When Harry Met Sally… (1989) Review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7utaa1Ify4

THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED

Sometimes, the love of your life can be right in front of you and just got to pay attention more if you really want it. 


PLOT


1989’s When Harry Met Sally… begins in 1977, showing Harry Burns meet Sally Albright who meet for a ride share from University of Chicago to New York City. During that 18 hour drive, they get off on the wrong foot when the former claims men & women can’t be just friends because one will always be attracted to the other and the thought of sex will be in the way. Once they reach their destinations in NY, they don’t intend to speak to each other again. That would change out of their control because in ‘82, they’d cross paths again. At that point, Sally would be dating another man named Joe and Harry would be engaged to a woman named Helen. Due to their relationships, Harry does think that can make their friendship possible but Sally rejects it this time. Fast forward to ‘87, Sally is single and Harry is getting a divorce. He runs into her at a bookstore and they actually get to establish a friendship as they relate to heartbreak. From then on, they would have dinner together, have late night phone calls and discuss their separate love lives. They still remain friends after an awkward New Year’s kiss and try setting each other up with friends, Marie & Jess. Instead, Marie & Jess fall for each other and get engaged. It would irritate Harry one day when running into Helen by chance still with the same man she left him with but when Sally calls him of the discovery Joe is getting married, he tries comforting her until they end up having sex. Harry would leave awkwardly after this and by the time of Marie & Jess’ wedding, Sally believes they can’t be friends anymore. By the time of New Years Eve ‘88, Harry & Sally would miss each other. Sally would try to leave a party early, until Harry appears to profess his love for her, before having a more intimate kiss by the time of the ball drop. With a series of interviews of older couples discussing how they met, the film would end with Harry & Sally revealing in their interview that the would marry three months after the new year.


THOUGHTS


It’s definitely a true saying that your personal life can affect your work because when Director Rob Reiner broke up with Penny Marshall, he was at a point where he felt he couldn’t have another chance at love. By the time he met Michele Singer however, he had a second chance without even intending to look. With co writer Nora Ephron, he could’ve made a more realistic depiction of what happens when you force searching for love, but his real life experience inspired him to move forward in making something joyful. This is definitely a funny movie to sit through because you know you can’t take it serious seeing some do a fake orgasm in public to prove a point. Through all 90 minutes that follow, you’re just hooked with the dynamic duo of Billy Crystal & Meg Ryan because that’s how great the chemistry is. With one being cynical and the other pragmatic, you just get sure the exchanges between them are gonna be for the ages. Seeing how much change happens between them overtime gets the message across that you can’t guarantee the outcome of a relationship from day one because true love has to be built on the foundation of a friendship. If you put friendship first and embrace authenticity, then you’re setting yourself up for something special. Doing anything but that isn’t going to give the results you want. Harry & Sally are relatable characters to this day as is their relationship because they’re the kind of people that don’t what they want until they want it, which is how exciting of a situation love can bring. Even though there was a bad first impression, they both wanted someone they can say anything to and be proud of being themselves. Harry chooses to say how he feels first because that’s how sure how he wants his life to be and Sally takes that chance because she senses his maturity after being used to his past immaturity. I’m pretty sure the first thing that comes to her mind about him is how loud and obnoxious he used to spit grapes. Nevertheless, their happily ever after does prove waiting makes the payoff of searching for love special. On top of that, I do got to give a shoutout to Bruno Kirby & Carrie Fisher as Jess & Marie because apart from their personalities matching in being outspoken no matter, they’re still good friends to the leads for being honest nonstop which is why they match more instant. That is just another great example of how love can come when you’re not looking so hard. In conclusion, When Harry Met Sally… is one of the best rom coms out there for feeling as authentic as possible with the perspective of how unpredictable second chances are. If those are the kind of movies you prefer, see this now.