Right, well we are into the final month of the year, which is incredible and I figured it was time to start off the posts for December with a film review and the film I have chosen is Tom Cruise's romantic comedy, Jerry Maguire from 1996 (21 years ago! God!!). Now, I'm not a big fan of rom-coms perse but I figured I would make an exception with this one and give it a look.
So, with that said, let's dive in and take a closer look at this un...
And yes, the usual warning is coming up...
SPOILERS ARE AHEAD!!!
STORY
So, the story is set around its main character, Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) who is a successful sports agent, who works for major agency, SMI. Jerry however one day on visiting an injured hockey player in hospital, whom Jerry represents, the player's son is disgusted when he Jerry tells him that his dad shouldnt' stop playing and tells Jerry to go f*** himself, leaving Jerry devastated. Jerry as a result has a life altering epiphany that leads him to write a mission statement for the agency that states that the company needs to start working with fewer athletes to promote better working relationships with them.
As a result of this, Jerry is fired from his job by his protege, Bob Sugar (Jay Mohr) and Jerry then tries to go after all of Bob's clients as well as his own. However, Jerry has no success in doing so, as Bob successfully manages to wrangle all of Jerry's clients over to him except one, Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr) an American football player for the Arizona Cardinals, who is disgruntled with his current contract and drags Jerry into a long conversation, who at the end tells Jerry that he is still his agent. Jerry before he leaves the office announces that he will start up his own business and asks who will come with him to which no one responds, except for one person, Dorothy Boyd (Rene Zellweger) who was touched by Jerry's mission statement (and also has a thing for him!).
Jerry however is buoyed by the news that a superstar quarterback, Frank "Cush" Cushman (Jerry O'Connell) and his father, Matt (Beau Bridges) wants to stay signed with Jerry. However, its not long before Matt has a change of heart when he spotted him speaking to Rod, who is African-American whereas as Cush is white. Jerry afterward has a row with his fiancee Avery (Kelly Preston) and he promptly breaks up with her and as a result beats him up.
Jerry not long after though starts to become romantically attached to Dorothy as the two of them work together much to the disapproval of Dorothy's older sister, Laurel (Bonnie Hunt) and Jerry also takes a shine to Dorothy's son, Ray (Jonathan Lipnicki). Realising their financial problems, Dorothy tells Jerry that she has been offered a secure job in San Diego but Jerry suggests they get married instead, which they do. Jerry then puts all his efforts into working with his only remaining client, Rod, who proves difficult to work with as he does nothing but complain about his contract and the game.
Rod however also has a go at Jerry for getting married to Dorothy when it appears he doesn't really love her and in turn Jerry tells Rod he doesn't have his big contract because he plays the game with his head and not his heart and he should shut up and play the game without complaining. Rod is at first angry but he soon takes Jerry's advice onboard, which results in his team and himself playing much better.
However things on Jerry's marriage are not so good as the two of them decide to take a break from each other, which is essentially a separation. And this soon leads into the film's climax on the night of an important football game for Rod and his team, which takes an emotional and unexpected turn for both men....
THOUGHTS
Jerry Maguire, even though its a bit goofy and touchy-feely at times, still remains a charming, romantic comedy, where it sees another character journey for Tom Cruise's role, similar to Rain Man, where in this case, Jerry, a no-nonsense sports agent suddenly develops a conscience that leads to him becoming a better person. The film also is generally good natured and features its share of funny, goofy characters and even 21 years on the film's appeal still remains undiminished.
PERFORMANCES AND NOTABLE SCENES (Warning: this section will be BIG and also contains strong language and spoilers!)
As for the performances, well that is of course where Jerry Maguire scores, as they are all excellent.
Starting with Tom Cruise, who delivers one of his best performances here in the title role of Jerry Maguire, a sports agent, who has an epiphany that alters his life forever but ultimately get's him fired from his job and he is forced to work for himself with only one client, the tempermental football player, Rod Tidwell. And throughout the film, Jerry
Tom being the star of the film has his share of good scenes here and to start off there is the scene where after paying a visit to a concussed hockey player in hospital, the player's young son asks Jerry "Mr Maguire, this is his 4th concussion. Shouldn't somebody get him to stop?!". Jerry however replies "It would take a tank to stop your dad. It would take all five...Super Trooper VR Warriors to stop your dad. Right? Right?" but the boy simply looks at Jerry with disdain and says "Fuck you!" and walks off, leaving Jerry shocked and he narrates "Who had I become? Just another shark in a suit?".
Another good scene is when Jerry is fired by his protege, Bob Sugar at a diner and Bob says to him "I came here to let you go". Jerry looks a little taken aback and asks "Beg your pardon?" and Bob says "Came here to fire you, Jerry. Its real you should say something" and Jerry looks down, quietly devastated. Jerry says "A public place so there isn't a scene. You ungrateful....". Bob then angrily says to Jerry "You need to see yourself. You said fewer clients, you put it on paper. You know what I went through? Fire my mentor? Carrying that for a week? Could you get past yourself?!! Jesus!". Jerry now over his initial shock, looks determined and says "I'm over it. Now I want all my clients and yours too!".
So, this is followed by the scene where Jerry desparately tries to hold onto his clients by he soon loses them in rapid succession to Bob and his last call is to Rod Tidwell, who keeps Jerry on the phone longer than he wanted. Rod then makes Jerry dance to his tune as he says the famous line "Show me the money!" and he asks Jerry to repeat it and Jerry flatly says "Show you the money" but Rod says "Not, not you, show ME the money!". Rod then pushes Jerry further and says "You got to yell, Jerry!" so Jerry starts yelling "Show me the money!" and Rod says "I need to feel you!" and Jerry shouts it louder "Show me the money!!!" and the whole office then turns to look at him in his office, yelling at the top of his lungs.
Rod pushes Jerry more and shouts "Say I love black people!" and Jerry yells "I LOVE BLACK PEOPLE!!!" and Rod shouts "Who's your motherfucker, Jerry?!" and Jerry yells back "YOU'RE MY MOTHERFUCKER!!!". Rod then asks "What are you gonna do, Jerry??!" and Jerry yells as loud as he can "SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!". Rod then finally ends the call saying "Congratulations, you're still my agent!" and he hangs up and Jerry, exhausted, looks at his lights on his phone, which have all gone out, meaning he has lost all his other clients and he tosses his mobile phone down on his desk.
Then there is the following scene where Jerry leaves his office with his belongings as the entire office look at him. And Jerry smiles weakly and says "Well, don't worry. I won't do what you think I will...which is just..." and he suddenly wildly flips out momentarily "flip out! Let me just say...as I ease out of the office I helped build. I'm sorry, but it's a FACT...that there's such a thing as manners. A way of treating people!". Jerry then takes some goldfish from a tank nearby and places them in a plastic bag and says to the office "If anybody else wants to come with me...this will be a moment of something...real and fun and inspiring...in this godforsaken business...and we will do it together. Who's coming with me?!!". However no one answers and he stands there saying "This is embarrassing" but then Dorothy suddenly stands up and says "I will go with you!" and Jerry delighted says "Dorothy Boyd! Thank you!!" and they awkwardly leave together.
Another good scene is where after Jerry loses his main client, the superstar American footbal player Cushman, he sits in an airport lobby drinking with Rod sitting next to him, just after he has broken up with his fiancee, Avery. So, Jerry dispairing asks Rod "What are you doing with me, Rod?" and Rod asks "What?" and Jerry says "Don't you see?! I am fucked! 24 hours ago...." he clicks his fingers "I was hot! Now, I'm a cautionary tale! I don't need this jacket, because I'm CLOAKED IN FAILURE! I lost the number one player the night before the DRAFT!!! Why? Let's recap. Because a hockey player's kid made me feel like a superficial jerk! I ate some bad pizza, went to bed and grew a conscience!". However Rod is not interested or that sympathetic and he says to Jerry mockingly "Well, boo-fucking-hoo!".
Then comes the scene where Jerry and Dorothy go out on a date together and afterward they go back to Dorothy's place and they kiss and cuddle on the doorstep and Dorothy asks him "Are you sure you wanna do this??" and Jerry looks at her and says "Oh, hell yes!". Then in the next moment after Dorothy's babysitter Chad (Todd Louiso) gives Jerry a tape of jazz music, Jerry and Dorothy get into bed with one another with the music playing in the background. And Jerry looks at Dorothy as they cuddle and he tells her "You know this is going to change everything" and Dorothy says "Promise?" and at this point the jazz music has gone a bit bonkers and Jerry asks her "What IS this music??!" and they both laugh.
Then there is scene where Jerry meets with Rod after a football game in the men's showers with Rod stark naked, Jerry asks Rod "Towel??" and Rod says "No, I air dry". Jerry then tries to convince Rod to bury his attitude when it comes to playing the game and in the locker rooms but Rod doesn't fall for it. So, Rod then says to Jerry firmly "Do your job! I am an athlete! Not an entertainer!" and Jerry suddenly furiously says "FINE!!!" and Rod continues "I do not dance, and I do not start pre-season without a contract!". Jerry furiously then starts punching thin air and yelling "FINE!!!" again and Rod says "These are ABC's to me, baby!" and Jerry yells "FINE!!! FINE!!! FINE!!" and he kicks his foot against the wall.
Jerry desparately pleads to Rod "I am out here for you! You don't know what it's like to be me! It is an up-at-dawn, pride-swallowing siege...that I will never fully tell you about, okay?!!! God!! Help me! Help me, Rod! Help me help YOU! Help me help YOU!!". Rod then suddenly bursts out laughing and says to Jerry "You are hanging by a very thin thread...and I DIG that about you!!" and Jerry, feeling humiliated says to Rod "I'm happy to entertain you, Rod" and he walks out.
Another good scene between Tom and Cuba is the one where Jerry and Rod are at a shoot for a commercial starring Rod but Rod bitches and moans about having to get on a camel and he ends up quitting. So, as the two of them leave the set, Jerry asks Rod "What do you know about dating single mothers?" and Rod says "Plenty! I was raised by one" and then Rod tells Jerry he must be honest with Dorothy about how he fells if he doesn't love her. Jerry does admit though he adores Dorothy's son, Ray "The kid's amazing" and Rod smiles heartily and says "I feel you. But a real man wouldn't shoplift the pootie from a single mother!". Jerry then offended by this remark says "Hey, I did NOT shoplift the pootie!" but Rod gives him a stern look saying "Are you sure?????" and Jerry finally gives in and admits "Alright...I shoplifted the pootie!".
Then there is the scene later on after a football game where Jerry and Rod walk together and Rod confronts Jerry over why he married Dorothy given that he doesn't appear to love her. So, Rod asks him "Why did you get married??" and Jerry "You wanna know why? Loyalty! She was loyal. I mean everything...grew from there". Rod then laughs and says "That's the answer. It ain't sexy. Shit! But that's an answer!" and Jerry annoyed says "I'm happy to entertain you as always, Rod!".
Jerry then decides to get back at Rod and tells him out right why he doesn't have the 10 million dollar contract he so wants. So, Jerry angrily tells Rod "Here's why you don't have your $10 million. You're a paycheck player. You play with your head, not your heart. In your personal life? Heart. On the field, it's about what you didn't get. Who's to blame, who underthrew...who has the contract you don't, who's not giving you love! That is not what inspires people! That is not what inspires people! Just shut up! Play the game from your heart. Then I'll show you the kwan. And that's the truth! Can you handle it?! Can you handle it?!" and he mockingly impersonates Rod and says "You know?!".
And last of all of course is the scene where after Rod wins the game for his team and the two of them share an emotional moment together afterward infront of the press, Jerry runs to get back to Dorothy's to tell her he wants to be in her life. So, in the scene, Jerry shows up at Dorothy's home in which her sister, Laurel, is running a divorced women's discussion group and Jerry calls out to them "Hello! I'm looking for my wife".
So, as Dorothy appears, Jerry emotionally tells her "Tonight...our little project, our company had a very big night. A very, very big night. But it wasn't complete. It wasn't nearly close to being in the same vicinity as complete...because I couldn't share it with you. I couldn't hear your voice...or laugh about it with you. I missed my... I missed my wife. We live in a cynical world. A cynical world. And we work in a business of tough competitors...". And as he tells her "You complete me..." Dorothy has heard enough and tearfully says "Shut up! You had me at hello!" and they two of them embrace infront of the discussion group.
Cuba Gooding Jr next is great in his role as the charismatic but mouthy Rod Tidwell, an American football player with a big chip on his shoulder. Cuba of course won an Academy Award for best supporting actor in this film and his performance is certainly a flamboyant work that stands out.
So, its safe to say that Cuba has his highlights in the film that include the scene where Rod tells Jerry to "Show me the money". So, in the scene Rod on the phone to Jerry says to him "This is what you'll do for me...are you listening?" and Jerry now at this stage is pretty irritated at being kept on so long asks "What can I do for you, Rod?!". Rod then says to Jerry as he puts his kids out of the kitchen along with his wife Marci (Regina King) "It's a very personal, very important thing. It's a family motto!". Rod says to Jerry "Are you ready, brother? Here it is!" and he says the classic line "Show me the money!" and he get's Jerry to repeat it over and over louder and louder. And at the end of the call Rod says to Jerry "What you gonna do, Jerry??!!" and Jerry yells "SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!" and Rod ends the calls by saying "Congratulations, you're still my agent!".
Then there is the scene where after Jerry loses Cush as his main client, he stands outside the airport with Rod to flag down a taxi. So, Rod says to Jerry "You're loving me now, aren't you?" and Jerry says "Very much!" and Rod asks Jerry teasingly "Is it my imagination? Didn't we arrive in a limo?!". Then in the next moment they are back on a plane sitting together and Rod tells Jerry "I got a shelf life of 10 years. My next contract has to bring the dollars that'll last a long time. I'm done in five years. What's my family gonna live on? Huh?! What you get me. So I won't hear your shit" and he feigns sobbing and mocks Jerry "Oh, I lost Cush and Avery..." shit! Anybody else would have left you by now...but I'm sticking with you. I said I would. If I gotta ride your ass like Zorro, you gonna show me the money!". Rod then puts on some earphones and starts listening to some funk music and he dances around in his seat and says "We together on this. You know what I'm saying? We gonna be one. The both of us! You know?!" and he grabs Jerry's hands enthusiastically but Jerry looks agahst and says "Oh, my God!".
Another good scene is when Jerry visits Rod in the locker room after a football game and he tells Rod that he is talking to another agent about renogotiating his contract, which annoys Rod as its not enough for him at this stage. So, Rod irritated says "Talking? Jerry Rice, Andre Reed, Chris Carter. I smoked all these fools! Yet they're making the big dollars. They are making the kwan! And YOU'RE talking!". Jerry puzzled then asks Rod "Kwan? That's your word?" and Rod says "Hell yeah, that's my word. Some dudes might have coin, but they'll never have kwan. It means love, respect, community and dollars. The entire package...." and he makes a grand gesture and says "The kwan!".
Then as Jerry tells Rod to bury his attitude on the field, Rod quickly becomes angry and says "You're telling me to dance!" but Jerry tries to convince that he isn't but fails as Rod says "Do your job! Don't tell me too dance!". Jerry then becomes furious as he shouts "Fine!!" over and over as Rod tells him "I do not dance, and I do not start pre-season without a contract!" and Jerry furiously shouts "FINE!! FINE!! FINE!!" and kicks the wall with his foot. Rod then tries to calm Jerry down and says "Breathe, Jerry! Breathe!" and Jerry desparately tells Rod that he is trying to help him and it saps his pride to do so being his only client and pleads with Rod to help him. Rod then simply laughs at Jerry's display and says "You are hanging on by a very thin thread. And I DIG that about you! No contract? I'll help me, I'll help you, help everybody!". Jerry then says he's happy to entertain him and walks out and Rod calls after him "Jerry. Come on, man. See, that's the difference between us. You think we're fighting. I think we're finally talking!".
Another good scene comes when Rod and Jerry talk about Jerry dating a single mother, i.e. Dorothy and as Jerry asks him "What do you know about dating a single mother?" and Rod says "Plenty, I was raised by one". Rod then asks "Do you love her?" and Jerry seems unsure and asks "How do I know?" and Rod says "You know when you know" and Jerry tells him "I don't want her to go. I've been hanging around her place alot". Rod however stops Jerry and says "That right there is bullshit! You gotta be fair to her. Single mothers are a sacred thing. You gotta have the talk. She loves you. If you don't love her, you have got to tell her!". Jerry smiles and says of Dorothy's son, Ray "The kid's amazing..." and Rod smiles and says "I feel you, dog. But a real man wouldn't shoplift the pootie from a single mother". Jerry then takes offence and says "Hey, I did NOT shoplift the pootie!" but Rod eyeballs him hard and Jerry gives in and admits "Alright....I shoplifted the pootie!".
Then there is the scene where Rod and Jerry leave together after another football game and Rod confronts Jerry over how strained marriage to Dorothy. So, Rod asks him "I'm just trying to talk to you. How's your marriage? The husband and wife thing, how is that?" and Jerry gives Rod a guilty look and says "Not everyone has what you have". Rod then firmly asks Jerry "Then why did you get married??? I'm just asking as a friend" and Jerry says because Dorothy was loyal and everthing grew from there, prompting Rod to laugh and say "That's an answer! Its not sexy! Shit!". Jerry then gets back at Rod for him asking by telling Rod flat out why he doesn't have his 10 million dollar contract and its basically because he bitches and complains too much on the field and in the locker room and he needs to shut up and just play the game. Rod now furious says to Jerry "I don't want to be friends no more!" and they walk off their separate ways and Jerry says "Fine.." and Rod annoyed says to him "And stop saying "kwan" that's my word!". And as Rod boards a bus he turns to Jerry and angrily says "No heart?! I'M ALL HEART, MOTHERFUCKER!!!".
And last of all there is the scene (SPOILER!!!) where after Rod finally get's his moment in the spotlight by securing a play-off spot for his football team and overcoming a potentially dangerous injury on the field, he is invited onto a TV interview. And the presenter is known to make the atheletes he interviews cry by talking about their difficult pasts but Rod this time doesn't fall for it even as the presenter talks about Rod's difficulties growing up and Rod smiles and says "I'm not gonna cry, Roy!".
But then the presenter tells Rod that he is getting a new contract worth 11.5 million dollars for four years, which overwhelms Rod with emotion and he suddenly starts to cry. Rod then tearfully says "I love everybody!! I love my wife! Marcee! I love my kids! Tyson and my new baby, Katie. My older brother, who got one leg, and my younger brother, Tee Pee. You're militant, but I ain't mad at you! I got nothing but love for you!". And then as the presenter tells Rod to wrap it out as they are running out of time, Rod wells up once again and says "I'm forgetting somebody..." and he points emotionally to Jerry and says "Jerry Maguire...my agent" and his eyes well up with tears and he sobs "You are my ambassador of kwan, man!". And as the presenter says congratulations, Rod rushes in and gives him a bug hug and says "Thank you!".
Rene Zellweger next up is also really good in her role as Dororthy Boyd, the single young mother, who leaves her job with SMI to go work with Jerry Maguire after he is fired by the agency and the two of them some become involved romantically, which leads to further complications down the line.
And Rene has her share of good scenes also such as the one where Jerry comes round to Dorothy's place, drunk, and Dororthy clearly is into him but she has a chat with her older sister, Laurel, who is not so approving of the situation. So, Dorothy tells Laurel "What are other women my age doing right now? They're out partying, trying to get a man. Trying to keep a man. Not me, I'm trying to RAISE a man! I've had three lovers in four years. All of them ran a distant second to a good book and a warm bath. Look at me. I'm the oldest 26-year-old in the world!".
Then in the next scene, Dorothy sits with Jerry and they chat about their situation and Dorothy says to him "The truth? I care about the job, of course. But mostly, I just want to be inspired" and Jerry says flatly "Me too". Dorothy then tells Jerry "What you wrote inspired me. I'm working with you because of that memo. I loved that memo!" and Jerry corrects her "Well, it was a mission statement". However then Jerry, under the influence, moves in and makes a move on Dorothy as he kisses her puts his hand on her breast but then he pulls away and drunkenly says "Sorry about the hand". Jerry then awkwardly says how he is getting a glimpse ahead of how he will feel embarrassed in the morning and Dorothy tells him "Don't worry about it, boss!". Jerry then groans and says "Shit! You said "boss" Now I feel like Clarence Thomas. I'm like harrassing your right now!" and Dorothy smiles and says "I may not sue!".
Another good scene for Rene is when Jerry the following day comes into his apartment and Dororthy gives him a rundown of his finances, which don't make for good reading. And Jerry says to Dorothy "We've got a company to think about. I'll never take advantage of you again". So, Dororthy at this point feels compelled to leave Jerry alone and says to him as edges out the door "I know you need to be alone with your thoughts. Think about what's wrong and how to fix it. And, you know, just be alone. Alone....". And just before she goes, Jerry calls out to her "You want to go out to dinner?!" and Dorothy suddenly says "I know a great place!".
Then we have the scene where Rod and Marcee come round to Jerry's as Rod's new contract offer is faxed through but is way less than they hoped for. So, Marcee, frustrated by the situation angrily says to Jerry "A lot of agents say a lot of shit. What do you stand for?!". And Dororthy, who is also present, feels compelled to defend Jerry and she passionately says to Marcee "How about a little integrity?! When there's so much greed in the world...I don't know what to tell my son! This guy isn't yelling, "Show me the money!" Do you know he's broke and working for you for free? Broke! Broke, broke, broke!!". Dorothy then calms herself down and says of Marcee "I'm sorry, I'm just not as good at the insults as she is" but Marcee, surprised says "No, that was pretty good" and Rod says "No shit!".
Then there is the poignant scene between Jerry and Dorothy as the two of them discuss the possibility of them breaking up. So, Dorothy accepting of the situation says to Jerry "My need to make the best of things, and your need to be responsible... If we don't say something about it now, we could lose 10 years...being polite. Let's just call this next road trip what it really is: A nice long break". Jerry feeling guilty then says "So, this break is a breakup? Thats...." and Dorothy says "Come on, Jerry. You know this isn't easy for me. On the surface, everything looks fine. I've got this great guy. And he loves my kid. And he sure does like me a lot. And I can't live like that. It's not how I'm built".
And last of all is of course the scene where Jerry after Rod's successful night on the football field, races back to Dorothy's home to tell her he wants to stay. So, as he tells her the rather cringing line "You complete me..." Dorothy's eyes well up and she says "Shut up! You had me at "hello"!" and the two of them hug infront of Laruel's female divorcee discussion group.
My need to make the best of things, and your need to be responsible... If we don't say something about it now, we could lose 10 years... ...being polite. Let's just call this next road trip what it really is: A nice long break. Read more: https://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/movie_script.php?movie=jerry-maguireKelly Preston next up is also pretty good in her role as Jerry's sexy and somewhat sassy fiancee, Avery, although its not long before they actually break up.
And I will for time only really mention one of her scenes and its the one where Jerry breaks up with Avery. So, in the scene, Avery angrily tells Jerry "There's a sensitivity thing that some people have. I don't have it. I DON'T cry at movies, or gush over babies...I DON'T do Christmas early...and I DON'T tell a man who screwed up our lives: "Oh, poor baby!." That's me, for better or worse. But I do love you!".
Jerry then says to her "Avery, its over" but Avery refuses to listen and walks away saying "Didn't hear it!" but Jerry tells her firmly "Its over" which makes Avery suddenly feel shaken and she tells him "No one has EVER dumped me!" and Jerry says to her "I'm not trying to make history here". Avery then says stubbornly "I climbed to the top of El Capitan...in 18 hours and 23 minutes. I can make THIS work!" but Jerry firmly says "No". Avery then suddenly looks tearful and says "Oh, Jerry...." but then she turns away and spins around punches him in the face a few times and knees him in the stomach and stands over him and says "I won't let you hurt me, Jerry. I'm too strong for you. Loser!" and walks away leaving Jerry stunned on the floor.
Jay Mohr is also pretty good as Bob Sugar, Jerry's protege and fellow sports agent at SMI, who has the killer instinct for the job and ends up firing Jerry after he posts his mission statement out to the company.
And I will quickly mention two of Mohr's scenes that include first of all the one where Bob invites Jerry to a lunch where he fires him. So, as Jerry sits down, fizzing with energy and good feelings, Bob asks him "You OK?" and Jerry cheerfully says "Fine! What's up?" and Bob tells Jerry "Came here to let you go". Jerry then takes a moment and asks "Beg your pardon?" and Bob tells him "Came here to fire you, Jerry. Its real, you should say something" and Jerry, devastated takes a moment to let this news sink in. And as Jerry is about to mouth off at Bob, Bob tells him angrily "You need to see yourself. You said fewer clients, you put it on paper. You know what I went through? Fire my mentor? Carrying that for a week? Could you get past yourself?!! Jesus!".
And lastly there is the scene where Bob turns up on the night of Rod's big football game and tries to make a move to persuade him to leave Jerry and join SMI. So, as Rod waits for Jerry to show, Bob walks up to him and asks "Hey, buddy. I wondered where you were. How's it going?" but Rod, irritated by him says "Get out of here! Go!" so Bob then asks "Where's your agent?" and Rod annoyed says "I don't know!". Bob then decides to move in with his pitch and tells Rod "I know it isn't cool to do this now but you belong with the big boys. You belong with the big money. - You're fucking Rod Tidwell!". Then at last, Jerry appears and pushes Bob away and says "Get away from my guy! Just go! Flee!" and Bob smiles and says "This is a nice moment for you. I'm gonna let you have it".
Regina King also is really good in her role as Rod's feisty wife, Marcee, who is not afraid to mince her words when it comes down to business.
Again I will only mention a couple of her scenes, such as the one where Marcee with Rod, goes to Jerry's place where they are disgruntled with the poor contract offer Rod has been given. And Marcee angrily says "Shit. 1.7 for three years? Man, we owe more than that!" and Jerry tells her "This is the game. Now, I'll get back to them". However Marcee then angrily asks "And say what?!" Please remove your dick from my ass"!!!?" and Rod pleads with her to calm down and she says "I'm sorry, I'm just a little pregnant right now!". Jerry then says to her "Let's not take this emotionally" and Marcee objects and says "I don't think you've gotten emotional enough over this man!" then "Get me Bob Sugar on the phone!". Jerry then taken aback asks "You wanna leave me??" and Marcee angrily says "Well, alot of agents say alot of shit! What do you stand for??!" and then Dorothy leaps to Jerry's defence.
Rod then looks to Jerry for his advice and asks "Jerry, tell me what to do? You want me to eat Lima beans? I'll eat Lima beans. You say this is the best we can get? All we can get....". However, Marcee then goes up to Rod and holds his face and says "This is what you're gonna do. You're gonna reject that shitty contract. Play out your existing shitty contract, and next year, you're a free agent. Baby, this is us. You and me. We determine our worth. You are a strong, proud...surviving, splendid black man!". Rod, touched by her words then says "Marcee....you are the shit!" and they hug.
And then there is the scene where Marcee and her family sit in her living room and watch the big football game which Rod is playing in that could send his team into the play-offs. So, in the scene as Rod appears on the screen, Rod's young son, stands up and shouts "That's my mo-fo!!". And as Marcee's family gasps with surprise, Marcee beckons her son to come to her and she says to him "Come here. Why don't you be the first man in your family not to use that word? And we'll let you live. Now go kiss Daddy, quick!" and her son kisses an image of Rod on the screen.
Bonnie Hunt is also pretty good as Laurel, Dorothy's sister, who disapproves of Jerry and she too has a few good scenes of her own but I will only mention two.
First off, there is the scene where Laurel is told by Dorothy that Jerry is coming over and Laurel says to her "OK. But he better not be good looking!". Then it cuts to Laurel opening the front door and we see Jerry grinning, wearing shades and he says "Hi. I'm Jerry Maguire" and Laurel says "Hello. You're just the way I pictured you". Laurel then introduces herself and says "I'm her disapproving sister, Laurel" and Jerry smiles and says "Honesty! Thank you!" and gives her a warm hug.
Then in the next moment, Laurel chats to Dorothy and warns her about him being drunk and he could probably take advantage of her. So, Laurel tells her "Dorothy, this guy would go home with a gardening tool if it showed interest!". Laurel then says to her "I'll only say this: You've always been responsible with Ray. He shouldn't hear a strange man's voice here. Some drunken stranger". Dorothy then responds referring to Laurel's divorce group "As opposed to 10 angry women!" and Dorothy collides with Laurel, who is carrying a plate of food that soils Dorothy's top, Laurel then says "Lean forward. OK. I've got it. Its still edible, change your shirt" so Dororthy does so.
And lastly there is the scene on the day of Jerry and Dorothy's wedding where after the reception has ended, Jerry ends up sharing a beer with Laurel. And after the two of them clink glasses and share a smile, Laurel suddenly says to Jerry "You fuck this up and I'll kill you" and she walks off, leaving Jerry stunned for a moment and then he calls after her "I'm glad we had this talk!".
And last of all is Jonathan Lipnicki as Ray, Dorothy's somewhat adorable son, who quickly grows fond of Jerry and vice versa.
And I will mention only one of Jonathan's scenes and its the one where Jerry comes round to visit Dorothy and while she is in the kitchen getting drinks ready for them, Ray get's out his bed and joins Jerry on the sofa. Ray then grins at Jerry and tells him a neat fact "The human head weights 8 pounds!" which prompts Jerry to burst out laughing. Then Rod phones up to speak to Jerry and Ray answers it and as Rod parrots on about making the big bucks and the "kwan", Ray asks "Who's this?" and Rod, sitting in his bath, firmly says "This is Rod Tidwell. I need to speak to my agent!". And after a certain time of Rod yapping on, Ray finally tells Rod "You talk too much!" which again causes Jerry to burst out laughing and Rod suddenly sounds a bit desparate and says "No, talking is primitive form of communication...!" so Ray says "It was fun talking to you. Bye, Rod!" and he hangs up.
And last of all is the moment where Jerry tries to talk to Ray about his life and how no one has ever truly listened to him but all Ray is interested in is going to the zoo, which he repeats over and over. So, Jerry finally says to him "Ray, the fucking zoo is closed, Ray!" and then he realises what he has said and Ray quietly says "You said "fuck".." and Jerry rather ashamed says "Yeah I did" and Ray quickly says "I won't tell".
DIRECTOR AND MUSIC
Finally moving onto the director, Cameron Crowe does a fine job here with the film and having also written the screenplay, he has put together an engaging film for audiences and he paces the film out in a leisurely way, which doesn't feel too overlong or padded out. Crowe also manages to elicit some fine performances from his cast and for me it remains one of his best films even though he would go on to make other films such as the awfully self indulgent remake of "Open Your Eyes", Vanilla Sky, which also stars Tom Cruise.
As for the music well it features both an original score and some tracks by various bands and artists and the original score itself was written by Nancy Wilson, which isn't too bad and is quite charming for the most part even if it isn't that remarkable. However the other tracks used are better and include The Who's "Magic Bus", Paul McCartney's "Momma Miss America", The Rolling Stones "Bitch", Bruce Springsteen's "Secret Garden" and AC/DC's "For those of who about to rock (We salute you)".
FLAWS
As for flaws...well, yeah OK, Jerry Maguire has some although they are fairly minor ones.
For starters, there are times where Crowe's dialogue sounds just a bit too smart-assed at times, like Crowe has written a screenplay that is smart and he knows it, which suggest to me that Crowe himself is a bit cocky as a director. An example being the scene where Dorothy says to Laurel's divorcee group of women, in light of her ailing marriage to Jerry "Maybe you are right. Men are the enemy. But I still love the enemy!".
There are also some moments in the film that do feel a bit gushy and sentimental, such as Jerry's emotional speech to Dorothy at the end where he delivers that cringeworthy line "You complete me!" or when Dorothy watches Jerry give Ray a hug before they go out on a date and Crowe plays Bruce Springsteen's "Secret Garden" to heighten the emotion.
Then there are some other cringing scenes such as the one where Jerry having successfully convinced his American football superstar client, Frank "Cush" Cushman to stay with him, Jerry overjoyed drives away and tries to find a song he can sing along to. So, after a few tries on the radio, Jerry get's Tom Petty's "Free Fallin" and he sings along with it whole heartedly, which is just a "Oh, God!!!" moment in the film.
And last of all on a plot point note, I have a problem with Jerry's instant decision to split up with Avery even though they were engaged to be married, just because he failed to sign Cush, he then promptly decides to end their relationship! I mean it just seems a bit rushed and out of the blue that Jerry after being together with her so long would decide to split up with her! So, for me it remains one of the film's scenes I don't quite buy into.
So, that's it for the flaws.
SUM UP
So, summing up, Jerry Maguire after 21 years, is still a funny, charming comedy that has alot to offer as it features some excellent performances, particularly from the three leads in Tom, Cuba and Rene as well as an amusing and intelligent script from and solid direction from Cameron Crowe. And any of the film's drawbacks don't really stop it from being a fine film and one that is still worth checking out 21 years after its release.
Right, so that's it for now and I will be back soon with possibly another top list, as I am thinking of doing a Top 10 scenes from Curb Your Enthusiasm, as I have been watching alot of the series lately and figured its well worth doing a list on that series!
So, until the next one, its bye for now!
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