Directed by: Cameron Crowe
Starring: Tom Cruise, Renee Zellweger, Jonathan Lipnicki, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Regina King, Bonnie Hunt, Beau Bridges, Jerry O'Connell, Jay Mohr, Kelly Preston
Jerry Maguire (Cruise) is a high-powered sports agent with so many clients he can hardly keep track of them. He flies from coast to coast making appearances with clients, holding negotiations, and putting out fires. One night, he awakes with a panic attack and composes an email which he sends to every member of his agency. It is honest, ethical, forthright, and calls for fewer clients so they could receive proper representation. The email may be what is on the minds of every agent in the agency, but it doesn't endear Jerry to his bosses. He is soon fired, but not before assuring he takes a couple of clients with him and perky assistant Dorothy Boyd (Zellweger), who thinks he is really onto something and finds him very attractive to boot.
Many will remember Jerry Maguire for the "show me the money" catchphrase, but they may not remember how charming and warm it is. The movie is above all a romantic comedy, in which Jerry's soon-to-be only client wide receiver Rod Tidwell (Gooding, Jr. in an Oscar-winning performance) shows Jerry the way to true love while Jerry is trying to show him the money. Rod is married to Marcee (King), and the two truly love each other. When Rod is seemingly severely injured during a critical football game, Marcee's wants Jerry to "bring Rod to me," The money doesn't matter at that point, only that Rod returns to her safely. It is one of the most moving scenes in the movie.
Rod's ideal marriage is a contrast to Jerry's awkward courtship and then quickie marriage to Dorothy. Jerry likes Dorothy well enough, but does he love her in the way Rod and Marcee love each other?
Could he ever love her in the way Dorothy clearly loves him? Jerry begins the movie with a cold, callous girlfriend (Preston), who pretty much abandons ship when Jerry is fired. He also has to deal with the scheming, oily Bob Sugar (Mohr), who is ready to swoop in and steal Jerry's clients, who in some cases are primed to be stolen.
Jerry Maguire has a knowledge of the sports agency business, which is an "up-at-dawn, pride-swallowing siege," Jerry tells Rod as Rod makes it difficult for himself to renegotiate a big payday because of his mouth and perceived lack of respect. It is no wonder Jerry woke up in a panic. He had money, power, but not enough love. Throughout the movie, Jerry edges cautiously towards love and self-respect. Cruise is a natural for this role. He has a slick exterior which carefully conceals his needful interior. Zellweger has eyes and a smile to die for, and she just loves Jerry to pieces even against the advice of her doubtful, watchful sister Laurel (Hunt).
Jerry Maguire is a romantic comedy set in the high-pressure world of sports. You wouldn't think the two worlds could mesh so well, but they do, and Crowe's film is one which is hard not to love.
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