Review of Say Anything... (1989) by Ashlee S — 16 Apr 2012

Diane Court (Ione Skye) is valedictorian of her graduating high school class. She's stunning, intelligent, highly accomplished, and has her future set. She has recently won a significant fellowship that will enable her to study aboard in England. Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) on the other hand, is none of those things. He isn't particularly ambitious, and he doesn't have a lot going for him. His only real goal in life is to be a professional kickboxer because kickboxing "is the sport of the future." He's a slacker by trade and he knows and accepts it. But he finds himself falling in love with Diane. What does he see in Diane? Well, besides the fact that she absolutely radiates beauty, she's the polar opposite of Lloyd personality-wise. While Lloyd isn't exactly known for his academics, he has a wide circle of friends and gets along with everybody. Diane on the other hand, isn't particularly sociable though it's a bit of a surprise given how beautiful she really is.

Lloyd's friends (who happen to be mostly female) do not believe that Diane is a good match for him. After all, she's a "brain . . . trapped in the body of a game show hostess." But one can never deny Lloyd's persistence because he decides to ask Diane out on a date by inviting her to a senior graduation party.

The two have become acquaintances despite their seeming differences. Lloyd is invited to dinner and gets to meet Diane's family. However, Diane's father (John Mahoney) doesn't exact approve of their relationship. I mean, what the heck does his high achieving daughter see in this loser? Yet, as Lloyd and Diane's romance blossoms, the two will experience a roller coaster of emotions with some peaks and some valleys...

Say Anything... is a great coming-of-age romantic comedy drama. The film focuses primarily on the summer romance between Lloyd and Diane, but the film is much more important than that. It's about growing up, maturing, and dealing with the changes in one's life. Lloyd learns that love really isn't a fairy tale and that it takes a lot of effort from both parties to stay committed to each other irrespective of circumstances. And despite Diane's seemingly perfect material life, she eventually has to deal with adversity -- from the most unlikely of sources.

While Say Anything... is a very sweet and honest movie, it goes beyond being a sappy love story. It's about people. What writer-director Cameron Crowe has done here is create immensely likable characters who we can all relate to on a very personal level. The characters are not one-dimensional stereotypes; they are complex individuals with dreams, ideals...and personal problems. Cameron Crowe really takes the time to develop these characters. We feel like we are growing up alongside them and sharing in their happiness and pain. For example, Lloyd is proof that nice guys don't have to finish last. Though he doesn't have the most impressive qualities, he endears himself very well to others and that's part of his appeal. But even though Lloyd has generally been a happy-go-lucky kinda guy with a laidback attitude, he experiences disappointment and we find ourselves really wanting to pat him on the back and comfort him, telling him it's okay. Lloyd is us, or at least that good friend you can lean on. Diane Court comes across as reserved which could be interpreted by others as arrogant because they get the impression she's too good to talk to them, but as she opens up, we get to see an unexpected side to her personality. I love how the characters are organic and we get to see them go through these growing pains. Although Say Anything... is considered a romantic comedy, we truly laugh with the characters and their humorous situations and not at them.

I really love the cast. John Cusack nails it as Lloyd Dobler. Cusack allows his character to show many facets of his personality. Much of the lines Cusack is given are full of sardonic wit yet he manages to deliver them with a sense of earnestness that makes his character seem sincere even when he sounds sarcastic. Ione Skye shows an equal amount of both talent and beauty in her role as Diane. John Mahoney is excellent as Diane's father. He comes across as a very strict and pious father figure, but his facade slowly unravels as his legal troubles begin to catch up with him. There are some really great moments when Diane suspects something is wrong in her father's life and she confronts him about it and tries to have him open up about what he is going through, but he wouldn't budge. It's a very effective dramatic moment that shows how the relationship between father and daughter is changing -- not necessarily for the better. Even the supporting cast is very good. Lily Taylor is great as Lloyd's aspiring musician friend Corey. Her songs tend to always be about having her heart broken and being dumped by her unfaithful guy. Love stinks and she's not afraid to be brutally honest about how her exes are lying scum. Hmmm...sounds like a particular pop country singer we all know and love. I've always wondered if Corey was an inspiration for Taylor Swift. The actors all come across as natural and nothing is forced.

A lot of elements from Say Anything... hit close to home. The filmmakers take a popular plot device -- the mismatched teens falling in love -- and turn it into something refreshing and original. What makes it work here is the interaction between the characters, not just between Lloyd and Diane, but between various people. For example, I love the dinner scene where Diane's father asks, or rather interrogates Lloyd about his future plans. Lloyd admits he doesn't really have a clue about what he wants to do with his life other than be a professional kickboxer and spend as much time as possible with Diane. What makes this scene work is that it feels so real. Lloyd may exude confidence, but deep down, the questions really hit a nerve because truthfully, he doesn't really know what his future plans will be. Despite the humor of Lloyd's fast thinking responses, I think everybody can relate to that moment because at one point in our lives, we are confronted with the question of what do we want to be when we grow up. No seriously, what is a realistic plan for you when you are an adult. We feel we are a part of these conversations because we are always yelling at the characters to say or do something.

There are a lot of memorable lines in this movie. Probably one of my favorites is "Don't be a guy. The world is full of guys. Be a man." One of the best pieces of advice I have heard in any movie. Many of the film's memorable lines are delivered with sharp timing and great hilarity.

Despite the film's views about love and life, Say Anything... never preaches or condescends to its audiences. The filmmakers respect their audiences and make the characters and themes worthy of our respect. At the surface, Say Anything... may come across as a great date movie, but in actuality, it's a great movie period with a lot of depth. Definitely check it out.