Gee Ricky, I'm really sorry your Mom blew up

John Cusack is 40.

I was just over at MatchFlick updating my profile and trying to decide if I list him as one of my favorite people in film; there was a time when I’d see anything with John Cusack in it, because I knew it would reflect some part of my own life. I’m part of that generation who grew up with John’s comedies in the 80’s. And his name in Better Off Dead was Lane!

I loved the change from dorky comedies to Say Anything. It seemed like John was growing up, which meant I was, too. And at the time I really identified with Diane Court, a girl who didn’t really click with people her age because of how smart she was. How I wanted my own Lloyd Dobler! And yes, I know that’s not a particularly original sentiment. Most girls back then felt the same way (at least those of us who wanted the sensitive guy).

And then years later, as I’m thinking about my own high school reunion, along comes Grosse Pointe Blank. So he’s still doing it, keeping pace with the stuff that happens in my own life. Which is a weird kind of comfort that makes my life seem less random. As while I'm in grad school studying literary theory, he comes out with the artsy Being John Malkovich.

All of which is just a round-about way of trying to say that I was a little freaked when John’s info popped up and it said 40 years old. Well, at least he’s not taking roles where he’s playing Lindsay Lohan’s dad.