THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
The goal to balance your life is not an easy feat because it will provide the tough answer on what you love the most. If Jerry Maguire taught us anything, family should always be the answer.
PLOT
The film follows the titular sports agent who seems to have it all when being engaged to a woman named Avery (Kelly Preston) and working at SMI (Sports Management International). His life changes when he gains criticism form the son of an injured athlete. This inspires him to write a mission statement of perceived dishonesty in the sports management, believing that working with fewer clients can produce a more caring relationship with them. This causes him to be fired by his own protege Bob Sugar (Jay Mohr). The only athletes who stay by him after the firing are two football players: quarterback prospect Frank Cushman (Jerry O’Connell) and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rod Tidwell who seeks a new contract he wants his family to live on. With a promising future at hand, Jerry walks out of work with the plan to start his own agency. He offers anyone from the office and the only one that does is a single mother named Dorothy Boyd. She is the only one to join him for naturally enjoying her memo. Sadly, Jerry would lose Cush as a client when he switches to Sugar, making Rod his sole client. Jerry would feel so dissatisfied that he would break up with Avery. Within the following months, he would fall in love with Dorothy and form a parental bond with her son Ray. Dorothy would consider moving to San Diego to for a secure job offer, but Jerry convinces her to marry him so they can stay afloat financially. His business relationship with Rod is proven to be a struggle of its own as the athlete is too difficult to satisfy. He would blame Maguire for not trying hard enough to score him the contract, but the agent would rebuttal that he isn’t because he’s not proving his worth by not being likable in the eyes of the fans. One relationship after another would appear to crumble for Jerry when Dorothy makes the decision to separate when he puts more attention on Ray than her. During a game on Monday Night Football, Rod would prove his worth by playing well and despite receiving an injury, he would score a winning touchdown secure the Cardinals a spot in the playoffs. After the win, he would celebrate his victory with the fans. It is after this game where and Jerry embrace each other as friends, living up to the latter’s memo. Jerry would then return to Dorothy make clear how much he loves her, which she reciprocates. When Rod has an appearance on Roy Firestone’s sports show, he would be surprised of the confirmation securing an $11.2 million contract with the Cardinals, allowing him to finish his pro football career in Arizona. In joy of the discovery, he gives the majority of his gratitude towards Jerry. It is after this interview where multiple athletes would reach out to the agent to share their praise towards the memo and respect the work he’s done with Rod. The film would end with Maguire being in awe of Ray’s natural throwing ability in baseball after stumbling across a Little League game.
THOUGHTS
You know you’re in for one helluva film if it can create multiple feelings in a singular viewing and Writer/Director Cameron Crowe succeeds in doing just that. At one point, I’m smiling or feel somewhat excited until I feel completely moved of it all. It just gives you the energy you never thought you wanted. It’s quite surprising to feel this way when the setting is in the world of sports, but then again it proves anything can happen wherever you go, whether it is achieving success or falling in love. And that is where the message kicks in where you just have to pay attention to what's important in life and in this case, it's love. The love you give and receive will encourage you to be true to yourself and maintain the integrity you use to thrive in life. That is the lesson we learn through such an awesome ensemble. Tom Cruise shines as Jerry better than any action based role he would get to do after this. This titular role has aged so well in his career because he is someone going through the ropes in self organization. He wants to succeed in his line of work and maintain the passion with the new standards he made. He pulls it off when bonding with a star that is different from the rest and finding love from someone he never thought would change him for the better. With every bit of feedback from them, he betters the balance he seeks which pays off in the long run. If shouting 'Show me the money' doesn't hype you up, I don't know what will. It was definitely a journey of trial and error since he had to also remember thinking about others besides himself, which he pulls off as well in incredible fashion. Seeing him pull it off makes us believe we can do the same. Again, this would've not been a successful journey had there not been unlikely people to guide him. Cuba Gooding Jr. is awesome in his Oscar winning performance as Rod because you're in awe on how ecstatic he can be towards his inner circle, but he has his own struggles to think past his needs. There is no doubt he is high on life when having a loving & supportive wife like Marcee, who is well played by Regina King, but his determination to make a living was making it hard for him to understand he had to give love back to those tuning in if he wanted his career to go the way he wanted. Thankfully, he took Jerry's advice and lived up the definition of 'kwan'. Another character who helped Jerry set his priorities was Dorothy. Renee Zellwegger was great as well for making her one always hopeful for a better tomorrow. She was Jerry's polar opposite because she had a better balance of responsibility due to taking care of her adorable son Ray, played by Jonathan Lipnicki. And that is where the chemistry works so well overtime between both adults because it was an opposites attract romance. The more time Jerry spent with her and Ray, the more he wanted to be better. He is not wrong saying he completes her as he beautifully does because it represents exactly how much she means to him and there is no doubt she believes him the way we do. And from that, there is quite certainty this blended family has an everlasting happily ever after. Another character I appreciated seeing was Dorothy's sister Laurel played by Bonnie Hunt. Hunt was amazing as Laurel because she was without question a supportive sister because she didn't want Dorothy to set herself up for failure and she had the right to feel that way since the relationship with Jerry happens so fast. Seeing the blossom of it all did help her understand if you know what you want, go for it. From there, I'm sure she better tolerates Maguire these days. I’m always gonna have a soft spot for this movie but in the end, there’s still a few things that bothered me upon re-watching. For instance, what are the freaking odds for everyone to Jerry’s memo at the same time? I get they’re all curious about it, but I wouldn’t read one sent to me until I went home at least. It can be cute for Dorothy to hear Jerry talking aloud of how he proposed to Avery but if he’s that loud, I’m surprised other passengers or even a flight attendant don’t tell him to keep it down. And why exactly did Ray have to go to Dorothy’s trip with her? It’s not like Laurel and Chad were unavailable for however long they ended up being out of town. Also it is a miracle for Jerry to keep Rod around after losing every other client to Sugar, but howcome none of them wanted it sorted out before switching sides? I mean it can prove how good Sugar is at his job but it’s odd they don’t take the transition too serious. And I personally don’t understand why Rod isn’t looked at as an all timer of a player when he had 110 reception and 15050 yards in ‘95? Stats like that should’ve already scored him a contract no matter how difficult he is outside the arena. And lastly I was happy for Rod when it came to the announcement he scored a new contract to his liking, but why not let him see it during the show before going off air? It would’ve made a bigger triumph for him already when expressing gratitude towards Jerry and his peers. The same can be said with getting commercial gigs. Ignore this, then you’ll appreciate the movie for what it is. In short, Jerry Maguire is one of the best dramedies of the 90s for bringing out a bright spot you never thought you had. You want a movie that makes you feel more than one thing at once? This one will do it for you.
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