Starring Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., Renée Zellweger, Regina King, Kelly Preston, Jonathan Lipnicki, Jay Mohr

(9-Great Film)

Funny. Fresh. Winning.

Hip is something that doesn’t last, and if hip is all a film has going for it, it won’t last either. Jerry Maguire, though I might question its more schmaltzy moments, or its would-be profound scenes (Tom Cruise’s symbolic swimming for example seems rather silly), remains a fantastic romantic comedy with great writing and over the top performances that work. Maguire (Cruise) is a ruthless sports agent who has a change of heart costing him his job. Forced to strike out on his own, plus the help of a loyal assistant, single mother Dorothy (Zellweger), and his one lone client, diva-esque but endearing, Rod Tidwell (Gooding Jr. in an Oscar winning role), a wide-out for the Arizona Cardinals. Crowe’s hyper-kinetic style matches well with his fast-paced, smart, funny script. I don’t even mind some of Jerry Maguire’s cornier scenes.

-Walter Tyrone Howard-

(17)