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SAY ANYTHING is one of those movies from the 1980s that during all these years assumed some sort of cult following, and it's probably Cameron Crowe's most famous movie along with JERRY MAGUIRE. When I saw it few months ago I didn't consider it a classic but still a good movie in its own right.

Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) is a good-hearted underachiever that falls for valedictorian Diane Court and wants to ask her out despite they belong to different social groups. Lloyd lives with his sister and still hasn't plans for his future: Diane comes from a sheltered academic upbringing, and she is about to take a fellowship in Britain for the summer. Some time pass, they become intimate much to her father's concern, and he is also investigated from the Internal Revenue Service but the real culprit is her dad, and they end up going together in Britain.

There are many good and memorable moments in it (most famous of them, when Lloyd stands under Diane's window playing Peter Gabriel's IN YOUR EYES on a boombox), and has a great 1980s vibe to it and a nice performance by the always good Cusack. The only negative would be the father subplot, but overall, it's just a decent comedy that has achieved some sort of cult status.

A wonderful film which made me laugh, cry and heavily identify with the first time I ever saw it. Then, some 13 years later, after buying it on DVD with faded memories, I watched it again and it all came back.

I laughed; I was moved; I cheered inside when things went well for the hero, and I even remembered things about my first love. Especially the shaking with happiness moment (Judith). This film has survived 13 years with me, and it's not all down to my own memories.

John Cusack and Ione Skye give such wonderful performances that are so believable there's not a second that you're thinking of them as actors. Everything they feel and do seems so real. John Mahoney portrays the over protective Father very well, and his understated struggle when he realises this is superbly done.

Cameron Crowe has excelled himself in capturing the feelings and moments that you can so easily identify with to make them just right, and seem so natural.

It's a wonderfully written film, with equal acting, to remind us all of falling in love for the first time without all the hurt, mistrust and disbelief in oneself. It even manages to provide one of the best endings I've ever seen.

In "Say Anything" Cameron Crowe has crafted a one-of-a-kind romantic comedy which avoids at least 90% of the pitfalls one would commonly associate with films within the genre. How does he do it? Simply by avoiding sappy moments, by creating a script that more or less mirrors the bittersweet experience of first love, and by simply, but tastefully guiding the film's visuals and outstanding acting.

"Say Anything" is not completely anti-conventions, and actually uses some wildly popular rom-com conventions to its advantage, but the role reversal (Dobbler being the 'lost' one), interjection of successfully genuine drama, and simple, understated romantic moments make this a wild success. That's not to say that Crowe isn't successful when he goes for the wildly over-the-top sap, because he knows it's sappy, but it does happen in real life. I mean, the over-the-top gestures like the stereo outside the window do occur in reality, and they guys who do them usually are just like Lloyd Dobbler.

Great characters, a great cast, really good writing, and simple but solid direction make this a real winner that is deservedly recognized as a romantic classic.

8.5/10

Cameron Crowe succeeds in creating a vary likeable character dealing with love from afar. Lloyd Dobler, played by John Cusak, is very popular, but without major ambition. He is smitten with the smartest girl in school, played by Ione Skye. Dobler's current main goal in life is to get a date with the object of his obsession.

If you liked the movie PRETTY IN PINK, you will really enjoy this movie. Two people from different walks of life discover each other. Cusak is flawless in his role. Miss Skye is more than just a pretty face. John Mahoney plays the pampering father.

Crowe has a talented flair with the agonizing emotions that are part of approaching adulthood.

Very few films have even tried to be as smart and honest as Say Anything. The film, which is more then 10 years old, still remains to be one of the strongest pieces of romantic cinema. Not only do John Cusack and Ione Skye have perfect chemistry; not only is John Mahoney's character one of the most complicated father figures in the history of film; not only is the screen play delightfully honest; but everything just seems to fit right in this movie. A true treasure