Say Anything…
★★★★
Cameron Crowe has always been one of my favorite directors. He has an uncanny ability to blend comedy with high stakes drama that feels very personal and relatable. Say Anything is not a complicated film and it's refreshing to watch a story that is smart about its themes, but not overbearing. It had been so long since I have seen this film that most of it was a surprise to me. I don't think it's Crowe's best, but like a lot of debuts from your favorite artists, you see the brilliance that is boiling underneath the surface.
It's super easy to fall in love with Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack). He is the ultimate every man who is friends with everyone, but not king over anyone. The romance that develops between Lloyd and Diane Court (Ione Sky) completely makes sense. Yes, they come from different backgrounds, but like most relationships, there is a common ground that is discovered that makes sense. Lloyd is directionless, while Diane has had her future planned out since the first day she was born. Both feel incomplete without one another and it's natural to see these two characters grow and compliment one another. All the while, Crowe doesn't forget that these two are graduating seniors, and there is teenage sentimentality that he constantly keeps in place. It completely makes sense that a boombox over the head or a simple love letter could solve all the worlds problems in their eyes. Juxtapose that with the IRS woes that Diane's father (John Mahoney) deals with. Yes, the world would look at James Court and say, "That guys has it figured out." Yet, it's all a scam.
On the surface, it's easy to cast off the seriousness of Say Anything because of it's charm and sharp wit. It has some very funny scenes, but Crowe uses this story to remind us that it's important to find a balance between adult responsibility and youthful ignorance. If we don't take life so seriously, we may make it after all.
