Amazon.com Essentials:
One of the best romantic comedies of the 1990s, this
box-office hit cemented writer-director Cameron Crowe's reputation as
"the voice of a generation." Crowe could probably do without
that label, but he's definitely in sync with the times with this savvy
story about a sports agent (Tom Cruise) whose fall from grace
motivates his quest for professional recovery, and the slow-dawning
realization that he needs the love and respect of the single mom
(Renée Zellweger in her breakthrough role) who has supported
him through the worst of times. This is one of Cruise's best, most
underrated performances, and in an Oscar-winning role, Cuba Gooding
Jr. plays the football star who remains Jerry Maguire's only loyal
client on a hard road to redemption and personal growth. If that
sounds touchy-feely, it is only because Crowe has combined sharp
entertainment with a depth of character that is rarely found in
mainstream comedy. --Jeff Shannon
Amazon.com Essentials:
One of the best romantic comedies of the 1990s, this
box-office hit cemented writer-director Cameron Crowe's reputation as
"the voice of a generation." Crowe could probably do without
that label, but he's definitely in sync with the times with this savvy
story about a sports agent (Tom Cruise) whose fall from grace
motivates his quest for professional recovery, and the slow-dawning
realization that he needs the love and respect of the single mom
(Renée Zellweger in her breakthrough role) who has supported
him through the worst of times. This is one of Cruise's best, most
underrated performances, and in an Oscar-winning role, Cuba Gooding
Jr. plays the football star who remains Jerry Maguire's only loyal
client on a hard road to redemption and personal growth. If that
sounds touchy-feely, it is only because Crowe has combined sharp
entertainment with a depth of character that is rarely found in
mainstream comedy. --Jeff Shannon
