Review of You've Got Mail (1998) by David A — 09 May 2010
(from The Watermark, 12/24/98).
A sweet little romantic comedy that sticks to proven formula, but doesn't fully live up to its potential. Ryan and Hanks are total strangers who have met on the Internet, and are quickly falling in love with each other. They unknowingly meet in real life when Hanks, the owner of a mega-bookstore chain opens a new store just around the corner from Ryan's children's bookstore. Face to face, they hate each other and are sworn enemies, but when shielded by their laptop computers, they are lovers. It's all light and fun, but it seems a shame director Nora Ephron didn't take it to the next level and artistically say something about technology and how humans connect with each other. If nothing else, it could offer a solution to those small businesses threatened by corporate chains. Does she think this breeder romance stuff alone will fly with us screen queens?
POST-REVIEW 05/10/10: I wasn't familiar with this film's source material, The Shop Around The Corner, and its two musicalizations: In The Good Old Summertime (film) and She Loves Me (Broadway). In all cases, the relationship between the two pen-pals isn't nearly as well fleshed out as in You've Got Mail, so this film deserves credit for that.
**SPOILER ALERT**.
Still, I can't forgive the film for 2 big missteps: (1) The fact that Ryan has to close down her family bookstore and Hanks lets it happen is absolutely unforgivable. (2) That Ryan is kept in the dark until the last moment just feels wrong, putting her at a double disadvantage... there couldn't have been some sort of twist where she'd already figured things out?
This review of You've Got Mail (1998) was written by David A on 09 May 2010.
You've Got Mail has generally received positive reviews.
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