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 just came here to say Baby Fish Mouth but someone beat me to it 😩😁

Generally not a romcon fan, but have a massive soft spot for When Harry Met Sally.

I’m sat here laughing just thinking about Baby Fish Mouth!

The dialogue makes the film, Nora Ephron was a bloody genius. The orgasm scene is probably the least interesting bit of the whole film.

(For what it’s worth, I though The Holiday AND In The Cut were utter shite, but Pretty In Pink is bloody amazing #teamduckie)

I wonder how old everyone is and does that affect how they view it. It was so massive when it came out, and it has so many great lines. I think Billy Crystal was perfect as the cynical Harry, Tom Hanks would have been all wrong. They needed to be a slightly odd couple for the story to work. Saw it for the first time in decades recently and it was as funny as ever (possibly even more so than when I watched it as a young woman when it first came out).

I love the part where Jess and Marie run off together after their meal for four in the restaurant!!
It Does make me laugh.

Sorry OP it is a lovely entertaining. light, and warm fuzzy feeling roscommon.If you don't rate it don't watch it again, but don't criticise those of us that love it!😊

Damn you autocorrect I don't know where roscommon came from!?

In the spirit of this thread I rented WHMS from Sky this morning and rewatched. It's still so funny and sweet. I think Billy Crystal was perfect and agree that Tom Hank's would have been all wrong for it.

I agree OP I think it's ok at best. I do hate the kind of romcoms that are mainly about a woman being kind of emotional and hopeless and waiting for a (usually dead ordinary, not exciting, not especially good looking) man to "choose" her. Don't get the charm of the story at all.

This one was particularly weird because Billy Crystal was so obviously quite a lot older than Meg Ryan.

I also HATE You've Got Mail, but for different reasons.

There are loads of romcoms I love though.

Incredibly original

Anyone watching it now would shrug - and that's because almost Rom coms copy it!

It's so funny, the characters are beautifully drawn and there's loads of chemistry between them

Carrie Fisher staying with that twat - "He's NEVER going to leave her"

"OF COURSE HE ISNT"

It's a really funny comedy and an ode to NYC.

You don't have to think it's the greatest rom com ever, but it is really memorable, with characters and relationships amongst them really well fleshed out in ways very few rom coms do, wit everywhere, and timing really nailed.

So many good lines!

"She doesn't have a problem with chins"

Also that wonderful scene where Sally takes him to task about his attitude to women, "And I will make love with someone when it is making love, not like you, like I'm out for revenge or something!"

And then he asks if he can say something, and apologises ❤️

I agree with @Crikeyalmighty - yy, it has a feel of Woody Allen films. It's the neurotic NY feel, and the love for the city itself that shines through.

@WitcheryDivine I feel like you maybe have t watched the film! It's the absolute opposite of the "pick me" genre of rom com. She thinks he's a twat for most of the movie. He IS a twat for most of the movie! I beg any cynics about it but have a love of writing and film to listen to the podcast recommended above. It beautifully highlights all the ways it is a very smart deconstruction of the genre

Lol, yes I loved that line. Another line of hers I really like comes when Jess and Marie are buying furniture for their new home and Jess wanted to buy a coffee table that she hated. Harry said cynically, ‘In 10 years time you’ll be fighting over who keeps that coffee table.’ Marie then says to Jess, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll never fight you for that coffee table.’

Yes, Carrie Fisher was perfect for that role.

I thought Love Actually was one of the most cynical and patronising films I've ever seen. I literally felt soiled when I left the cinema.

But I know many people in their 20s and 30s who rate it as one of their all time favourites - I think it's because they saw it as children at Christmas with their parents, and it gives them a warm, fuzzy feeling that has very little to do with the quality of the film.

People show Love Actually to their children?!

Children don't have to be young children.

I watched WHMS last night with my DD16.

It actually seemed very low key and ordinary, but with massive sexual content in the dialogue all the way through!

My DD said it was more sexcom than romcom.

Never seen it, doesn't appeal to me at all.

The film was of its day. Funny then, probably not now.

Yes, Carrie Fisher was brilliant in everything and a very talented and funny writer.
Postcards From The Edge was superb.
Also great as a cameo in SATC.

Exactly the sort of sparkling content that keeps me coming back to MN.

Love it, especially Carrie Fisher.
When she finds out someone in her box of files is married, she turns down the corner of the file.

I am interested in those who don't think it's a great romcom, which ones are better?

OP, can you list some better romcoms?

There are films out there that I think are better than WHMS but I think it rules the romcom genre quite easily.