Cameron Crowe seems to have a penchant for making comedies that gradually evolve into thickly sentimental melodramas, e.g., "Singles" and "Say Anything."

But Crowe reaches some kind of zenith in that regard with the Tom Cruise vehicle "Jerry Maguire," a self-important, overlong, highly inflated sports satire-cum-love story.

As satire, it can't touch any single episode of "Arli$$," the riotous (if profane) HBO series about an agent, which mercilessly skewers the world of sports on a regular basis. And "Jerry Maguire's" secondary tale, of an egotist who can't make commitment part of romance - or even marriage! - has been told a few too many times. (And often by Crowe or Cruise.)

That said, "Jerry Maguire" does have much to recommend it, including Cruise's most relaxed and confident - and occasionally goofy - performance in many years. And there are plenty of supporting players on hand who help make this a better movie than it has any right to be.

Cruise is the title character, a top-of-the-line sports agent and glad-handing huckster who sounds like he's doing a commercial every time he opens his mouth. Late one night, after a few too many drinks, he finds his thoughts inexplicably filled with heady ideals. Unable to sleep, Jerry writes a "mission statement," a memo in booklet form that suggests money should not be the primary goal - that agents with fewer clients could give each one of those clients more personal attention. Then he has it copied, bound and distributed to all of his co-workers.

The next day, Jerry wakes up, realizes what he's done and wonders what the heck he was thinking. But as he returns to work, everyone gives him applause and encouragement . . . while taking bets behind his back about how long he'll last. And, of course, it isn't long.

When Jerry is fired, Dorothy (Renee Zellweger), an accountant he has hardly noticed, is inspired by his newfound ideals and leaves the agency to become his secretary. Naturally, they will begin a romance, ably abetted by her utterly charming young son (shameless scene-stealing Jonathan Lipnicki).

Meanwhile, Jerry strokes Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr. in a fiery, starmaking performance). Rod has become Jerry's only client - a talented football player and family man who, unfortunately, has a chip on his shoulder and an outsized view of his worth on the endorsement market.

Crowe is good with dialogue, and there are some very nice exchanges here, especially in the film's first half. And the buddy story of Jerry and Rod is definitely the highlight.