_**The summer following high school in Seattle during the late 80s**_ Ione Skye portrays Diane, a girl who doesn’t quite fit in with the “preppy” crowd and finds herself blossoming after graduation when she begins seeing Lloyd Dobler, played by John Cusack. Diane has been awarded a scholarship to an elite college in England, but her father, portrayed by John Mahoney, worries that a young man whose passion is kickboxing will derail her future success. Joan Cusack appropriately takes on the role of Lloyd’s sister, while Bebe Neuwirth makes a brief appearance as his teacher. "Say Anything" (1989) is a coming-of-age drama/romance that has garnered critical acclaim and enjoys a large following. I can see why: The characters' experiences and connections feel very authentic, and it’s clear the writer/director Cameron Crowe and the actors invested considerable effort in creating this sense of reality. For example, two of Lloyd's closest friends are girls, Corey and D.C., who offer him advice regarding his new relationship. Another instance is Diane’s straightforward dynamic with her dad. The initial portion contains several well-crafted scenes, such as Corey playing guitar at a party while still processing emotions about a previous romance. Moreover, unlike films like "Porky's" and "American Pie," there’s thankfully no juvenile vulgarity. Simply put, "Say Anything" is an elegant teen/college movie. However, I don’t particularly care for Cusack’s acting, and it seems Cameron Crowe doesn’t know how to film women in a flattering way, like Skye (and I'm not referring to nudity or anything suggestive). Also, the latter portion isn't as enjoyable as the first because it moves away from the high school graduation events to concentrate on Diane and Lloyd's increasingly intimate relationship, along with surprising details about Diane’s father. Those who enjoy stories centered around romantic connections are likely to appreciate this second half more than I did. It’s alright, and I do acknowledge its merits, but Crowe produced much better films like "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982) and “Jerry Maguire” (1996). The film has a runtime of 1 hour, 40 minutes, and filming took place in Seattle; Kitsilano Beach, Vancouver (the graduation scene); Los Angeles and North Hollywood (the boom box scene). GRADE: C+

Source on TMDB