I do not care what anybody says, a good romantic comedy can be very fun to watch. However, in order to make a romantic comedy work, you have to get actors who have good chemistry together. This is one of the many reasons why When Harry Met Sally is the revered classic that it is.
When Harry Met Sally is, naturally, the story of how Harry Burns met Sally Albright. Even though they have different views on sex and relationships, they are close friends. There are many reasons to love this movie. When Harry first meets Sally in 1977, they cannot stand each other which is, of course, how many young relationships start. Harry is a jerk who thinks he knows everything about relationships, while Sally is genuinely happy and upbeat. Harry thinks that men and women cannot be friends because sex gets in the way, to which Sally vehemently disagrees. Even though they find out many things about each other, and obviously disagree constantly, they have made a lasting impression on one another. As they become better friends, they start acting like an actual couple, even though they do not see it. At one point they set each other up with their best friends and go on a double date, which of course does not work out. Naturally, the two of them realize that they have loved each other since they met. Their relationship has had hills and valleys, but it all works out in the end. The magic of this movie is that people can identify with it.
There is a very special place in my heart for Billy Crystal. He is truly one of the greatest gifts that the entertainment industry has given us, and he brings his natural talent to the character of Harry Burns. One of the things that I love about him in this movie is that he is not just being funny all the time. He is a very serviceable dramatic actor in this movie, particularly at the end of the film. He also can be a real jerk in the movie, which is surprising given that he has a genuine "nice guy" attitude in real life.
Meg Ryan plays Sally Albright. I have heard some people say, "If you've seen one Meg Ryan romantic comedy, you've seen them all", to which I completely disagree. She plays a wide range of characters. She can be intelligent in one movie, and be completely dimwitted in another. What makes Meg Ryan so special in this movie is that there are many times where you can see that Sally has loving feelings for Harry, but she never admits it to anyone or even herself. She also has no reservations about letting Harry know when his theories are completely wrong. Also, like Crystal, Meg Ryan is just so naturally gifted, and has highly under-appreciated comedic timing. It is too bad she has never been in a straight-up comedy (at least, not to my knowledge). That would have been great to see.
Rob Reiner, who directed the movie, is truly a legend. The movies he has directed span a wide range of genres, which is the mark of a great director. The thing that I love about his movies, and When Harry Met Sally in particular, is that he is able to create very heartfelt characters with his actors. In many ways this movie is a very human story, so you need great actors to make these characters feel human. Rob Reiner is a wonderfully talented director who tells stories with great characters, and When Harry Met Sally is no exception.
When Harry Met Sally is indeed a classic, for all of the reasons I mentioned and more. This movie has an enduring legacy that will last long after this particular movie blogger's days are done. There is something about this movie that struck a chord with people, and that is what makes it the gem that it is.
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