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?

I absolutely love WHMS. The dialogue is fabulous. Nora Ephron was an incredibly witty writer.

Someone upthread mentioned the couples talking about their relationships. I always quote the woman who says, 'And I knew. I knew the way you know about a good melon' when people ask me about when I met DH for the first time.

It's full of great lines. 'You are a human affront to all women, and I am a woman.'

And,

<whispered> 'Someone is staring at you in Personal Growth.'

It's fab.

I never got it either!
And lets be honest if you ask, most people only remember the 'I'll have what she's having!' Scene, which i found cringy.

I can't even remember watching When Harry Met Sally. I did like You've Got Mail though. A nice bit of easy watching on a dreary day when I can't be arse to go out or think.

Has anyone seen the original version of You've Got Mail? It's called The Little Shop Around the Corner. It's an American movie with American actors, but it is clearly set in Eastern Europe. It's a good film.

Loved this! Thank you.

That's why Kathleen's bookshop in YGM is called The Shop Around the Corner! It's a deliberate homage.

Yes Jude was hammy in it. I think we were supposed to be bowled over by the fact that his character cries 🙄

Tom Hanks' character in You've Got Mail was a right pain in the arse.

Yes, and find that ghastly 'Mr Napkinhead' bit utterly hilarious and charming (vom).

It's fantastically written and that is what sets it apart from other RomComs, which make give you the feels, but aren't as well made as WHMS.

It also started a general debate which still exists about whether men and women can be ' just close friends' - especially if they are both single - without one wanting something more.

The answer to the above is no, by the way .

I love it. Carrie Fisher is awesome, Nora Ephron was a great writer.

Pecan pie

I honestly think every Meg Ryan film is shit. Not because of her, I’m sure she’s a good actress, she just hasn’t been hired for a good movie and for some reason every big film turns out it be a big dud. City of Angels was especially vomitous

That's only true for people who either haven't seen it or weren't paying attention.
The white man's overbite
Blonde, big tits, your basic nightmare.
How long have I got to lie here holding her, is 30 minutes enough?
Pecan pie.

Virtually every line is quotable.

"I'll have what she's having"

🙄🙄🙄

YABU. I generally dislike romcoms, but I have a soft spot for WHMS. It's very much of its time though, so of course it's a bit cringe in places!

In your opinion

Absolutely love WHMS.

The innate New Yorkness, at that time of the 20th century. The amazing dialogue. The ‘can men and women ever just be friends?’ premise. The brilliant side characters. The originality of it when it was made.

Love it.

I think @DaggerIsle has summed it up well. He’s not a romcom hero.

I thought starting my post with ‘I think’ was a giveaway that it was my opinion?

I just remembered Baby Fish Mouth this morning 😁

As rom coms go , it is one of the better ones
The whole ' men and women can't be friends ' is an interesting topic and not one I've ever seen on mumsnet tbh ? I'm sure some can, but I think it's rare.

Jennifer Grey was 27 to Patrick Swayze's 35 when Dirty Dancing was made. They both played characters 10 years younger. Baby's father didn't want Baby hanging around with Jonny because he thought Jonny had got Penny pregnant, not because of the age gap. The perceived age gap horrifies us now but in 1950s US it was acceptable.