Say Anything... (1989)

A noble underachiever and a beautiful valedictorian fall in love the summer before she goes off to college.

Director:

Cameron Crowe

Writer:

Cameron Crowe

Stars:

John Cusack, Ione Skye, John Mahoney

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Cusack	...	Lloyd Dobler
Ione Skye	...	Diane Court
John Mahoney	...	James Court
Lili Taylor	...	Corey Flood
Amy Brooks	...	D.C.
Pamela Adlon	...	Rebecca (as Pamela Segall)
Jason Gould	...	Mike Cameron
Loren Dean	...	Joe
Glenn Walker Harris Jr.	...	Jason Dobler
Charles Walker	...	Principal
Russel Lunday	...	Parent
Polly Platt	...	Mrs. Flood
Gloria Cromwell	...	Ruth
Jeremy Piven	...	Mark
Patrick O'Neill	...	Denny

Storyline

High school senior Lloyd Dobler wants nothing more than to go out with beautiful and intelligent Diane Court. Lloyd attempts to win her heart over the objections of her over-protective father before Diane leaves for a scholarship in England.

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Plot Keywords:

teenager | father daughter relationship | teen movie | two word title | love | 

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Taglines:

To know Lloyd Dobler is to love him. Diane Court is about to know Lloyd Dobler.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 April 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

...Say Anything...

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$20,781,385

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gracie Films,Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Cameron Crowe couldn't find the love song he wanted until he heard Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes". Gabriel asked to see part of the movie, and Crowe had the production company send him an unfinished cut. Gabriel gave permission to use the song, saying he liked the film, but not the lead character overdosing at the end. Crowe realized that Gabriel had actually been sent a copy of Wired (1989).

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Goofs

In the break-up scene in the car the background changes completely. Before the line "You told your dad?" you can see an intersection and a hillside behind them, then after there is a yellow house and two parked cars.

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Quotes

Lloyd Dobler: I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that.

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Connections

Spoofed in Saturday Night Live: Drew Barrymore/Lily Allen (2007)

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Soundtracks

Brandy
Written by Elliot Lurie
Performed by Looking Glass
Courtesy of Epic Records

User Reviews

A genuinely sweet, never sappy comedy about first love

In "Say Anything" Cameron Crowe has crafted a one-of-a-kind romantic comedy which avoids at least 90% of the pitfalls one would commonly associate with films within the genre. How does he do it? Simply by avoiding sappy moments, by creating a script that more or less mirrors the bittersweet experience of first love, and by simply, but tastefully guiding the film's visuals and outstanding acting.

"Say Anything" is not completely anti-conventions, and actually uses some wildly popular rom-com conventions to its advantage, but the role reversal (Dobbler being the 'lost' one), interjection of successfully genuine drama, and simple, understated romantic moments make this a wild success. That's not to say that Crowe isn't successful when he goes for the wildly over-the-top sap, because he knows it's sappy, but it does happen in real life. I mean, the over-the-top gestures like the stereo outside the window do occur in reality, and they guys who do them usually are just like Lloyd Dobbler.

Great characters, a great cast, really good writing, and simple but solid direction make this a real winner that is deservedly recognized as a romantic classic.

8.5/10