Sleepless in Seattle

Nora Ephron co-wrote and directed this charming trifle of a romantic comedy. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are not really together enough to develop a lot of “chemistry,” as the relationship between cinema lovers is known, but there is a special bond that develops because of the efforts of Tom’s young son to bring them together. Believe it or not, I’ve never seen An Affair to Remember, where Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr meet at the top of the Empire State Building, but that movie is tangled up with this one in many ways. Most critics liked it, except for the National Review’s John Simon, a man who was put on this planet to loathe 99% of American films. He called it “a collection of nauseating quotations and references to An Affair to Remember.” That’s enough recommendation for me.

I must say that it’s sad that Meg Ryan’s career seems to have stalled around the turn of the century, when she decided to break away from the sweet, funny loveable characters that made her a star. She hasn’t had a real hit since You’ve Got Mail. She’s getting into directing now. I hope she’s happy going the less-traveled route, but I miss the Meg of When Harry Met Sally.