Customer Reviews

Jerry Maguire

5 star:		(127)
4 star:		(39)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

Well, I'm incredibly late to the Jerry Maguire party, but I'm glad I finally made it. I thought this was just a comedy, but I should have known better because laughs alone usually don't generate the kind of success this movie enjoyed. This is a wonderful, feel-good movie with a surprisingly effective emotional payoff. Tom Cruise is great, Cuba Gooding, Jr., steals every scene he's in, and that Renee Zellweger is nothing short of perfect. They even threw in a clip of McGarrett on Hawaii Five-O and sent me away with Bob Dylan singing over the credits - in my book, that's going above and beyond the call of duty. And I never tire of seeing someone break away from the cynicism of big business and actually put some heart back into an increasingly heartless way of life.

Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) is, of course, a bigshot sports agent who has it all - then loses it all. For some inexplicable reason, he develops a conscience late one night, puts together this huge "mission statement" all about reducing the number of clients and giving those remaining the genuine personal touch, and sends it to everyone in the company. With a schlep of a boss like Bob Sugar (the always annoying Jay Mohr), his days with the company are, not surprisingly, numbered. He vows to start his own company, desperately trying to hold on to the clients he has been representing - but all he ends up taking with him are outrageous Cardinals wide receiver Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) and Dorothy Boyd (Renee Zellweger), an accountant who was truly inspired by what he had written. It doesn't seem like much, but he really has all he will ever need - he just doesn't realize it until the end of the movie.

Life on his own is quite a struggle, especially after he breaks up with his vicious fiancée (Kelly Preston), and I know it must be truly demoralizing to be defeated time and time again by Jay Mohr. Rod Tidwell, a great player who doesn't get the notice (or money) he thinks he deserves, stays loyal to him, though, for rather inexplicable reasons - even after Maguire fails to get him the kind of big money he is looking for in a new contract. Dorothy also stays with him, and Maguire grows increasingly close to her and her little boy Ray (Jonathan Lipnicki). There's love in the air, and Maguire's famous problem with emotional intimacy makes what should be the simplest thing in the world immensely complicated. We see a lot of Maguire at his worst - double-crossed, drunk, beaten up, wallowing in self-pity. He never gives up, though, and that's what's important. I find it a little problematic that he did not apply the principles of his "mission statement" to the way he lived his life, but - in his defense - guys tend to be pretty dense about this kind of thing (and would that we all had a Dorothy to help us see the light).

There's a wonderful cast on display here, with uncommonly meaningful secondary characters: there's little Ray, of course, but Dorothy's bitter yet loving sister Laurel (Bonnie Hunt) and Rod Tidwell's wife Marcee (Regina King) really do lay claim to a commanding presence in the story. You can also make a little game of spotting all of the sports personalities that make cameos (usually silent ones, thankfully) in the film.

This isn't a comedy; it's a serious story that just happens to feature a lot of laughs. It's a commentary on the depersonalization of business, a complicated yet wonderfully sweet love story, and a movie with a surprisingly big heart. And I love Renee Zellweger. As far as I'm concerned, she - not Tom Cruise - was the star of this film.

This is probably one of the best performances I have seen by Tom Cruise. He portrays Jerry McGuire, a sought after sports agent, that gets a wake up call causing him to reevaluates his priorities in life. Renee Zellweger is cast as his partner and wife. She is delightful and always a joy to watch. Cuba Gooding Jr. commands attention in every scene he is in. He was very impressive in this film. Who couldn't be in love with little Jonathan Lipnicki!

This film is definitely what I would call a feel good movie. I came away from it feeling that there are decent people in this world and that we are not all disappearing into the obscurity of just a name on a piece of paper.

The story follows Jerry Maguire, played by Tom Cruise, falling from grace working for a sports star agency when he has a flash of inspiration and takes the moral high ground on the way people should be treat within the company. His eventual rise to becoming a better person is aided from the love of woman and her son and the realization that everyone who he represents should be treated with the same respect.

The person that stole the show for me was Cuba Gooding Jr. Every scene he was in made me laugh. This was the first movie I had seen him in and thought he was a terrific actor, deserved of the Oscar he won for Best Supporting Actor. The "Show Me The Money" scene will have you in stitches.

This is not a DVD that is to be bought for it's technical qualities or abundance of extras. All you get is a static menu with no trailer, character biographies or other extras. In this day and age of DVD's like "Contact" and "The Matrix" I would have expected a bit more from a quality movie like this. The picture quality is good, as is the sound but it certainly won't tax your Dolby Digital amplifier, but then again it is not expected to.

Jerry Maguire is a film to cuddle up to your partner with and watch on a cold rainy night. It is funny, poignant and thought provoking. Worth watching at least once.

Steve.

I'll start this review off by saying Cameron Crowe is amazing. If you liked Almost Famous and/or Say Anything, then you'll love this film.

Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) is an unscrupulous sports agent who has an epiphany one sleepless night in a hotel, prompting him to write a mission statement that he distributes throughout his agency. Heartfelt and honest, the mission statement gets him fired and garners the respect of a lonely single mother, Dorothy Boyd (played by the charming Zellweger). He retains a sole client, the over-the-top Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.), and much hilarity ensues.

The acting is A+ all around. Cruise shines in the title role, earning a much-deserved Best Actor Oscar nod. He nails every expression and detail, making even Jerry the jerk likable at the beginning of the film. Cuba Gooding Jr. is fabulous, as usual. He steals every scene he's in and has amazing chemistry with both Tom Cruise and Regina King (Mrs. Tidwell). Bravo on the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, Cuba. Renee Zellweger is charming in her breakthrough role as Dorothy, "the world's oldest 26 year-old". Kelly Preston surprised me as the tough-as-nails, abrasive Avery. She does an excellent job with her supporting role. The entire supporting cast really makes the film work. Jay Mohr, Regina King, Kelly Preston, Jonathan Lipnicki (absolutely adorable), Bonnie Hunt and Jerry O'Connell provide a solid framework for both the story and the main cast. Todd Louiso is my favorite supporting actor. He plays the 'nanny' and is a riot.

Crowe does an excellent job of constucting a film with parallel stories, one moral and one romantic. He paints vivid, likeable characters with witty dialogue. Although predictable (What do you expect from a romantic comedy? They're all predictable.), this film is enjoyable whether you watch it for the first time or the ninety-first time.

The DVD is excellent and chock full of special features. The most notable being the commentary done by Cameron Crowe, Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Renee Zellweger.

After 1992's relatively disappointing Singles, Cameron Crowe comes back strong with Jerry Maguire. The film is a romantic comedy with the underpinning of how ethics and values are treated in today's society. Tom Cruise stars as the title character who is a highly successful sports agent. After a night of heavy drinking, he types up a mission statement that is a little too much for his firm. He becomes a pariah in the company and eventually his one time protegee (Jay Mohr) tells him he's been fired. Jerry loses all of his clients except one Arizona Cardinals wide receiver, Rod (Cuba Gooding, Jr.). Renee Zellewiger is a worker at Jerry's firm and she is the only one who takes up his offer to leave with him for the agency he's starting up. She is in love with Jerry and will do anything for him. Eventually they fall in love and Jerry makes a big score for Rod. Mr. Cruise gain exudes all the boyish charm that has made him a superstar. Ms. Zellewiger has wholesome, girl next door looks and is sweet in her role. Mr. Gooding is a whirling dervish in his role. He is a ball of energy and the scene where he gets Jerry to shout "show me the money" became a major catch-phrase and part of the lexicon. Mr. Gooding won a well deserved Best Supporting Actor Oscar and the film cemented Mr. Crowe as the best double threat (directing & writing) in movies this side of Woody Allen.

I saw Jerry maguire for the first time in 1997 and I was amazed. I had believed that this was again another typical sports movie with prettyboy Cruise in it, but I was wrong. Cameron Crowe has done really a wonderful piece of modern cinema. The characters are so real, and u can almost smell and touch the films atmosphere when watching it. Tom Cruise is acting with such a wild passion, that you just have to love him for that. He is acting a sport agent full of heart and soul. And Renee Zellweger, could there be any other so sweet, so tender and beautiful person like you in the world? Her role as Dorothy Boyd made me forget that she is even acting, and the part was truly made just for her.(The date scene makes me cry everytime, so pure happiness and feelings) Cuba Gooding jr. earned his first oscar. His character changes the life of Jerry Maguire in the film and does it with such of enthustiasm that you can just admire Rod Tidwells life, where every piece is in the right order. The little boy (Jonathan Lipnicki) is also awesome. All the actors/actresses are doing a good job. The biggest credit goes to the script by Crowe. It is very original and fresh indeed. Crowe has decided to concentrate mostly on characters and that is why I like this movie so much. This is the fist sports movie I have ever loved. Jerry Maguire is about people, who are just like we all. It is about the truth, love, respect and relationships...okay and about sports. Jerry Maguire works really well. The beautiful cinematography, editing and music makes the strong story and characters to look good. Yes I agree that it's very emotional, touchy and sweet, but why should we deny that we need that sometimes. I can honestly say that this world seems to be so much better place to live in after seeing Jerry Maguire. The mix of tiers and smile on your face tells the rest. After I have seen Jerry about 10 times, i can agree that it might be little too long but what the hell, it is still worth every minute of it!

I have to say that Jerry Maguire is one of the best performances by Tom Cruise. He is so emotionally vulnerable as Jerry Maguire that everyone is completely relating to him.

Everyone sort of has this idea of sending out a memo to your colleagues to indicate what an ideal work life should be, however, when the reality hits about the memo and the people at the office are thinking what has he been smoking, then Jerry realizes that he is losing it. When he gets fired by one of his underlings played wonderfully by Jay Mohr, then you know that you are on a wonderful emotional roller coaster called life with Jerry.

Cameron Crowe does a wonderful job of directing Cruise through the evolving process of his character. Renee Zellweger, Cuba Gooding Jr., Regina King, Bonnie Hunt, Kelly Preston and Jonathan Lipnicki definitely make the movie even better as they guide Jerry through the difficult process of life.

Zellweger is great when she packs up her stuff and decides to follow Jerry into the unknown. Gooding Jr. is great when he tells Jerry that he is the ambassador of "kwan". Lipnicki is adorable as Jerry's new close little friend as Zellweger's son.

I could go on about how this movie is the evolving character of a man who has a problem with an intimate relationship, but with a little help from his friend(Gooding Jr.), he realizes that the best thing in life is a truly committed intimate relationship. One of the better realizations about this movie.

If you like Crowe, Cruise, Zellweger, Gooding Jr., then you will have a great time seeing Jerry Maguire. I have forgotten how many times that I have seen it, and it will always be one of the better movies that I have seen.

This film spoke to me in so many ways. It was almost as if "Jerry Maguire" had been written with me in mind. From Jerry's epiphany at the start of the story through his struggle and eventual triumph over his fear of intimacy, it all seemed to be drawn from my experiences. These are the things that concern me every day.

Tom Cruise was beautiful. He showed perfect acting the whole time. It is perhaps, the finest work so far in his career. You could see every flicker of doubt and insincerity cross his face. I was laughing out loud, then crying and then so tightly happy that I forgot to breath. All of the other cast members seemed perfect as well. I particularly liked the doubting, divorced but totally caring sister Laurel. And let's not forget Dorothy's son Ray, what a little charmer.

The basic story is a simple one and yet it is fresh all the same. One of the slogans that the promoters used was, "A legend that became a man". For me, that is not a bad summary of the plot. Jerry is a highly successful sports agent who has an attack of conscience which gets him fired. He manages this rather early on in the film by writing a new mission statement entitled, "The things we think and do not say", which harks back in time to simpler days where a man's word was his bond. As one of his work mates says, "I give him a week". Sure enough, Jerry was doing a Lone Ranger in seven days. And as happens to so many of us, this disaster turns out to be the best thing that could have happened to him.

In the hectic moments as he tries tries to keep all his clients he is tied up by one rather loud and demanding footballer. In the end it is this one man who fills Jerry's client roster. Not to be daunted, Jerry strides out into the land of cubicles and coffee machines and firmly asks who would like to join him in exile.

Of course he is less than overwhelmed by the response. Just as it looks like his only colleague will be a gold fish, a young accounting clerk named Dorothy, who was inspired by Jerry's mission statement, pipes up and falteringly joins the crusade. Unfortunately she has a very young son named Ray and no other means of support. This puts Jerry under a little more pressure than he needed which is well illustrated when, before they even get out of the building's elevator, Dorothy starts enquiring about her health plan.

But in the end Jerry finds a strength he didn't know he had, an empathy he has never needed before, an integrity that used to be a handicap and finally he finds the love of his life. If you dream about finding any of these things in your own life I suggest you could do a lot worse than following Jerry's example.

The film is as crowded with emotions as Jerry Mcquire himself, it's many subplots and situations include morality, marriage, breakups, makeups, conviction, single motherhood, longevity of being a pro sportsperson, friendship, mentorship..

And then some. But both Zellweger and Cruise, and occasionally even Cuba G Jr. as a wide receiver on the verge of greatness, have enough commanding presence to carry the film. The goggled kid is cute too.

There are plenty of cheesy lines, e.g., "You had me at Hello", but the movie redeems itself, like its protagonist, through sheer charm and bounty of the human spirit.

Recommended rental.

this movie is about love. The hard thing in life is to simply love, not to mete out your love in a miserly fashion, but to love hard. To love with a visceral intensity that keeps getting stronger. "I refuse to not love" is the moral of this film.