Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) - an underachieving, yet optimistic, recent high school graduate, falls in love with the beautiful Diane Court (Ione Skye). Although the two couldn’t be more different, with the brainy Diane heading to a prestigious fellowship in London towards the end of the summer- their initially casual romance soon blossoms into something truly special. Meanwhile, Diane’s meddlesome father (John Mahoney) tries to put a stop to their love affair, while facing an IRS investigation that threatens not only his relationship with his daughter, but his freedom…

SAY ANYTHING…, was Cameron Crowe’s directorial debut, after previously making a mark with first the novel, and then the screenplay to FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH. While the film was only a modest success at the box office in 1989, it’s gone on to become a major cult classic, with Lloyd Dobler remaining John Cusack’s defining role. For Crowe- it was the stepping stone to a great career, leading to megahits such as JERRY MAGUIRE, as well as the occasional flop (ELIZABETHTOWN was four years ago Cameron- come back already! WE NEED YOU!!!).

As far as I’m concerned, SAY ANYTHING…, is probably Crowe’s second best film, with the classic ALMOST FAMOUS edging it out slightly. This remains a favorite of mine, and something that I’ve revisited time and time again over the years. I think the reason the film holds up so beautifully is that, unlike a lot of other teen films of the eighties, it’s not defined by its era, and tells a truly timeless story.

Like many, I’ve always been able to identify with the earnest, yet unconventional Dobler. While I’m still waiting for my Diane Court, I can’t help but relate to him each and every time I see the film. Obviously the film also struck a cord with Cusack, as GROSSE POINTE BLANK almost works as an unofficial sequel, with Martin Blank having more than a little in common with Dobler. I’ve always thought that Blank is the guy Dobler would have become had he not met Diane. Cusack’s beyond great here, and seeing this again on the same day I sat through 2012 makes me yearn for a return to form for Cusack (WAR INC., came close- but was a little too over the top).

As for the other half of this iconic couple, it’s hard not to fall in love with Ione Skye while watching this. Her Diane could have been two dimensional, but Skye and Crowe don’t ever allow that to happen, with Court truly blossoming through her love for Dobler, while still remaining a tad elusive (I’ve always wondered if she would stay with Lloyd after fade out- the romantic in me says yes, the realist says no).

Of course, no review of SAY ANYTHING… is complete without mentioning the great John Mahoney as Diane’s dad, and Lili Taylor as Corey. Mahoney has probably the best written parental role I’ve ever seen in a teen movie, as despite the fact that he eventually turns out to be something of a bastard, we always know that deep down he does everything out of love for the daughter he adores. Taylor adds another layer to the film, as Dobler’s best pal. She gets one of the best lines in the film (“the world is full of guys- be a MAN”), and also has a nifty subplot with the rakish Joe (who could ever forget her immortal composition “Joe Lies”).

Video: 1:85:1 HD 1080p. Truthfully, SAY ANYTHING... doesn’t really look all that different in HD than it did on DVD. The transfer is sharp and clean, but, as it’s a modestly budgeted teen movie from the eighties, there’s only so much HD can do.

Audio: We get both the original Dolby 2.0 mix, and a newly mastered, DTS-HD 5.1 mix- that nicely represents the film. Like all of Crowe’s films, SAY ANYTHING… has a great soundtrack, with tunes from The Replacements, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cheap Trick, Fishbone, Depeche Mode, and more. The songs are clear and crisp, just like the dialogue. Overall a very solid, appropriately subdued mix.

Ported over from the DVD, we get a nicely nostalgic commentary track with Crowe, Cusack, and Skye- all of whom seem to have remained friends over the years. We also get a vintage featurette , thirty-eight minutes worth of deleted and extended scenes , featuring more of Corey’s “Joe songs”, and some wonderfully kitschy eighties trailers and TV spots that are more dated than the film they’re selling.

New to this blu-ray, we get An Iconic Film Revisited: Say Anything... Twenty Years Later in HD, with Crowe, Cusack, Skye and Mahoney reminiscing about a film that clearly holds a special place in all of their hearts (Skye still looks amazing). Also in HD, we get a ten minute Conversation With Cameron Crowe where he goes a little more in depth on the experience of making his first film than he did in the other featurette. Finally, and also in HD, is I Love Say Anything... in which a group of comedians (including Thomas Lennon & Robert Ben Garant of RENO 9/11, and Weird Al Yankovic) discuss their love of the film. Finally, we get a trivia track which is annoyingly presented in a box in the bottom right corner of the screen, and should have been a subtitle track instead.

SAY ANYTHING… probably ranks as one of the best teen movies ever made, and holds up beautifully twenty years later. While the transfer and sound mix aren’t exactly revelatory, they get the job done- and completists will want this for the new featurettes. If you’re a huge fan of the film (and really, who isn’t?), this is definitely worth picking up.