Tom Cruise Redeems Himself at MTV Movie Awards

By Zach Dionne Posted Jun 6th 2010 10:30PM

Tom Cruise Les Grossman MTV Movie Awards

There was a moment there, when Tom Cruise showed up live on the MTV Movie Awards in character as aggressive, dynamite-loud film producer Les Grossman, when we were really, really nervous. Sure, he killed it in 'Tropic Thunder,' and he'd been rocking the taped promos for the awards show but ... live? Seriously?

Seriously. With a three-minute booty-shakin' performance, the actor himself officially ended the era of Tom Cruise bashing. Oprah's couch? Scientology? The eyepatch in 'Valkyrie'? Fuhgeddaboudit! Cruise became definitively cool again with his live appearance, complete with swaggerific undone bow-tie and J-Lo as his dance partner. Watch Tom/Les break it down with Jennifer Lopez in the clip below, and after the jump, the hilarious intro.

PopEater speculated a few weeks back that the national relationship with Tom Cruise was set to careen toward all-out hate or ascend back to love. We're thrilled to say we're all about Tom Cruise again, and we feel just dandy about it.

And so do you, it seems. So far, thousands of PopEater readers have leaned 66% toward "yes, this was amazing" in our poll asking if Tom Cruise is back on the public's good side. As recently as mid-May (in our ongoing love/hate Tom Cruise investigation), 56% of voters indicated they "hate him," while only 19% loved him.

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Crucial in Cruise's redemption is the 47-year-old's newfound ability to walk the tightrope of self-seriousness. With the incident on Oprah's couch in 2005, it looked like he was off the deep end, like he'd never behave like a respectable actor again. In a verbal spat with Matt Lauer that same year, Cruise seemed unapproachable in the opposite regard, taking himself far too seriously.

Then came Cruise's 2008 'Tropic Thunder' cameo, introducing the world to Les Grossman and to the idea that this man might be able to take himself a little less seriously, and still entertain. Resurrecting the character in 2010, and doing it live, cemented the fact that Cruise could laugh at himself with the rest of us, and at the end of the day, flash his million-dollar grin while we sat back and said, Wow.

"He turned his image from Scientology to scatology and added a considerable amount of grease to his stiff-guy stereotype," was the LA Times' dead-on verdict.

Check out the Les Grossman-filled, star-studded intro to last night's MTV Movie Awards:

When the time came for Best Picture, Cruise reappeared as a presenter (as himself) with 'Knight and Day' co-star Cameron Diaz, clearly in on the joke of his amazing performance earlier in the night. Grinning, he offered a quick "love you all," before launching into the prepared spiel. But even introducing the nominees, Cruise could hardly stop cracking up at the Les Grossman-inspired catcalls from the audience. The redemption was palpable.

"It was a lot of fun -- it was a blast!" Cruise told PEOPLE after the show. "You know, I can dance a bit, and we rehearsed. And my wife's a dancer, so I like dancing! [Katie] loved it."

Read more: Behind the Return of Les Grossman | Sandra Bullock's Brave Speech

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Tom Cruise Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 04: Actor Tom Cruise attends the 5th Annual 'Oscar Wilde: Honoring The Irish In Film' held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on March 4, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for The US-Ireland Alliance) *** Local Caption *** Tom Cruise

Getty Images for The US-Ireland

Getty Images North America

Tom Cruise Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 04: Director/producer/writer J.J. Abrams and actor Tom Cruise onstage during the 5th Annual 'Oscar Wilde: Honoring The Irish In Film' held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on March 4, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for The US-Ireland Alliance) *** Local Caption *** J.J. Abrams;Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 04: Actor Tom Cruise, president of the Irish American Alliance Trina Vargo and author Colum McCann attend the 5th Annual 'Oscar Wilde: Honoring The Irish In Film' held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on March 4, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for The US-Ireland Alliance) *** Local Caption *** Tom Cruise;Trina Vargo;Colum McCann

Tom Cruise Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 04: Author Colum McCann and actor Tom Cruise attend the 5th Annual 'Oscar Wilde: Honoring The Irish In Film' held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on March 4, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for The US-Ireland Alliance) *** Local Caption *** Colum McCann;Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 04: Actor Tom Cruise speaks onstage during the 5th Annual 'Oscar Wilde: Honoring The Irish In Film' held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on March 4, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for The US-Ireland Alliance) *** Local Caption *** Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise Snapshots

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Tags: Les Grossman, MTV Movie Awards, Tom Cruise

Comments

(201)

Monday 07 June

By ftdruminfantry

Vote down Vote up Report this

I cant believe all these Tom Cruise haters. He is by far my favorite actor.

By Mitch

Tom should just accept the fact that he is a hasbeen. The dance was simple - such as one you might see other washed up stars doing on dancing with the stars...Nothing to it. Tom, just go away

By stonez88

Look here yall, this guy has given us all fantastic moments in film. Hes always going to be a star. He does what he thinks best in his personal life and doesnt hide it from us.......u go tom

By james

I don't see why anyone would have to hate on Tom Cruise. His job is to entertain. Whether you like him or not, I don't think anyone can say that for those who do appreciate his efforts, he is entertaining. All the other stuff is prsonal and I'm sure you don't want some of the crap in your closet broadcast over the airwaves. Jump on a couch because I was in love? Guilty. Enjoy Tom Cruise, he is one of the best at what he does.

By privato

James, go looking out! It lovely to read something kind about such a good entertainer. "One love" Lorraine

By Marilyn

Don't like him....never did! He is so arrogant and full of himself!

By leah

I will only give him this. For his age, and her's great atheltic ability. Other than that....I wouldn't walk across the street to see either of their over enlarged ego's(perfect pair the two of them). Next

Sunday 13 June

By The_Vatican_Gold_Member

I am sick and tired of Cruise and the hard core b*tch Lopez.... they are justv looking for ways to make more money, but have nothing to offer. Get some new young and awesome actors that are pushed away by the old geese!

By seavet1

he is still a nut case and a has been or never was

By jamie

how did he get those big popeye forearms for the act. and he must have glued body hair all over too

By Patty

I loved his character in Tropic Thunder. I didnt even know it was him. And damn he can dance. That was Hip hop dancing he was doing and he did it great.

By luz

HE WAS GOOD. ALL THE YEARS AS A DANCER I MUST SAY J-LO DID GREAT UP UNTIL THE BOXING PART. SHE THEN BROKE OUT OUT OF NOWHERE AND WENT AHEAD OF HIM TOO FAST. HE KEPT IT COOL. THE END WAS NOT TIGHT!8 OUT OF 10.

By Bob Watson

What's the problem with Tom ? With a world full of jesus freaks, etc., you can't let someone "think for themselves" and do/believe what they wish ? I'm 56, very well read and have always looked forward to his movies. And besides all of that, he's a nice guy. Let him be himself - Tom, you've always been up there with the top actors/always look forward to your movies. Keep on rockin !

By peapers

Everyone takes the Hollywood industry waaaaay to seriously. "I hate Tom Cruise - I love Tom Cruise", who cares? He's just a person with flaws and foibles just like the rest of us.

By LISA

I LIKE TOM CRUISE AND I LIKED HIS DANCE WITH J-LO. IT WAS GOOD

By Chris G

Love Tom Cruise always have, I did question that little bump in the road but all in all he's a great actor and a sincerely good person. Glad to see people are willing to forgive and forget.

By Melanie

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Whatever. He is still a big loser!!!
Wish he would just go away.

By Stanley

Hard to believe that people can have any respect at all for this moron. Just because Cruise again proves what a shallow phony he is and he gets new respect. Give me a break. The guy is so stupid that he believes all the garbage they try and sell in Scientology. If you're dumb enough to fall for Tom Cruise when he is doing the best he can to be someone he isn't, too bad for you.

By Robert W

All I heard was Bleeps over all the Curse words he was using. Attention Hollywood Writers!! Saying curse words only to extend the actor's lines are not good enough, these script writers have no sense on what is good writing anymore.

By JNR

Mr. Zach Dionne,

You have, as most other writers do, misused the word "careen." Careen is misused in the third paragraph that begins, "PopEater speculated..."

The proper word to use is "career."

The word "careen" means, to turn a sailing vessel on its side for the purpose of scraping and cleaning its hull. It does NOT mean to go "forward, out of control," or to go "forward, out of control, side to side." That honor belongs to "career."

Editor, please note.

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