Never got the fuss about ‘When Harry Met Sally’

[Monetm]

Just reading a review of Meg Ryan’s new romcom which compares it to When Harry Met Sally as if the latter was some kind of holy grail of filmmaking. AIBU to remember it as a pretty white bread and basic film that has some decent performances and doesn’t actively insult your intelligence, but really isn’t anything special? The speech Billy Crystal gives her at the end about how he loves the little crease in her forehead, or whatever it is, I honestly find really cheesy and cringe. I don’t particularly think they have chemistry. I liked Meg Ryan better in ‘In the Cut’. I would think less of anyone who told me they loved WHMS.

AIBU?

Who said that? Because I certainly didn't.

The OP!! 🤦🏻‍♀️

The Op’s claim ‘I would think less of anyone who told me they loved WHMS.’ does comes across as having been written by an 11 year old who has nothing but scorn for someone who's into a different boyband to her. People are allowed like different things. People are allowed to like cheesy films. Not every single pop culture choice someone makes needs to align with your own.

@LadyBird1973 Thing is I am not 'judging it' as of now, I saw it about 33 years ago and thought it was crap then. There were much better 'rom com' type films about at the time, like Working Girl, Dirty Dancing, Pretty In Pink, and Pretty Woman. This was just boring and a bit crap. (IMO.)

I am sure some people will think the 4 films I named here are boring/crap. That is their right, and I don't care. I'm not going to mock them or accuse them of jumping on any bandwagon.

LA is fab too. I don't care if it's a bit misogynistic and flawed - people are flawed. It's a product of its time and that's okay.
I also don't feel that all films have to be diverse and reflect modern values - irl people don't always have diverse friendship groups or all agree on what the 'right' values are. Films like Pretty Woman would never have been made if we had thought too much about the reality of prostitution, for example. Some people might think that's a good thing, but I'd miss it!
My favourite of the rom coms is Notting Hill - so totally unrealistic but a lovely film nonetheless.

I think the problem with WHMS is Billy Crystal. He is just not fanciable, and a romcom lead should be.

Whoops I didn't notice that! That will teach me to read the full post!

Sorry I didn't realise the OP said that.

@Monetm I agree that the film is overrated, but YABU to think less of someone who likes it. People have different tastes, and it's a bit rude to say that you think less of people who like it. Saying you think less of them does make you come across as if you think you're superior to people who like it, and puts you in a bit of a bad light. I don't think I am superior. I just don't like the film. That's it!

@SweetBirdsong I adored Dirty Dancing, but the older I get, the more I identify with the dad and think no way would I be happy if my teenage daughter was hanging around with an older, failed dancer who had no prospects and made money by shagging bored rich housewives! But as a teen I was sooo jealous of Baby!

@LadyBird1973 Oooh I forgot about Notting Hill, yep great film. And yes to Love Actually. I enjoy this every Christmas! 🎄 (As I said, the only bit(s) I dislike in it are the couple making the porn film.)

Yeah I have thought that too recently! After seeing Martin and Katy on Classi Corrie! A man of 35 and a girl of 16. I think Baby in DD is meant to be 16, but I am never sure of Johnny's age. (Late 20s or so?) (off to google...)

EDIT!

Johnny is meant to be 25! But Patrick Swayze was 35 when the film was released (so probably 34 when it was filmed!) He was old enough to be her dad (In real life.) Jennifer Grey who played Baby was actually only 17 when the film was released.) So probably actually 16 when it was made.

I love Working Girl. So 80s.loved Pretty in Pink (aside from when she commits fashion crimes against the dress). Haven't seen either in an age.

Never got the fuss with Dirty Dancing.

That dress was a monstrosity in Pretty in Pink! Also she chose the wrong boy - as beautiful as Andrew McCarthy is, she would have been better off with Duckie

Team Duckie here!

Duckie would have been better boyfriend material , but Andrew McCarthy's eyes .,
Love When Harry met Sally
I agree that Carrie fisher is brilliant, the music , the way Harry kind of grows up so much, but never loses his cynicism!

This is a brilliant explanation of why When Harry Met Sally is glorious:

https://shows.acast.com/a18c2026-fb61-4cb6-a153-32d529de0a07/eb6b4407-202a-464f-91d3-3fc04a633d17

That's a big problem. It's too much of a leap for me to think that the gorgeous Sally would ever be interested in Harry. He was totally wrong for the part, and ridiculous he could pass for being in the scenes set in 1977. Tom Hanks was offered the role and would have been so much better.

The film itself is funny at times but not often. Let's face it, if it wasn't for the fake orgasm scene, the film wouldn't be remembered as much as it is. Some elements are more enjoyable and compelling than the central relationship and script (the score, locations and Carrie Fisher's performance).

I didn't like WHMS the first time I saw it. It bears repeated watching, possibly when a bit older, because I bloody love it now. It's a great NYE film.
Norah Efron is a stone cold genius and I doubt she needs to rip off Woody Allen, or indeed anyone else.
We went to see Oklahoma in the theatre recently and giggled all the way through Surrey With The Fringe On Top.
I hated The Holiday, mostly because Jack Black. Talk about unfanciable.leads. Kate Winslet really drew the short straw with that one...and.really.annoyingly for a Bristolian...Cary Grant was born in BRISTOL!

Also,.the Reuben at Katz's Deli is the best sandwich in the world.

Judge it on its own terms OP! It's a very classy and classic romantic comedy of its time. Written by an absolute giant of writing about middle class middle aged (white) New Yorkers (Nora Ephron) and with genius dialogue. As a PP has said, the "side characters" are better drawn and acted than most main characters in a room com of the last 20 years. And the character development of Harry and Sally is plausible and charming.

If that type of film isn't your thing then fine. You're not going to like it. But if rom coms are your thing, what bugs you about it? And which other films of that type do you prefer?

I like the film but find the love story ultimately quite disappointing.
Harry is very smug and quite pass agg/dismissive about Sally.
He spends decades mocking her and leads her on, then decides to go for it and she falls in his arms? Meh.

Carrie Fisher makes the film.

I was too late to edit...

He was totally wrong for the part, and ridiculous he could pass for being in his early 20s in the scenes set in 1977.

That podcast is an excellent description of why it's considered the ultimate. So many points I hadn't considered before. So if OP genuinely wants a description of reasons why it's considered so highly, recommend a listen!

Totally agree. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan were a great on screen couple to boot.

I feel like we’ve missed out now, I wish he’s accepted the role.

m I’m sad Nora is gone, wish she’d given us more films.

I hate The Holiday, I agree, Jack Black was bad casting. I’m also not a Jude Law fan.

I've never seen ' the holiday ' the whole way through , but Jude law is so hammy in it , it put me off watching all of it.
I do like ' leap year' as the two leads are endearing and although it's predictable and has many plot holes and tropes , it is just watchable nonsense. Not as good as 'when Harry met Sally ' or even 'sleepless in Seattle' but still one of my favourites ( along with Muriel's wedding , which is utterly brilliant , but not a rom com)