When Harry Met Sally (1989)

 When Harry met Sally (1989)

A touching, unique and funny film set a new standard for romantic comedies. Rob Reiner’s Romantic Comedy When Harry Met Sally stars the quirky individuals Billy Crystal (Harry Burns) and Meg Ryan (Sally Albright) the main protagonists as the film commences the two strangers, both who have recently graduated from the University of Chicago, share a car trip to New York. Their Initial love-hate bond escalates into a nonphysical friendship which spans over a decade until they eventually begin to realise that there might be more on a connection than realised, more than just a buddy buddy relationship.

I’m sure during screenings of When Harry Met Sally rows and rows at theatres hysterically laughing at one particular scene where Meg Ryan demonstrates how to fabricate a fake orgasm in a packed out delicatessen. I’m sure like my family everyone over the world where laughing.  With me being a pre-adolescent teen a few years ago watching it for the first time with a woman forging a fake climax, finding it slightly embarrassing and cowardly hiding behind my pillow waiting in angst for my Mother and Fathers reaction.  This much commemorated ignition of a extremely taboo subject is why the film was such an gigantic hit. Its professed theme, that the two old college mates Harry and Sally that it is inevitable that they finish in bed with one another and then thus annihilating their beautiful and functioning relationship.  The problem with the connection in the film shows Billy Crystal a extremely hilarious actor though he is, he doesn’t perform with a convincing admiration for the lustrous Meg Ryan. I find their relationship to be not quite believable because the relationship is purely bonded by their singleness, and the relationship becomes a struggling support system for both of them waiting endlessly for the right ‘One’ to materialise.

The two pamper a relationship over flirtation making long phone calls to one another and indulging over never-ending meals making both their interactions and acquaintances too familiar for sex to be concern.  Surely its just a very much a well advancement of flirtation. Often reminding me of the film The Apartment  (1960) showing similar traits to this great film, Reiner taken inspiration from Wilder.

Rob Reiner is one of my all time favourite Directors who is most defiantly a un-neurotic filmmaker especially the fantastic Postcards from the edge being one of his most celebrated films. The pure genius of Reiner and Ephron come together to make an unforgettable brilliant comedy which is still influencing films and TV shows today.  The setting for When Harry Met Sally is in New York which is one of the most photogenic cities in the world joining a extremely long shelf life along with movies such as Annie Hall and Alfie. Because of the way to portrays certain sexual dilemmas that everyone can almost certainly relate too.

When Harry Met Sally is one of my beloved films, showing a sweet and old fashioned romantic comedy that shares its place on the shelf under an all time great.

Rated: 12

Running Time:  1hr 36min

Directed By: Rob Reiner

Cast:

Billy Crystal (Harry Burns)                                                                                                                               

Meg Ryan (Sally Albright)                                                                                                      

Carrie Fisher (Marie)                                                                                                                                      

Bruno Kirby (Jess)