Review of When Harry Met Sally... (1989) by Saran M — 20 Sep 2018

Reviewed 9.11.18 Can a man and woman be friends, given our hard-wired desire to couple up? Nora Ephron's script zips along, exposing the ridiculous lengths we all go through to find a life partner. It's honest, and from that wellspring of openness between Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan), love is born. Ryan is at her charming best, she steals the movie. Rob Reiner checks off a list of landmark NYC filming locations. The stories of actual couples (presented by actors) interspersed between chapters adds welcome comedic gravitas. But it's the genuine chemistry between the two leads that elevates it to classic rom-com territory.

I saw it in the theatre in 1989 (way younger than appropriate), and it set the bar. It's insights are now common place, but it was fresh at the time. And although its hipness has aged, it's heart has not. I have heard it derided as a Woody Allen movie without Woody Allen. And that's a bad thing? It's funny, witty and endearing. Like the instantly classic scene where Sally proves a point to Harry over lunch, 'I'll have what she's having.'.