Review of When Harry Met Sally... (1989) by Ryan R — 30 Jul 2014

When this movie is being a comedy it is a really good comedy. In fact there are some of Billy Crystal's best lines in this movie. It definitely has a very strong Nora Ephron feel to the dialogue as well because they include so much observational humor and banter in that way you expect to find in her movies. I think my issues come more in the moments when this film needs to transition into a romance. Perhaps it is merely the fact that I don't believe there is much chemistry between Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. Both of them can be great actors on their own, but when you try and have them kiss romantically it feels so off. I feel as awkward as Harry does after they've slept together. I'm not sure why, but I just don't feel that connection. The slow development of their relationship from enemies to friends is totally believable and I am always loving the film through the first two acts. Then in the final act I start to get agitated and want to stop watching.

Perhaps where I continually find myself getting frustrated with this movie is the fact that Harry posits that a guy and a girl cannot be just friends. It's a difficult argument to swallow, but he makes it quite compelling. Then over the course of the film we start to see that perhaps Harry is wrong and it can be done. They have an amazing relationship as friends, and it is so much fun to watch them connecting on that level. Then the movie makes a turn and all I can say is "Wait, so the message of this movie is that Harry was in fact right and men and women can't be friends?!" It is supposed to be the romantic high point and I'm sitting there in frustration over the strange mixed message of the movie. I realize this is over-analyzing, or nit-picking a light romantic comedy film, but I'm merely trying to articulate where this movie falls short for me. Again, When Harry Met Sally has a lot of very funny moments. I love the opening sequence when they first meet and argue during the entire road trip, and also love the split-screen moment when they are both watching Casablanca together over the phone. I'm not sure there is any way they could have made this movie one that would work for me without making significant changes to the story they were trying to tell, and apparently I'm in the minority because a lot of people love this film. I'll watch it again from time to time if I catch it on TV, but it will never be one that I love.