Highly Entertaining

Rating: 9/10 (15 September 2000)

Tom Cruise had a good year in 1996 showing everyone the money by starring in two of the top four grossing films of the year ("Jerry Maguire", $153M; and "Mission: Impossible", $180M). Of the two, "Jerry Maguire" was clearly the better film, garnering five Oscar nominations and winning a best supporting Oscar for Cuba Gooding, Jr.
It is the story of a sports agent who falls from grace with his agency because he develops scruples and has the bad judgment to share his newfound principles with his firm. This results in instant unemployment and the necessity to start his own agency. Upon striking out with his trusty new assistant Dorothy (Renee Zellweger), he finds to his chagrin that the only client that stays with him is a loudmouth of a football player named Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) whose psyche is in a state of delicate imbalance. As time goes on and his depression and debt get deeper, Jerry's only hope is that Rod can play football as well as he can talk trash.
Writer/Director Cameron Crowe is excellent at writing amusing human-interest stories with offbeat themes (See Fast Times At Ridgemont High). The combination of the high-pressure world of sports representation, a whacked-out client and a charming love affair makes for an engaging tale with something for just about everyone.
Tom Cruise shines as Jerry Maguire. He gives that character a false bravado that belies his desperate lack of confidence. Yet, despite his feelings of hopelessness he never gives up, not on Rod, Dorothy or himself. This film put Renee Zellweger on the map as Dorothy, Jerry's idealistic and loyal secretary and love interest. She was enchanting and resolute as she stood by her man no matter what the costs. Cuba Gooding, Jr. was fantastic and stole the show repeatedly with his over the top performance.
This is a fast paced and highly entertaining film. I rated it a 9/10. I recommend it highly.