"Just shut up.  You had me at 'hello'..."      

JERRY MAGUIRE (R) 

Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) is a 35-year old sports-agent who's living life in the fast-lane.  Deal after deal, contract after contract, Maguire pushes and sells, convincing athletes that they can't do without him, and convincing sports teams and sponsors that they can't do without his atheletes. Money, money, money, "SHOW ME THE MON-E-E-Y!!!!!"  

Then, one day, something snaps.  Call it a nervous breakdown, call it a self-discovery, call it whatever you want, but Maguire decides that he doesn't want to go on the way he's been going--he doesn't want to be just another "shark in a suit."  In a sudden burst of passionate inspiration, Maguire drafts and distributes a mission statement for how things should be in his profession: less clients, less money, more real relationships.  The result?  He gets fired, and he loses all but one of his athlete-clients.  

The rest of Jerry Maguire is the story of how Maguire attempts to start his life over, counting on Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.), the one athlete who decides to keep him as an agent, and Dorothy Boyd (Renee Zellweger), the woman who, inspired by his aforementioned mission statement, decides to follow him on his new journey...

Folks, here's the bottom line: Jerry Maguire is an excellent movie, thanks to a wonderful script by Cameron Crowe and equally wonderful performances by every member of the cast. Maguire is all at once a great story of personal self-discovery, a funny and interesting inside-sports story, and a very touching romance.  The word on Cruise is also true: this has got to be one of the best performances of his career.  In addition, Renee Zellweger is positively charming, and Cuba Gooding Jr. is an absolute joy to watch, as is Jonathan Lipnicki, who hilariously plays Dorothy's 6-year old son.  The relationships that develop between these characters are incredibly rich and meaningful in this film, and it makes for an uplifting and heart-warming movie experience.  Jerry Maguire is definitely a movie to see this holiday season.

Responses from cyberspace!  Thanks for writing, folks!

violet116@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "Best movie ever released. All the people were great especially "RAY" he is so cute and funny." (5/19/99)

lisag@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "We thought the movie was absolutely FANTASTIC we loved it so much we bought the video and watch it time and time again." (5/19/99)

roche_leonor@yahoo.com gives this movie  stars: "Fantastic movie! Everyone is good especially the director, Cameron Crowe. Can anyone tell me the exact lines Dorothy Boyd told Jerry when she was asking for a divorce? Something like "that's not the way I'm built"." (5/16/99)

anneifer@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "this movie, by far, captures the meaning of true love and that men are capable of love!!!!" (11/15/98)

tenderwarrior@usa.net gives this movie  stars: "The mother-of-all-lines... 'You had me at hello...' Man, every male should become mush at that one. I did... :)" (5/29/98)

Millz55@aol.com gives this movie  stars: "This is my favorite movie. I love to watch movies. I have watched Jerry over 500 times. & I still like to watch it. I know every word of the whole movie & if you don't believe me, mail me. It also has a great cast. Tom Cruise is so good looking. The plot is great too. I enjoyed it because it was about sports & I play Volleyball, Basketball, & Track. Also, because it showed you that if you work and stick to what you want, you will achieve it. Oh-ya, I just want to say: Bob Sugar, your a jerk!" (4/7/98)

Kevin gives this movie  stars: "Jerry Maguire is one of the most moving experiences that the American 90's cinema has provided in a long time. With accurate, humanly flawed characters and a remarkable Cameron Crowe scrips, "Jerry Maguire" ranks up there with the all-time greatest movies centering on romance, along with another Crowe movie, the John Cusack vehicle Say Anything..." (4/4/98)

David gives this movie  stars: "Just brilliant! Great plot, great charcters and most of all, BRILLIANT, AMAZING and UNBELIEVABLE acting by Tom Cruise who played his part just the way he was meant to and added a bit more, Cuba Gooding Jr. brought the house down with his brilliant performance. I think one of the best for a supporting role. And the girl who got married to Jerry, ( I forgot her name! Oops!), brilliantly acted. And don't you just love that kid - "Did you know that the human head weighs 8 pounds!" He made the movie very funny! This movie is a brilliant one!!" (1/24/98)

Indigo2181@aol.com gives this movie  stars: "I thought Jerry Maguire was a great film. Just one question-Does anyone know where I can download the "I love him..." line from?" (8/3/97)

sks@wt.net gives this movie  stars: "I just rented this film last night and it was so wonderful! The story is good, but not too good to be true. I was surprised at the length, but it was worth it." (7/27/97)

canchaser@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "Jerry Maguire was GREAT!!! I loved it, I did, I loved it and I don't care what anyone else thinks!! I LOVED IT, I LOVED IT, I LOVED IT!" (6/20/97)

Val gives this film  stars: "Tom Cruise's best performance.  Movie of the nineties.  Most people can relate to this romantic comedy in today's world." (6/5/97)

Sarah gives this movie  stars: "This is a really good movie. Definately one worth seeing." (5/13/97)

restrepo@telcel.net.ve gives this movie  stars: "Jerry Maguire is a great movie. It has everything- drama, comedy, romance- you name it. Tom Cruise does a great job acting it and the little kid is realy cute!" (2/9/97)

anonymous entry of  stars. (2/2/97)

dddcld@ix.netcom.com gives this movie  stars: "I don't get it??? The longest most boring movie I've seen, ever. Are we supposed to be enthralled by his finding of himself?? Or did he?? Someone explain, please??" (1/23/97)

howard@acadia.net gives this movie  stars: "This movie takes the usual theme of a Tom Cruise film (TOP GUN, DAYS OF THUNDER, COCKTAIL, et al.) and fleshes them out with a better story, more believable characters, and a more mature adult-oriented theme. One question, however: what is that song that Cuba Gooding, Jr. is singing at the wedding of Jerry and Dorothy?" (1/18/97)   (I don't remember...does anyone out there know????)

dreeves@cpis.net gives this movie  stars: "What a great film! This is some of the finest directing and ensemble acting that I've ever had the joy to witness. The interaction of Renee Zellweger, Tom Cruise, and Cuba Gooding, Jr. is a classic example of excellent casting and a perfectly tailored storyline. Don't miss this film!" (1/17/97)

WinkelLa@mlc-wels.edu gives this movie  stars: "I felt that the character Jerry Maguire wasn't as strong of a person as the usual roles portrayed by Tom Cruise. This movie gave me more respect for him as an actor because it showed that he can play a person who is having a nervous breakdown, not just the strong macho heroes!" (1/13/97)

ludwig@ari.fed.us gives this movie  stars: "I would say that this movie was okay. You would have to like sports to be able to enjoy this movie. I really don't like football. Tom Cruise did good in it." (12/23/96)