Jerry Maguire
I donÆt get the Tom Cruise appeal myself. I know thatÆs
sacrilegious coming from a Yank, after all he is Mr America.
HeÆs just too pretty, too saccharine and too damn goodie
goodie. Every time he smiles that toothy grin and wrinkles
up his nose as if to say ôainÆt I just darlingö it makes me
wanna yawn. Well, Mr America has been cast in yet another leading role as Jerry Maguire, sportÆs agent, in the soon to be released in the UK movie of the same name. Jerry Maguire, sleazy sports agent who would risk the health and safety of his clients (pro American footballers) for a buck, suddenly finds integrity. In an ethereal moment late one evening, with sweat dripping from his brow, he types out a mission statement which he distributes to his colleagues the following morning. He meets with a round of insincere applause from his co-workers for having found morality and then gets sacked for having found morality. Oops, now what? He suddenly realises he must go independent û heÆll have to take his clients with him so he makes a number of desperate phone calls and manages to round up the support of almost has-been footballer, played by Cuba Gooding, and the support of a lovely, pouty young secretary (donÆt know actressÆ name) who, with much drama, quits her job at the firm to follow Maguire the prophet.
A romance with the pouty babe ensues, Cruise and Gooding become soul mates and the pouty babe becomes a wife. Without spoiling the plot, they all live happily ever after.
You may think I hated the movie, but I didnÆt. Cuba Gooding was brilliant, well worth the $9 ticket at the new Virgin ægoogaplexÆ in Times Square, and the soundtrack is jamminÆ. With all its sugar and spice and everything nice, it manages to preserve the notion of the American dream: the underdog makes good.
If you like feel-good movies about love, triumph and friendship, then Jerry Maguire is the one for you. If you roll your eyes at Hollywood mamby pamby, boy meets girl flicks, then wait for it to come out on video.
Reviewed by Donatella Montrone
FILM FACTS IN BRIEF
Directed by Cameron Crowe
Starring Tom Cruise, Angela Goethals, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Renee Zellweger
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