Date: Fri 25-Apr-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DONNAM

Illustration: C

Location: A12

Quick Words:

Playing-Maguire-Cruise-Crowe

Full Text:

(rev "Jerry Maguire" for Now Playing, 4/25/97)

Now Playing-

Not Quite Breaking News, But `Maguire' Avoids Caricature

By Trey Paul Alexander III

After a long campaign near the top of the movie charts, raking in

approximately $150 million and garnering notable Academy Award accolades (Best

Supporting Actor Oscar for Cuba Gooding, Jr, and nominations for Tom Cruise

and the movie itself), Jerry Maguire is nearing the end of its big screen run,

with a current stint at Danbury's Crown Cine. A review of this 1996 Best

Picture nominee does not exactly constitute breaking news, but as Hollywood's

lone studio entry to garner near universal critical acclaim, not to mention

its ability to infiltrate the zeitgeist of popular culture (just as "Show me

the money" is finally beginning to die down, the Bruce Springsteen single,

"Secret Garden," peppered with quotes from the movie, is ubiquitously present

on the radio dial), it's worth a mention.

Though I preface the following statement by asserting my utmost regard for

Cruise's abilities, my previously expressed theory still holds true that a

majority of his films and, subsequently, the character he plays in them, can

be summed up by the following: "They thought he was good. They were wrong. He

was the best." As the titular hero of Jerry Maguire , a stellar sports agent

for a top agency, Cruise certainly falls into this category again. But then,

convention is turned on its ear when Jerry, after a bout with his conscience

which spurs him to write an unprecedented mission statement condemning

heartless company practices, finds himself out of a job and struggling to keep

his one remaining client, Rod Tidwell (Gooding, Jr), a charismatic but

fiery-tempered NFL wide receiver looking to gain the superstardom he believes

is due him.

Meanwhile, as Jerry grapples for his career, his personal life also takes a

hit. His fiance (a screen-stealing Kelly Preston) - a competitive,

goal-oriented dynamo - shows him rather demonstrably what she thinks of his

mission statement and the direction it is taking him. Also, Jerry finds

complications in his relationship with co-worker Dorothy Boyd (Renee

Zellweger), an accountant from his former firm who has followed him in his

journey. A single mom with a precocious tyke (Jonathan Lipnicki), Dorothy

envisions the type of person her boss can be and aspires to be a part of his

quest for integrity... though Jerry still has a ways to go to live up to his

idealistic mission statement.

The deft finagling of the Cruise persona is just one aspect of the mighty fine

juggling act writer-director Cameron Crowe pulls off in Jerry Maguire . It

features some witty jabbing of the sports business, grasping the profit

motives that so often drive the news covered in sports headlines, and

providing a gem of a role for Gooding, Jr, whose energetic performance lights

up the screen. His ego-driven persona perfectly captures the posing and

posturing of today's strutting jocks. Yet his portrayal avoids caricature,

particularly as we witness his caring scenes with his wife (Regina King) and

family.

Indeed, Crowe also weaves a viable romance out of this behind-the-scenes

expose of the sports world. As Jerry and Rod grow closer, they reveal more of

their personal sides. Despite a gruff exterior, Rod undoubtedly loves his

wife, and Jerry's observance of this leads him to share about his burgeoning

relationship with Dorothy, which propels the latter half of the film. By the

time the move reaches its emotional climax, most audiences will have bought

into this sports film/romantic comedy hybrid, and find themselves rooting for

a triumphant ending.

Jerry Maguire is rated R for profanity and sexual content.