Review of When Harry Met Sally... (1989) by Tim L — 10 May 2014

Harry and Sally are two swift-talking and opinionated singletons who randomly meet and quickly develop both a strong chemistry and an even stronger dislike for each other. Over the years they keep re-meeting and re-acquainting; and their 'love/hate' relationship grows ever more tense and comically frustrating.

Ok, I must admit something terrible now....it's taken me 25 years to watch this film. Along with other classics such as The Great Escape or Rocky (I know, I know!) I've just never got around to it.

And I'm glad I did. There's no denying the huge debt the film takes from another of my favourite 'rom-coms' Annie Hall. But in many ways this film is its legitimate offspring - taking Woody Allen's blueprint and focused it into something more coherent and accessible (for better or for worse). The characters are three-dimensional and memorable, the script manages to be at once shrewd, witty and warm.

It moves along at a great pace, with some really funny scenes and a great chemistry between Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, who really bounce off each other brilliantly throughout. I still struggle a bit to warm to Ryan fully after the whole Parkinson thing, and Crystal's character is a terrible advertisement for some of the worst cliches thrown at men, but the film transcends these flaws and shines as one of the most intelligent and likable of it's genre. Definitely worth watching, I was really glad I finally got to see it and I would watch it again.