Say Anything... (1989)

Featured Audience Ratings

• KJ P

  
  There may be films that make you question romance, and whether it is all worth it, but this film is completely different. It is a confirmation that love exits, and no matter what the circumstances may be, giving up everything will be worth it in the end. "Say Anything"… More
  There may be films that make you question romance, and whether it is all worth it, but this film is completely different. It is a confirmation that love exits, and no matter what the circumstances may be, giving up everything will be worth it in the end. "Say Anything" follows Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack), a lowlife, high-spirited teenager who's only life promise is to be with Diane Court (Ione Skye). This film provides the essentials in romance filmmaking, having the jocks, the assholes, the pretty boys, the drunks and crack addicts, but most of all, the middle man, who understands everything, but is unsure of what to make of his life. When Diane's father begins to prevent their connection, it will tug on your heartstrings until the snap. "Say Anything" is not just an amazing film, but it is one of the best romance films that I have ever seen! If you have not seen this film, you have no idea what you are missing!

• Dan S

  
  A wonderfully laid-back nostalgic filled coming of age story concerning a drifter (John Cusack) who falls in love with a driven, beautiful girl (Ione Skye), and how their relationship unfolds during her last summer home before she goes away to college. Thanks to a screenplay that… More
  A wonderfully laid-back nostalgic filled coming of age story concerning a drifter (John Cusack) who falls in love with a driven, beautiful girl (Ione Skye), and how their relationship unfolds during her last summer home before she goes away to college. Thanks to a screenplay that realistically develops its characters, all while shedding cliches and welcoming aspects like self-doubt into the story, this movie feels just so real. Cusack's and Skye have electric chemistry, and Cameron Crowe's assured direction and knowledge of how young people behaved during this point in time help make it just flat out fun. John Mahoney, as Skye's father, is also given great attention, as well as other dimensions that you don't typically see from a father whose daughter is being pursued by a less than stellar individual. Although it is not necessarily a great, super memorable movie, it has a nice way about it and that iconic Cusack scene is just one of the very many nice touches Crowe inserts into this piece.

• paul o

  
  It has its highs and lows and makes you go through the motions till the last frame. Its honestly the essential adolescent film of history!

• moon r

  
  Popular romcom although I think the Peter Gabriel songs have done more to fuse this in memory than the familiar kids-from-opposite-sides-of-the-track plot.

• Bethany M

  
  One of the best romantic films ever made. The scene were he has the radio over his head is such a stunning scene. Yet another great 80's film.

• Wildaly M

  
  Cute romance film.

• AJ V

  
  A beautiful, sweet, funny teen romantic comedy. The actors are perfect, and the story is great. I love this movie, it's an 80s classic, the last great teen romance of the decade, I think. I love this movie, and I highly recommend it.

• Cassie H

  
  This movie defines 80s romance. John Cusack still remaines one of my favorite actors. The serenade scene where Lloyd(John Cusack), holds the radio above his head while it plays Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes", makes this a 80s cult classic! John Cusack is also sooooo… More
  This movie defines 80s romance. John Cusack still remaines one of my favorite actors. The serenade scene where Lloyd(John Cusack), holds the radio above his head while it plays Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes", makes this a 80s cult classic! John Cusack is also sooooo cute in this movie not to mention really tall lol. I love John as Lloyd Dobler in this movie!!! Who wouldn't love this movie! Not to mention adorable Lloyd Dobler! :) Love it! :) John Cusack is so sweet too :)

• Bannan i

  
  Just watched this again, why don't they make movies like this anymore?! Cusack is still <3. And look that was a young Ari and Marcy! :D

• Pierluigi P

  
  I'm not saying I'm the kind of guy Lloyd Dobler is (ask the ladies) but I can totally relate to that character, his awkward but good-spirited behaviour and his seemingly impossible quest to be with Ione Skye. Both, her and John Cusack, have an undeniably appealing chemistry… More
  I'm not saying I'm the kind of guy Lloyd Dobler is (ask the ladies) but I can totally relate to that character, his awkward but good-spirited behaviour and his seemingly impossible quest to be with Ione Skye. Both, her and John Cusack, have an undeniably appealing chemistry on film, which ultimately earns most of the movie's accolades. The 80s fashion and pop music, though dreadful for today's standards, I have always been nostalgic and open minded about it, and I'm not ashamed to say I love it. Cameron Crowe was still forming up as a director, that shows; but his writing was very good. Probably the only thing I don't enjoy about it, is that subplot focusing on John Mahoney's character. Attention to Cusack's real life buddy, Jeremy Piven, in what probably is the movie's funniest scene. Overall, a funny, smart and endlessly charming little movie that can stir many of the emotions we thought to be lost after we left either our school, or our one and only girl.

• Manu G

  
  Wow I just can't believe I hadn't watch this movie before and such a great one for me personally really, I never thought it would be so good and it really was. It's a very simple story easy to watch but very deep in emotion all around because you don't really know… More
  Wow I just can't believe I hadn't watch this movie before and such a great one for me personally really, I never thought it would be so good and it really was. It's a very simple story easy to watch but very deep in emotion all around because you don't really know what to expect, such a great love story, to me one of the best of the 80's and in my personal list on of my favorite films top 20 of all-time! An improbable couple meets after high school graduation and must deal with their friends, family, and other pressures just to stay together. Lloyd Dobler is an average kickboxer with a good heart but limited ambition. Diane Court is an aloof genius who is very closely protected by her father. When Diane gets a scholarship to study in England, she has a weighty decision to make.

• Tim S

  
  Ok, I love John Cusack in just about anything, but this movie really has structure problems, but I enjoyed it for the most part.

• Conner R

  
  An above-average teen drama that actually has a good plot. Don't be fooled by the cover, it's not just John Cusack standing outside of a girls house with a boom box. It actually has a good message about finding your future and about being lost.

• Phil H

  
  Another 80's teen classic with an early line up of future stars but this one isn't too interesting really, actually its kinda dull, yes I know its a love story but I think the two leads make it dull really, maybe if it had been Molly Ringwald. Usual setup of school weirdo… More
  Another 80's teen classic with an early line up of future stars but this one isn't too interesting really, actually its kinda dull, yes I know its a love story but I think the two leads make it dull really, maybe if it had been Molly Ringwald. Usual setup of school weirdo going out and winning the heart of a popular girl, breaking up then getting back together again, popular stuff in the 80's haha the only thing of interest in here though is finding the little cameos by Eric Stolz, Jeremy Piven, Joan Cusack and Dan Castellaneta.

• Randy T

  
  Above average '80s 'classic' that works primarily because of the incredible on-screen chemistry between stars John Cusack and Ione Skye. On my short list of romantic comedies that I don't regret seeing.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"I gave her my heart, and she gave me a pen."</i> A noble underachiever and a beautiful valedictorian fall in love the summer before she goes off to college. <center><font size=+2 face="Century… More
  <i>"I gave her my heart, and she gave me a pen."</i> A noble underachiever and a beautiful valedictorian fall in love the summer before she goes off to college. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> Cusack is Lloyd Dobler, a kickboxing, funny regular guy whose immediate goals after high school is to spend every moment of the summer with valedictorian Skye in a winning, painfully truthful way: by being himself. Kudos to writer-director Cameron Crowe for his insightful viewpoints on adolescent trials and tribulations at love and maintaining a friendship despite the odds. Very funny and heart-warming and finally John's best role ever. Lili Taylor is memorable as Lloyd's platonic pal with 75 songs about her ex and look for Eric Stoltz and Jeremy Piven ("You must chill!") and Bebe Neuwirth as Cusack's teacher. Best moments: Lloyd getting 'advice' from losers at a gas'n'sip and his choice of Peter Gabriel's exquisite valentine "In Your Eyes" on a boombox. A real winner of a film.

• James A

  
  Rewatching this movie today I noticed an eerie relationship between Frasier's Dad and a over the top high school play actor. Still a mediocre at best movie.

• Mike S

  
  A well-written, yet pretty typical 80's dramedy, starring a very young and spirited John Cusack. Altough there wasn't really much of a plot, I still found myself thoroughly enjoying it, thanks to the wonderful authenticity in the acting and dialogue, which has always been… More
  A well-written, yet pretty typical 80's dramedy, starring a very young and spirited John Cusack. Altough there wasn't really much of a plot, I still found myself thoroughly enjoying it, thanks to the wonderful authenticity in the acting and dialogue, which has always been the signature for any work by director and writer Cameron Crowe. It may not be as brilliant as some of his other films, like <i>Almost Famous</i> and <i>Fast Times at Ridgemont High</i>, but it's still a solid and watchworthy movie, that reminded me once again of why I love the 80's so much. Because altough they didn't have things like Youtube, cell phones or TiVo back then, it surely made up for it with the consistently high quality of its music and films. Of course, I was only five when this movie came out...but the fact remains the same ;-)

• Aaron N

  
  Mike Cameron: I don't know you very well, you know, but I wanted to ask you - how'd you get Diane Court to go out with you? Lloyd Dobler: I called her up. Mike Cameron: But how come it worked? I mean, like, what are you? Lloyd Dobler: I'm Lloyd Dobler. Mike Cameron:… More
  Mike Cameron: I don't know you very well, you know, but I wanted to ask you - how'd you get Diane Court to go out with you? Lloyd Dobler: I called her up. Mike Cameron: But how come it worked? I mean, like, what are you? Lloyd Dobler: I'm Lloyd Dobler. Mike Cameron: This is great. This gives me hope. Thanks. Despite following a familiar romance formula, this is one of the best modern romantic comedies out there due its focus on remaining a character study, with well written roles, and three great main performances. John Cusack is Lloyd Dobler. He has just graduated high school, has no specific future in mind, although he does enjoy kickboxing, wears a trench coat around town, drives a Chevy Malibu, lives with her sister, played by Cusack's sister Joan, and is regarded as a really cool guy. Lloyd asks out Diane Court, played by Ione Skye, who has also just graduated high school at the top of her class, but has never really got to know her fellow classmates in favor of pursuing good grades. She has also just received a scholarship to go to school in England, but must now work around her blossoming relationship with Lloyd. Lloyd Dobler: She's gone. She gave me a pen. I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen. Also factoring into this film is Diane's father played by John Mahoney. He and Diane have a very open relationship, in which they tell each other everything out of trust. This is challenged by both Lloyd's presence and her father's disapproval of him, as well as an investigation of the father by the IRS, which could lead to possible trouble. D.C.: Lloyd, why do you have to be like this? Lloyd Dobler: 'Cause I'm a guy. I have pride. Corey Flood: You're not a guy. Lloyd Dobler: I am. Corey Flood: No. The world is full of guys. Be a man. Don't be a guy. Written and directed by Cameron Crowe, the movie is wonderful in handling its characters. Cliches are not an issue, as the characters all feel very real. That doesn't mean the dialog is especially effective in conveying true to life teens, but it functions to build up characters that I care about and want to see develop. All three characters, Cusack, Skye, and Mahoney do a wonderful job at making this film work. There are also supporting characters played by Lili Taylor as Lloyd's best friend and small moments from Erik Stoltz and Jeremy Piven, which work well enough. Lloyd Dobler: I got a question. If you guys know so much about women, how come you're here at like the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere? Joe: By choice, man. Even if one can see what's gonna happen to these characters, what matters is how well it is accomplished and how true the film stays to itself throughout. So while the film may go through the motions of certain plot points before reaching its conclusion, the way things are resolved work due to how effective the characters have been. Lloyd Dobler: Just knowing that a version like that exists, knowing that just for a minute she felt that and wrote "I can't help loving you". That has to be worth something. Being a film by Crowe also means that the soundtrack is very good as well. Very good all around. Lloyd Dobler: What I really want to do with my life - what I want to do for a living - is I want to be with your daughter. I'm good at it.

• Chris W

  
  One of the most absolutely quintessential 80's teen films, one of the best romantic comedies of all time, and the most touching, profound, heartfelt, and truly honest depiction of teenage love ever committed to celluloid. This is an amazing film, chock full of crisp, spot-on… More
  One of the most absolutely quintessential 80's teen films, one of the best romantic comedies of all time, and the most touching, profound, heartfelt, and truly honest depiction of teenage love ever committed to celluloid. This is an amazing film, chock full of crisp, spot-on dialoue, characters, and actions, brilliant direction from Cameron Crowe, and perfect performances from John Cusack and Ione Skye. This film deserves all the praise it gets, and even more so deserves the honors and praises that it should have gotten, but for some unknown reason was overlooked. Do not miss this film. Not seeing this film is as big a crime (if not bigger) than it getting robbed of it's much-deserved awards and recognition.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings