Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
Average student and eternal optimist Lloyd Dobler seeks to capture the heart of Diane Court, a beautiful but unattainable valedictorian classmate. He surprises just about everyone - including himself - when she returns the sentiment. However, Diane's divorced, over-protective father soon begins to disapprove of the match, and Lloyd realises that it's going to take more than just the power of love to conquer all.
Say Anything... is a beloved late-80s teen romance elevated primarily by John Cusack's genuinely magnetic, heartfelt performance as Lloyd Dobler — one of the most endearing romantic leads of the era. Ione Skye and John Mahoney also deliver strong, nuanced work. The plot is fairly conventional coming-of-age romance territory, though it handles the father-daughter dynamic with more depth than typical genre entries. Cinematography is competent and atmospheric for its Seattle setting without being visually distinctive. Novelty is moderate — Cameron Crowe's script has a refreshingly grounded, earnest voice that sets it apart from typical 80s teen fare, but it doesn't radically reinvent the genre. The ending (boombox scene aside, which precedes the finale) resolves satisfyingly if somewhat neatly, with the airplane scene offering a quietly hopeful rather than triumphant close.