Say Anything

Say Anything---Ok, I will.

I love this movie.

If you have a hankering to see John Cusak---and his sister Joan for that matter--back when they were just pups, then it's likely you'll love it too. Hailed as one of the best movies of the year--it's year being 1989--it's a classic mixture of romantic comedy and tender drama--moving back and forth with seamless precision.

Cusak plays Lloyd, a quirky teenager who just happens to fall for the class brain, but doesn't get up the nerve to make his move until graduation. To his surprise, she agrees to go out with him and they quickly find that, polar opposites can, indeed, connect. Johnny-boy is truly in his element here as a fast talking, quick thinking, terrifically honest fellow in love, and if I didn't know better I'd say he was simply playing himself. His true love, Diane, is played by Ione Skye--a beautiful, soothing match to Lloyd's subtle wit.

Motherly Advice: Each of the characters has a bit of language that is filtered out easy enough and there is a steamy scene in a parked car that is shortened--but not quite enough for this mom. Be warned that even your preteens are liable to figure out that the couple went "too far." This scene and the fact that Diane and her father have such an open relationship that she just plain tells him about the premarital sex bit--that we could have done without. That said, I feel that this movie still has a lot to say about truthfulness, trust and the price one is willing to pay to prove their love.

Launi - Movie Mom and Parking Lot Police

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, language, some sexual content, and teen drinking; 100 min; Directed by Cameron Crowe