The latest Tom Cruise flick, "Jerry Maguire," attempts to swoon the romantics while simultaneously captivating the interest of the realists. Based on nothing more than human relations, "Maguire" - with its simple style - makes for an enjoyable film, but one of mediocre quality.
Cruise is Jerry Maguire: rich, en vogue, selfless and at the top of his profession. As the key sports agent for future superstars, Maguire could care less about whom he has to crush to bring in the commission.
When a star hockey player receives his fourth concussion, the victim's son gives Cruise a couple obscene gestures and sends the shallow creep's life into a whirlwind. The brush with humanism prompts Maguire to defend a caring policy of "Fewer Clients. Less Money."
Sound like a previous Cruise-classic ("Top Gun") where the coldhearted star becomes a real softy and changes his ways? Well, it's close. The difference here is that the costars hardly leave Cruise in the spotlight alone.
Cuba Gooding Jr. surfaces as Rod Tidwell, a secret weapon who no football team wants because of his arrogant attitude. Gooding is superb as the biggest nuisance of the film, with his cocky persona that nearly everyone detests. His relationship with Maguire is a strong facet of the story, and the emotions are intense.
One of Jerry's biggest dilemmas involves a woman. After all, what Cruise film would be complete without a love interest for the hero? The dynamics between the stud and his assistant Dorothy Boyd (Renee Zellweger), a single working mother, add interesting twists to the plot. Throughout the entire film, we are left to guess Jerry's level of interest, and this creates one of the film's greatest successes.
Still, this love affair also develops into one of the nearly nonexistent plot's most immense failures. The chemistry between Cruise and Zellweger often leaves much to be desired and, in many moments, we hardly care whether they live happily ever after. Their interaction is frequently dry and stagnant. Both characters never form a solid, enjoyable relationship with a great deal of momentum.
Zellweger is nonetheless a surprise success, and she shows definite promise for future roles.
Dorothy's son, Ray (Jonathan Lipnicki), creates much humor in their relationship, as the innocent child who gives Jerry a run for his money. Lipnicki's performance also reveals similar potential to Zellweger.
Lipnicki's performance emphasizes - perhaps overemphasizes - the influence of a cute kid, but after a while, the play on the child's mannerisms becomes old and overdone. His role detracts from the story and wanders into some plot in another dimension.
The combination of personalities makes the film a mixture of the deceitful versus the naive. Cruise delivers a fine performance throughout, working with the emotions of fellow characters. It is easy to admire Jerry's ambition, despise his greed and also enjoy his romantic aspirations. The changes in his appearance show Cruise's flexibility and talent.
The plot of "Jerry Maguire," unlike Cruise, is not as sturdy. Many concepts are abandoned by the heart of the film, and the ideas never meet again at the end.
Fortunately, these themes are overshadowed by the Jerry-Rod and Jerry-Dorothy relationships that leave the audience in good spirits.
"Jerry Maguire" thrives off the ideas that most people admire: wealth, success and love. It succeeds on character development, but it falters on a weak plot. The effect of "Maguire" is of mere simplicity: It has us leaving the theater with a smile on our faces.
For a film with little depth and a lot of light humor, who could ask for anything more?
Tom Cruise and Renee Zellweger can't keep their eyes off each other in "Jerry Maguire."