Jerry Maguire ***

(Regie: Cameron Crowe; Met: Tom Cruise, Renee Zelleger, Cuba Gooding Jr., Kelly Preston, e.a)

The surprise contender at this year's Oscars is an intelligent, warm comedy by writer/director Cameron Crowe (of Singles fame). Tom Cruise plays the title character, an ambitious sports agent that gets disillusioned with the "kill or get killed" morality of the business and decides to write an office memo. The memo doesn't miss its effect and gets Jerry fired. General mayhem ensues as Maguire tries to start up his own business together with his only remaing client (macho football hero Cuba Gooding Jr.) and a mousy secretary (a ravishing Renee Zellweger in a breakthrough performance).

After a number of disappointments Jerry learns about life, love and happiness and ends up a better person than he was before. Crowe has structured this story of self-discovery as a classic American morality tale with more than a casual reference to Arthur Miller's seminal Death of a Salesman. This doesn't mean, however, that Jerry Maguire is a 'weighty' ideas movie. It is, in fact, one the most delightful comedies of the year.

The film features some snappy dialogue, perfect comedic timing and an hilarious performance by Cuba Gooding Jr. as the player who's convinced that he's the best in the game. The telephone dialogue early in the film when Jerry implores his football star to keep him on as an agent, resulting in a rap concerto based on the rhythmic snippet of knowledge "Show me the money", is a pure delight. Gooding Jr. will probably get plaudits from the Oscar jurors, but it isn't his performance that's central to the movie's appeal.

The real star of Jerry Maguire is Tom Cruise, who has finally found the role to match his specific screen charisma. Cruise has done this kind of role before (in Rainman and Cocktail), but he's less careful here, more secure about who he is and what kind of character he wants to project. It's brilliant stuff by an actor who has been wrongly snubbed by the majority of film critics. Even better is Renee Zellweger. Here's an actress that combines sass with baby doll innocence. A rare combination that's perfect for the character of a young woman lacking the social skills to put her life back on track.

Jerry Maguire is not the best film of the year, but it's certainly one hell of an entertaining trip to the movies.

by Tom Paulus