The Cusack Principle

For many years I had several simple rules when it came to renting movies. For example, 'never rent a film with Dolph Lundgren in it'. 'Never rent a film which is endorsed by Paul Ross'. 'Never rent a sequel which doesn't have any of the original cast'. 'Never rent a film with the words 'National Lampoons' in the title' (except Animal House), and perhaps most reliable of all: 'there's no such thing as a bad John Cusack movie'. Whether it was the teen angst of Say Anything, the fan boy rants of High Fidelity or the uber-cool hitman in Grosse Point Blank, the boy Cusack could do no wrong. Even when he was horribly mis-cast in Nic Cage action/mullet-fest, Con Air, Cusack brought his laid back charm to the party and helped steal the show as FBI agent Vince Larkin (albeit with considerable help from the always excellent Colm Meaney).

But then, in late 2006, my faith in the Cusack took an almost fatal blow and the world was never quite the same again. How I came to watch the film 'Must Love Dogs', is neither here nor there, however watch it I did and the outcome of this brief dip into the world of the 'rom-com', almost left my world without a purpose. It was as if magentic north had suddenly been turned off and my filmic compass was left to spin, out of control, pointing at all and sundry without any rhyme or reason. If such a fundamental rule as 'the Cusack Principle' could be questioned then what next> Would the sky turn green? Would dogs and cats, live happily together? Would there be amss hysteria?! Who knew?!

However, after several lost years in the cinematic wilderness, my faith in the Cusack Principle was finally returned this weekend, thanks to a little movie called 1408. Based on a Stephen King short story (which is always better than being based on a novel by Stephen King, because invariably the films of his full-length books tend to suck) this supernatural horror was something of a one-man show, as Cusack becamse stuck in a 'haunted hotel room' as he attempted to debunk the claims that this was the most haunted room in the USA. And as such, it was make or break time for 'the Principle'.

Fortunately, after half an hour my faith in the 'Principle' was re-affirmed and I began to realize this was Cusack back to doing what he did best. Admittedly, he is a little more world weary than when he was in his prime, however the laconic charm, the lightning quick dialogue and the long sulky smoking scenes were all there and we were back in business (albeit with one notable asterisk against 'the principle's' otherwise rock solid reputation). All this and evil little devil child with an axe to give you nightmare, what more could you ask for?!

Now maybe I should give those National Lampoons films another chance?