scenes with Cruise - sentimental without once becoming cloying - are indeed the heart of the picture.
After Mission: Impossible, Cruise, an actor known for balancing "important" films with more mainstream stories, has cleverly switched the order by starring in his summer smash and following up with a film that looked like another populist parable like Days of Thunder but played with as much sincerity and substance as Rain Man. Perhaps sensing that his brash-young-guy-on-the-come routine was getting a bit old, Cruise must've rejoiced at the complexities of Maguire, a guy who wants to change but hasn't a clue how to go about it with guaranteed success. And it is that very confusion and vulnerability that separates Jerry from Cruise's other forgettable creations. A very smart actor, he saw the need for modification and jumped at it with calculated relish. Could Tom Hanks, or John Cusack, or Matt Dillon have played Maguire? Sure, but not with the volatile mix of supermarket tabloid fame and honest talent Cruise brings to the role. Would that have had an impact on the fragile chemistry of the film? Without a doubt. Jerry Maguire, the actor's 19th feature, showcases the best performance of Tom Cruise's career.
By 1996, Crowe was now three-for-three as a hyphenate filmmaker. His Say Anything... (1989) is a sublime tribute to youthful eighties exuberance, while Singles (1992), with its stoned-again career-best performance by Dillon but uneven secondary cast, was unfortunately overlooked but will play far better with age and the adoration of pop archaeologists seeking the truth about the Seattle grunge movement. Jerry Maguire was the confirmation, the "that guy has talent." statement.
He's a filmmaker of power on the word processor as well as the set, writing snappy, sharp dialogue that plays only in the context of his seemingly meandering, episodic plots. Look closely, though, and you'll see how carefully he unites actor and situation: scenes like the awkward elevator ride after Jerry and Dorothy have left SMI succeed through an intertwined foundation of timing, angles and performance. Yet an actor in a Cameron Crowe film must be prepared to do things that fly in the face of conventional narrative: his characters are forever addressing the camera and declaiming their innermost thoughts in voice-over, the cumulative effect of which is an anything-can-happen atmosphere and characters of enormous substance. That he coaxes such a disciplined performances out of 27-year-old Zellweger is proof enough that his sets must nurture an atmosphere of confidence and control.
Smart without being smart-mouthed, astute without being calculated, and quite obviously the work of a filmmaker with something important to say and a clear and wicked way of saying it, Jerry Maguire is a triumph of nuanced social satire masquerading as a commercial romantic comedy, a film that can both make fun of and wallow in its celebration of the crass spectacle professional sport has become. It's everything you'd expect from a Cameron Crowe film: funny, poignant, and insightful. There's a hero who dares to be optimistic in a cynical world, a charming, lonely man who yearns for recognition and, of course, the Girl, the one who inspires the hero to be more than he thought he could be.
Not one of my favourite Cameron Crowe features. Renee Zellweger is the best in a cast that didn't impress me much including the over-rated Cuba Gooding.
This is a pretty good movie, but I didn't find it to be as astounding as other's claim it is. I agree there were good parts, but there was nothing new and unusual in it. By the way, that infamous line, "You had me at hello." Really isn't all that good.
This is considered one of my favorite movies of all time. I've always hated Tom Cruise but this is by far his best role that he's ever done. It started pretty slow in introduction but everything started coming together at once and it was pretty powerful and amazing how his company ruled by only one sports client could change his life forever and you see him grow and grow as the film goes on. Very awesome happenings.
I've heard about this movie but never watched but when I did,gosh,,I just love it.One huge lesson is...Family should be a top priority in life.I cried..can you believe that...Gosh!!
this is a classic. probably the best performance from cuba gooding jr. that ive ever seen. this has some classic lines that you have most likely heard in spoof. although it has un-needed moments, it also has some great moments. definitly a feel good film. but so good
Tom Cruise was great as always in this movie where he played a sports agent for the NFL. Safe to say,Tom Cruise never seizes to amaze me!!! This movie definetly deserves 5 stars!!!
I seen this film for the first time when I was about 7 and even then I couldn't see the fascination with it. I've never been a big Tom Cruise fan but despite that there is nothing that great about the rest of the film either. Cruise's performance isn't awful and he fits the character fairly well. Renee Zellweger gives a much stronger performance than Cruise. But I have to hand the best performance of the film to Jonathan Lipnicki. He's so young here yet brilliant as well. The plot is better than some other romantic comedies and no it doesn't have too much cheese in it at all but it still doesn't do it for me. Still, I would recommend this film as there seems to be plenty people to disagree with me and you may find your on their side rather than mine.
Tom Cruise was exellent in this one. Cuba Gooding Jr. did his best work in this film from what I've seen so far. Great story, Renée Zellweger played the perfect single mom role. Cameron Crowe and his wife his wife Nancy have an amazing tallent at picking the perfect songs for his movies. A very enjoyable film.
Oooh, it's Tom Cruise and he's all like rich and successful, but his hearts not in it. Ooh, now he's quitting and there's Cuba Gooding Jr. jumping around and shouting...how long is this film? Oh, now he's marrying Renee Zellwegger...another hour? Maybe it gets better...Cuba Gooding Jr. shouting again...now the spiky-haired kids being all cute and are they really going...going...gone. Zzzzz
Great romantic comedy from Cameron Crowe. Been awhile since I've seen this but I know one thing: Tom Cruise is a hell of an actor. So he is a crazy scientologist, but he's still one hell of an actor. Cuba Gooding Jr. also is great in this movie as a washed up football star.
Cool movie. The premise for the film was just so fresh and great. The script was great to. I never would've thought that Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., Renee Zellweger, even Regina King would gel so great together in this film. Two thumbs up to all of them for such great performances. Throw in the kid for good measure, and you have such a well rounded film. On a personal note, I just love all of the Persol shades showcased in this movie. Really chic.
Show me the money! You had me at hello! Two classic phrases in movie history. And the movie to is good. Tom Cruise, Renée Zellweger and Cuba Gooding JR. rocks in this movie!
This was quite a good movie, despite the fact that it launched what was likely the most annoying catch phrase of the 1990s. I'm not a Cruise fan, but even he was passable in this.
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