Review - When Harry Met Sally
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY - 1989
The ultimate movie for the die-hard romantic, When Harry Met Sally is a film that restores faith in love, romance and marriage. But don’t be fooled by these weepy sentiments. This is a smart, fast paced comedy that is acerbic and shmaltzy at the same time. Director, Rob Reiner, already with a string of hit movies under his belt, including Stand by Me and The Princess Bride, has teamed with Oscar winner, Nora Ephron, screenwriter for Silkwood, to create a witty romantic comedy in the vein of Woody Allen, minus the customary bumbling lead.
The film begins when Harry and Sally first meet before a very long car ride together from The University of Chicago to New York City. Upon reaching New York, the two go their separate ways, only to bump into each other some five years later, when they are both with partners of their own. Jump to another five years later, when they are both now single and that’s when they become friends, something Harry claimed, upon first meeting Sally, that men and women could never be. Their friendship blossoms and develops to the dulcet tones of Harry Connick Junior, whose upbeat rendition of It Had to Be You keeps in the vein of the film that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Billy Crystal stars as Harry, the smart mouthed political consultant who repulses Sally with his laidback style and his quick unconsidered responses – this guy has an answer for everything. Yet you find yourself nodding to everything he says because Crystal has a knack for delivering his lines with such perfect comedic timing that it doesn’t come off as pretentious, but heartfelt and endearing. Sally for her part is the opposite of Harry, uptight, and focussed, but a believer in romance and a happily ever after and Ryan plays the neurotic Sally, with her bright puppy dog eyes to perfection.
A fantastic supporting cast, which includes Carrie Fisher, Sally’s cynical, but needy best friend and Bruno Kirby, Harry’s wingman, who delivers some of the best lines in this movie, help lift this little gem from predictable romcom to a sharp, quick paced funny film…. look at for the scene with the wheelbarrow table. And of course, there’s the orgasm scene, but I will leave that one there. The cast are perfect in their roles which rely heavily on their chemistry because ultimately, it’s the witty dialogue with many quotable on-liners that give this film its edge.
The cynical filmgoer may not be convinced of the authenticity of the story or may question any number of aspects of this film, such as gender stereotypes and seriously, what did they do then they weren’t together…there are many gaps. But do we really care? Not in the least and I am happy to leave that prattle for other more critical analysts.
This is not a film that will teach you anything new, nor is it one that is designed to raise awareness of an issue, although if you look hard enough, you may find some. It is also not a film to be taken too seriously, to dissect and break down, but it is pure entertainment, a romantic comedy with all the ingredients of one that will have you laughing and crying right to the end and leaving the theatre with that satisfied smile on your face