When Harry Met Sally 1989, Rated R New Line

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Starring Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan.

Yes to both of the above questions. When Harry Met Sally... (those three dots are part of the title, get used to it) is an unusual movie in that from beginning to end it spans, at my guess, close to fifteen years. Instead of having this film told as a flashblack, which some recent movies have chosen to do, it allows viewers to watch the progression of Harry and Sally's relationship, from first meeting to the realization that they are the 'right' people for each other.

The chemistry between Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, Harry and Sally respectively, is wonderful. Part of what makes this movie so enjoyable is precisely what Sleepless in Seattle was missing; we really want Harry and Sally to get together as a couple. When they are together on screen we can see the sparks flying between them and long for them to realize they are meant for each other. Another major difference between these two films is the general absence of schlock from When Harry Met Sally...

Both of these scripts were penned by Ephron, yet this movie, directed by Rob Reiner, manages to leave out a lot of the unnecessary "women crying, men not understanding," and "women looking at each other, knowing what the other is thinking," scenes that are present in droves in Sleepless in Seattle. One element that both helps and hinders this movie is the included snippets of older married couples telling how they first met. This feature helps by giving When Harry Met Sally... an almost documentary feeling, as if only the facts are being shown, allowing the viewer to be shown instead of told how the characters feel. In this respect, some of the hokiness this film might have held has been removed.

Unfortunately, Reiner doesn't show the couples stories with any given sense of timing. They are inserted at seemingly random intervals, whenever a break in the movie's continuity appears, and aren't present to any degree in the last half of the movie, making you wonder what their purpose was as the credits roll. As a whole, though, there are very few problems with this film. It flows smoothly and the four major actors, Crystal, Ryan, Carrie Fisher, and Bruno Kirby, are outstanding in their roles.

If you're looking for a good movie to watch with your significant, or sort of significant, other this Valentine's Day, try to get this one, you'll be glad you did.