Cameron Crowe's update of "The Apartment" excels on all levels

Rating: Null/10 (10 April 2003)

JERRY MAGUIRE (1997) **** Tom Cruise, Renee Zellweger, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Regina King, Kelly Preston, Bonnie Hunt, Jonathan Lipnicki, Jay Mohr, Jerry O' Connell, Beau Bridges, Glenn Frey, Donal Logue, Alexandra Wentworth, Kelly Coffield, Eric Stoltz. Superb comedy drama with deliberate shades of Billy Wilder's "The Apartment" courtesy of writer/director Cameron Crowe and producer James L. Brooks about a cocksure sports agent (Cruise in arguably his best acting role) who develops a conscience and, after writing a memo regarding substance over style, is fired and finds his life in turnaround with some drastic change of events. Zellweger is a true find as a single mom, as is Lipnicki as her precociously cute son, who falls for her charming Cruise first for his mind and then his heart. Some truly funny moments largely thanks to ego driven Gooding (Best Supporting Actor) as an on the rise running back football player who also shows how love can truly triumph in the long run, or the "Kwon". Heart-tugging and ringing totally true throughout. Show Me The Money! A winner of a film. Nominated for Best Actor, Original Screenplay, Editing and Picture.