When Harry Met Sally (1989)

After 30+ years, it seemed time to review this classic.  I recalled one of its last lines "When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

Billy Crystal is Harry and Meg Ryan is Sally.  There's a lot of nods to the past, as the film is very reminscnent of Woody Allen's Manhattan from the scenery to the musical interludes.  It follows their 12 year relationship from screwball beginnings, to a big New Year's Eve finale.  Along the way we have several running gags:  men and women can't be friends, men leave after sex, women are picky eaters and picky when finding mates.

Some of the fun discoveries were:  Carrie Fisher as a strong support role, the subplot involving her and Bruno Kirby.  The nods to Casablanca.  The evolving hairstyles of Sally.  And of course the fake orgasm in the diner scene leads directly to many episodes of Seinfeld for which this humor certainly influenced.

A little fluffier than I recall.   But we'll still give it * * * * * as setting a standard that many others followed.

Directed by Rob Reiner, Written by Nora Ephron, Cinematography by Barry Sonnenfeld.  Good name talent at their best. 




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