Review LXXX
When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
Here I was thinking I had written a review for April... Yet it turns out I never did. This month really flew by with exams and all, and in twenty days I head off to Beijing, China to study for two months. I guess this means I really should get on the ball and start watching films I didn't get a chance to watch yet! Well, I felt like watching an American film the other day, and my boyfriend prodded me for a pop culture movie. Thanks to the Internet, I was reminded me of Rob Reiner's hit When Harry Met Sally... starring Meg Ryan (I'm always reminded of Captain Planet. I'm sorry, Meg Ryan) and Billy Crystal (I was just reminded of Throw Momma from the Train and City Slickers. I'm mentioning these films so you can go re-watch them instead of me). Thus we sat down to watch this hit together.
The film begins in 1977, where Harry (Billy Crystal) says goodbye to his girlfriend (what was her name again?) quite, cough, passionately, before Sally finally drives the two apart. Sally is Harry's girlfriend's friend and since they both just graduated and are heading to New York City, they end up spending the ride there together. The drive causes frustration from both parties after Harry makes a "pass" at Sally and the two wish each other good luck in New York. Five years later, the two meet at an airport in New York City and, coincidentally, are on the same plane. While the two are both in committed relationships, it seems that maybe they can be friends after all.
Guys, I'm not a romance type of person. Sure, I like the occasional lovey film, like Braindead, but generally I turn down movies that are under the genre "romantic-comedy". I'm glad I didn't turn this one down. It has witty dialogue that is super catchy and doesn't necessarily make you laugh out loud, but makes you nod silently and grin. The film relies heavily on the dialogue and doesn't place the two people in these "silly" situations like, let's say, almost every single romantic comedy I have seen. You're sitting there watching the relationship between Harry and Sally form instead of just a random encounter where it is "love at first sight". The first time the two meet, Sally and Harry have opposing viewpoints in life and drop it there. It's not a "waw-waw-waaaw" moment where the two meet up again because they know they secretly love each other. Harry has a girlfriend at the time and Sally despises him. Even the second time they meet, it's a chance meeting where Harry didn't quite recognise Sally and he's getting married. Again, it doesn't turn into that type of movie where Sally runs down the aisle claiming her love for Harry and the two end up happily married. No, their relationship blossoms when the circumstance makes sense. That is what makes the film. It's a romantic comedy, but it does it well. It's not necessarily completely realistic, but more so than what I've seen. Except for Braindead - I'd totally dig a guy who pulverises zombies using a lawnmower.
When Harry Met Sally... has wit and charm even if it's a romantic comedy, and I would say that it is definitely worth a watch. Happy viewing!
Instead of a trailer, here is the iconic "orgasm" scene from the movie:
