When Harry Met Sally Review

        I feel like with every generation in cinema, there must come a romance movie that makes it feel totally unique. When Harry Met Sally… is one of those films that came out in the tail end of the 80s. Typically, most romantic comedies have a distinct formula of how the story and characters are going to be dictated. It’s not usually a bad thing, but it’s the typical trope where the films if viewed in a marathon start to feel the same. Here, this movie does an interesting thing and subverted the genre on its head. Paving the way for more films to be experimental in a way to freshen up the genre. SPOILERS will appear in the review. 

1. Not Your Usual Film

        I heard about the film when I was perusing the YouTube channel “Lessons from the Screenplay”. It mostly analyzed what it did different with the genre’s formula. Watching it for the first time, I completely understood that this wouldn’t be the standard rom-com film. Harry, played by Billy Crystal drives with Sally, played by Meg Ryan drive to New York City as Harry is moving there. 

        During the ride, they talk to pass the time and Harry asks Sally some personal questions about her relationships. He posits that a man and a woman can’t truly be friends since they have to have sex. Sally doesn’t believe it. After they go their separate ways, we meet them again. In two various points of the ‘80s, both characters meet each other and spark up a friendly relationship. Easily they steal the show through their synergy and time getting comfortable with each other. 

        The film acts like a play since it’s mostly dialogue heavy film. It’s one of those films that dare to be subversive and flip the tropes that is the usual standard. Such as when the duo talks about the film Casablanca and splice in shots of them group exercising to throwing cards to a hat. Usually when things are going south, we’d see them doing their bits. We get to see the moments that are teases where we think they are about to finally get together and are just split. 

        What the film is doing is such a radical way is basically ask this simple question, “Can Harry and Sally work as a couple?”. When they’re having dinner or just having talks, they banter like a couple. Even their personal talks are something you’d hear if you’re the third wheel when being hearing a couple next to you. As well as arguing since they’ve been close for so much that the idea of actually committing is scary to them. It was engaging since, there's a fear that they could work as just platonic friends. I find it hilarious that they want their friends to date Harry and Sally, but unintentionally fall in love.

2. Couple Interviews

        In between the moments when we follow Harry and Sally, seven interviews recount how the couples shown have met. It’s charming to say the least. The overall thing is how completely different each couple has met each other and managed to stay together. Big picture wise is that every couple fell in love in various and unique circumstances and we’re seeing just how complicated Harry and Sally’s relationship develop in a matter of time. 

It works as a good and bad thing. Good for what I just stated right now. Bad in a sense that it kind of drags the film down. Since, when hearing the fourth interview of how they met, we can infer that with the interviews being presented. We are along for seeing if Harry and Sally can possibly make it work. Some may like it, and I do for the most part. It just gets repetitive for the most part. Thinking about it more, it’s more of a positive. Just forget this whole paragraph. 

3. Overall 

        With all that, it’s a genuine classic. Rob Reiner has subverted a genre that probably didn’t need to be revitalized but have enough of a plot shaking thing where any film can base its story on this film. It’s charming and is one of those films that is timeless.

        When Harry Met Sally… gets a four out of five.