Jerry Maguire Essay, Research Paper
In his movie Jerry Maguire, director
Cameron Crowe illustrates how failures and successes are
all part of life and if you have love and are happy with your
life then you will shirley succeed. It is part of life to
experience failure which propels one forward to take risks
and make changes to find the answers on how to succeed
in lives little games. Jerry Maguire is an inspiring movie
based on this theme, demonstrating success and failure with
business endeavors, love relationships, friendships and self
realization. Relationships between characters in this movie
were numerous and were very intense. The relationship
between Jerry and Rod Tidwell was initially one of strong
control exhibited by Tidwell when he asks Jerry to yell
?show me the money!? and when he refuses to complete
the camel car commercial. This in turn adds to Tidwells
failure with company endorsements and extra cash. Jerry
also tries to exhibit control over Tidwell because he
expects him to act in a certain way which he doesn?t
always do. Jerry proves this when he tells Tidwell the truth
about his arrogant actions towards society and the team.
Jerry knows it is in Tidwells best interest to tone down his
arrogance in order to succeed which he does. In the end
both men come to realize their faults and change their
behavior which results in the success of Tidwells career.
The other relationship that drives the story is that between
Jerry and his secretary, Dorothy Boyd. She worked as an
accountant for Jerry?s agency, and was so inspired by his
?mission statement?, she was the only one to join him out
on his own. Jerry has significant trouble in being alone,
Dorothy is compassionate to him. Both were definitely
taking a big risk but following their hearts. Control is also
shown when Dorothy is receiving advice from her sister
about the type of guy Jerry is. Dorothy of course doesn?t
follow the advice and exerts her own controls over the
matter consequently falling in love with Jerry. Laurel failed
in her marriage and Dorothy succeeded. The main idea of
the movie is that people find happiness in all aspects of life
to follow their hearts finding a common ground between
heart and head. This required risk taking on the part of
Dorothy and Jerry when they ventured out to start thei
own company and when Dorothy followed her heart to
marry Jerry. Rod Tidwell had to learn to add more feeling
and compassion or heart to his career which in turn pushed
him further along in his success as a football player and
increased his salary. Jerry Maguire on the other hand gave
up his successful job to follow his heart not letting money
interfere with his personal business relationships. A variety
of very meaningful symbols were used to emphasize the
movies most inner meaning. Dorothy?s black sweater was
seen on the first date and on the night when she broke it off
with Jerry. The sweater symbolizes her love for him but she
knew she couldn?t live without his love in return. The action
and use of the word punch was seen when Jerry was
actually punched in his face by his fiancee on the night of
their breakup. Prior to this scene he had just lost Cush
Avery, his biggest client, it was like a punch in the stomach.
And then there is the statement by Jerry?s mentor ?roll with
the punches, tomorrow is another day.? Maguires use of
the word?s ?love you? was a general statement that he used
often but not in the context of love. This was emphasized
the night of his engagement party when all of his previous
girlfriends and co-workers said over and over again ? love
you Jerry?. As the plot develops and the story reaches it?s
climax the use of the words ?love you? either by Jerry or
other people were more sincere and meaningful. The use of
the word love changes from a statement made coming from
the head at the beginning of the movie to a statement made
coming from the heart towards the end of the movie. This is
seen in the beginning of the movie when Tidwell hangs up
the phone after keeping Jerry on as his agent, speaking
from his head not from his heart. Towards the end of the
movie Tidwell uses the statement after his successful
football game in a sincere manor which you can tell. In
conclusion the movie Jerry Maguire illustrates how failures
and successes are a part of life and if you have love and are
happy with your life you will surely succeed. Jerry Maguire
succeeded in business and love by ?following his heart? and
?rolling with the punches? along the way. For anyone who
has forgotten the feeling that a wonderful movie can trigger,
Jerry Maguire, is a welcomed reminder.