Review of Jerry Maguire (1996) by Jonathan B — 06 Sep 2012

Show me the money. Help me, help you. You complete me. You had me at hello. Those lines are instantly recognizable and proof 16 years later Jerry Maguire has become ingrained into our popular culture subconscious.

Jerry Maguire is not just the greatest cinematic love story from the 90s (yes, better than Titanic), it is a fine example of filmmaking and acting. It all starts with Cameron Crowe, who has the unique ability to blend romanticized ideals with the everyman experience set in a slightly unfamiliar world (here, sports agents) like few before him.

He makes everything seem so honest and effortless it doesn't come across as focus grouped or saccharine as it usually does, rather more inspiring and insightful. It certainly doesn't hurt when you have things like the Boss doing your theme song.

Jerry Maguire is also one of Tom Cruise's strongest roles in his storied career, combining the cockiness of his earlier characters with a vulnerability he hadn't shown a ton of previously. Cuba Gooding Jr.

won an Oscar, making an annoying character both humorous and grounded in reality, with a bit of warmth shining through in the end. I've never been a big Renee Zellweger fan but her breakout role remains in my opinion her best work, while Jonathan Lipnicki gives one of the most adorable child performances ever.

It all totals to making Jerry Maguire one of the rare romantic films, and sports dramas, men and women can agree on, culminating in a classic scene that actually feels earned. How this lost Best Picture to The English Patient I will never understand.