I remember this movie. Foxx is great. Cruise, as you say, is Cruise, though even more so in this movie. In a way he reminds me of Swarzenegger in his early films: A robot-like role that doesn't demand acting ability. The actor has to go through the motions with wooden effect and that works fine.

I think the best movie I ever saw Cruise in was Risky Business. That was a long time ago and he fit the role of naive student very well.

The best performance I ever saw from Foxx was in Ray, when he plays Ray Charles. Now that was memorable.