I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You

Jerry Maguire (1996)

Rating: R

Runtime: 138 minutes

Box Office (in today’s dollars): 232 million (approximately)

Characters: Jerry Maguire, Dorothy Boyd, Rod Tidwell, Ray Boyd, Laurel Boyd, Marcee Tidwell, Teepee Tidwell, Tyson Tidwell, Avery Bishop, Frank Cushman, Matt Cushman, Bob Sugar, Chad

Favorite Quote: “Show me the money.”

Favorite Scene: The “Secret Garden” montage

Favorite Character: Dorothy Boyd

Other need-to-see nineties movies directed by Cameron Crowe: none

There are lots of nineties pop-culture references (Hootie and the Blowfish, Clarence Thomas, and Tom Cruise’s sweet Charles Barkley vs. Shawn Kemp t-shirt) and lots of popular nineties catch phrases (we will get to those). So where do I start?? Sure, Tom Cruise was/is the most popular actor of his time, and Cuba Gooding Jr. won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar; but to me, this is Renee’s movie. In the words of Jerry Maguire describing Dorothy Boyd before their date: “That’s not a dress. That’s an Audrey Hepburn movie.” Everyone loved Jerry, rooted for Rod Tidwell, thought Ray Boyd was cute, and hated Bob Sugar. Right from the beginning I knew that Dorothy would be my favorite character from the film.

I would have to do some research, but this movie has to be the movie with the most “top quotes from a movie” ever. In 1996-97 you couldn’t go anywhere without hearing someone say “You complete me”, “You had me at hello”, or “Shoplift the pootie”. But my favorite is “Show me the money”. Deciding on favorite scene was a little more difficult. I can’t be driving in my car and hear Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’” without turning it up and singing it badly just like Jerry. But the scene that does it for me is the “Secret Garden” montage where Jerry and Dorothy are going out on their first date. Side note: “Secret Garden” is a terrible song if you listen to it closely. “She’ll let you in her mouth if the words you say are right.” Ewwww ...

When this movie was released on VHS, it became the highest selling non-Disney tape of all time. I remember reading an article about people going to any thrift store/yard sale or any place that was selling used VHS tapes, and there was always at least one copy of Jerry Maguire. It makes sense. This movie had something for everyone. Romance and sports. Language and nudity. And Jonathan “do you know the human head weighs eight pounds” Lipnicki.

Next movie to review: Scream

Cold Cold Ground

Fargo (1996)

Rating: R

Runtime: 98 minutes

Box Office (in today’s dollars): 37 million (approximately)

Characters: Marge Gunderson, Jerry Lundegaard, Carl Showalter, Gaear Grimsrud, Wade Gustafson, Jean Lundegaard, Scotty Lundegaard, Stan Grossman, Norm Gunderson, Shep Proudfoot, Mike Yanagita, Lou

Favorite Quote: “You know it’s a Radisson, so it’s pretty good.”

Favorite Scene: Marge and Mike at the Radisson

Favorite Character: Marge Gunderson

Other need-to-see nineties movies directed by the Coen brothers: The Big Lebowski (also on Salty Chewbacca’s Necessary Nineties list!!)

This is the first of two Coen Brothers movies to be reviewed for my blog. You will have to wait for bowling and White Russians; this movie has Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. Oh, and lots of sex and violence. It will make you say “Oh jeez!” My favorite character, Marge Gunderson, is the hero of the movie. She is a police chief, is pregnant, and has a sweet husband Norm who feeds her eggs and Arby’s. Jerry Lundegaard is the villain. Carl and Gaear are the bad guys helping Jerry. Everyone else (Wade, Jean, Scotty, Stan) is caught in the middle. Oh, and let’s not forget Mike Yanagita. He’s got a crush on Marge and delivers my favorite line from the movie: “You know it’s a Radisson, so it’s pretty good”.

Speaking of Mike and Marge, they are in my favorite scene. I know everyone always talks about the woodchipper scene, but when Mike is trying to get with Marge over dinner, you just can’t look away. It’s so uncomfortable. Imagine a 30-minute episode of Frasier or The Office all crammed into 5 minutes. Side note: there have been times when I have been watching those two shows with my girlfriend and she either makes me turn down the volume or turn the channel or she has to leave the room. Oh, and I am pretty sure that if I had been on dates growing up they would have been just as uncomfortable. Good thing I never have to worry about that; thanks, Rebecca!!

I am pretty excited to watch The Big Lebowski again after watching this (only 5 movies away!). I hadn’t seen Fargo in over 20 years, and I have only seen Lebowski twice. It should be really interesting to compare the two; I think that there are going to be a lot of similarities/differences, and it will be cool to talk to/hear from people to see which one they prefer. Funny, my favorite Coen Brothers movie is neither of these: it’s The Hudsucker Proxy. Goooo Eagles!!!!

Next movie to review: Jerry Maguire

I Don't Wanna Grow Up

Toy Story (1995)

Rating: G

Runtime: 81 Minutes

Box Office (in today’s dollars): 299 million (approximately)

Characters: Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Bo Peep, Hamm, Mr. Potato Head, Rex, Slinky, Sergeant, Mr. Shark, Squeeze Toy Aliens, Andy, Mrs. Davis, Molly, Sid, Hannah, Scud, Sid’s toys

Favorite Quote: “Look, I’m Woody! Howdy, howdy, howdy!”

Favorite Scene: When the toys get their revenge on Sid

Favorite Character: Rex

Other need-to-see nineties movies directed by John Lasseter: Toy Story 2

It’s the first animated movie to review on my nineties list!! Ironically, it’s the first feature-length computer-animated movie ever. They really took this movie “to infinity ... and beyond!” Yeah, I went there. Speaking of going there, I would like to go to Pizza Planet. It’s the Golf n’ Stuff of its time. Side note: if you get that reference, you win a prize. There are lots of cool characters in this movie. Woody (Andy’s favorite toy) who tells us to “Reach for the sky”, and “There’s a snake in my boot”, Buzz Lightbeer (I mean Lightyear) who is the new toy in town, supporting toys Bo Peep, Hamm, Mr. Potato Head, Slinky, Sergeant, and the Squeeze Toy Aliens. Rex is my favorite. He reminds me of myself: funny and hates confrontation.

Before I get to my favorite quote, I feel like I should mention the music. “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” is a classic. I made a 40-50 greatest Disney songs cd a few years ago, and this definitely would have made it on there if I was including Disney/Pixar songs. Side note: my favorite Disney song ever... ”I Won’t Say (I’m in Love)” from Hercules. Ok, back to Toy Story. Speaking of favorites: my favorite quote from the movie is “Look, I’m Woody! Howdy, howdy, howdy!” Mr. Shark is hilarious; he would have been my favorite character if he had been in the movie more. There were a lot of great scenes I could have chosen for favorite. I went dark, with the toys getting the best of Sid. Play nice!!

This movie was followed by two other extremely successful sequels. You could argue that any of the three are the best of the trilogy. Some could even argue it is the best trilogy ever. If I had to narrow it down to the four greatest trilogies ever (in no particular order): Star Wars (New Hope, Empire, Jedi), The Lord of the Rings, Toy Story, and the Before Trilogy (Sunrise, Sunset, Midnight). Why four?? ... three is not enough and five is too many. Feel free to argue with me and let me know your choices in the comments.

Next movie to review: Fargo