See it, but don't expect it to be good.

Rating: 4/10 (14 December 2001)

I wouldn't say I liked it really, but I am glad I went and that I went before anyone could spoil it for me. I think you should go, although I don't know that you'll like it, and I wouldn't go back with you, and I don't know that any of your friends will like it and I highly doubt that any of mine will, but I think you should go. Things you will like:

Penelope Cruz is, as always, absolutely adorable, and maybe, just maybe, this will finally be that promised film that rockets her to legitimate Hollywood stardom. But most likely not because the rotten word of mouth from the masses will keep everyone away.
Tom Cruise does a fantastic job playing a role that fits him well.
Cameron Diaz is funny, desirable, unnerving, and sympathetic all at the same time.
The twists and things are well explained by the end, although the one major clue doesn't happen until about two hours in. Still, the clues along the way should give you some idea of what's going on, maybe. The final explanation at the end is quite satisfying.
Kurt Russell is good, especially at the end.
There's a part where you as an audience member are specifically referenced, although it does fall rather flat.
It is at times gleefully surreal, switching from dreams to reality with little warning.
Things you will not like:
It is at times dreadfully surreal, switching from dreams to reality with little warning.
Bloated. It's over two hours long for no good reason, lots of dead time when you're sitting in your seat trying to will the thing to move like it's a drowned kitten. You know, maybe that's a good analogy for the movie. It had some real potential to be a kitten everyone would love, but poor little Cameron Crowe gave it a bath for too long trying to get it all pretty and it just kinda drowned and it's a shame, but that's the way it works.
Jason Lee is not at the top of his game, although he does seem to have taken efforts to pluck some of the unibrow.
No one who sees it with you will get it.
It's not nearly as clever as it (and we, really) would like to think it was supposed to be.
The complete shift in gears an hour an a half into the movie is so jarring that it feels like you're trying to teach a teenager how to drive a stick -- mental whiplash is not a pretty thing, although they try to explain it away later.
It's just not worth more than two hours of your time. If it had been shaved to an hour and a half, maybe, if it had put more substantive material into its actual length, maybe, but as it stands it is not worth your time or money from the perspective of entertainment or life education.

So if you're intrigued, go see it because nice people won't spoil it for you, but keep those expectations low and go alone.