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 their

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.