When Harry Met Sally

When Harry Met Sally...

9 out of 10

Running time: 1:36

MPAA rating: R (Some strong language and sexual content.)

Peruvian rating: Mayores de 18

Cast: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby, Steven Ford, Lisa Jane Persky.
Director: Rob Reiner
Script: Nora Ephron
Photography: Barry Sonnenfeld
Score: Marc Shaiman
Distributor: Columbia Pictures

I had heard for years that When Harry Met Sally... was one of the most effective and entertaining romantic comedies ever, but I'd never had the chance of watching it until yesterday. Fortunately, the movie fulfilled my expectations. Romantic comedies nowadays are plagued by predictable and unfunny screenplays, zero chemistry between the leads, and workmanlike directors. There should be more movies like When Harry Met Sally... The film's screenplay is almost-perfect, full of witty one-liners; character development is superb and direction is excellent but, most importantly, the movie is actually romantic and funny, two traits "romantic comedies" nowadays seem to always ignore. Chemistry between Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal is palpable and credible, and the movie as a whole is amazingly effective and entertaining.

The film tells the story of Harry Burns and Sally Albright, who first meet in 1977. Both are leaving the University of Chicago for New York City (him to become a political consultant, her to become a journalist), and they share the drive. Along the way, they discover that they have little in common. At one point, Harry makes a pass at Sally, but she demurs, saying that they'll have to settle for being friends. They part in Manhattan and, five years later, they bump into each other again, this time in an airport. By then, Harry is engaged to be married and Sally is in the middle of a serious relationship. They spend some time together on a plane, then separate amicably when they reach their destination. Their next encounter occurs in the late-'80s. (Six years after.) They are both newly single (Harry's wife has recently left him and Sally has broken off a long-term, dead-end affair), and their very similar situations draw them into a friendship. (Despite what Harry had said early in the movie.) But when they start becoming closer and closer, things don't go as great as they thought.

One of the movie's first strengths lies in the acting department. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan as the film's main characters are superb, and I just can't imagine any other actors playing their parts. Crystal is irritating, annoying and pessimistic, but somehow manages to make Harry both a believable guy instead of a caricature, and a pretty likable man. Yes, he has many faults, but he's also kinda charming. Meg Ryan is also great, her character being exactly the opposite of Crystal's. She gets all the mannerisms and traits right, and never goes over-the-top. (Except in a scene that involves crying.) The best part of their performances? There's actually chemistry between these two thespians. Although they're virtually opposites, the audience believes they could actually end up together, and interaction between them is warm, credible and feels natural. There's nothing forced in their scenes together.

Although the movie basically belongs to Ryan and Crystal, they're not the only actors worth mentioning. There's Sally's best friend, Marie (post-Star Wars Carrie Fisher) and Harry's best pal, Jess. (Bruno Kirby.) Predictably, these two also get together, but it's pretty fun to witness the way they meet each other, and both Fisher's and Kirby's performances make their characters interesting and credible. Unlike other romantic comedies, their characters aren't simple caricatures present in the movie only to advance the plot or help their pals. Their parts are well-acted and fleshed-out, and serve as a contrast to Harry and Sally's relationship. Although both Marie and Jess are archetypes, their character are reasonably well-developed, and never remove the spotlight from either Harry or Sally.

The movie's also successful and unlike the average romantic comedy because of the screenplay. The film is full of witty and quotable lines of dialogue, and its characters and fully-fleshed out and believable. Yes, Crystal and Ryan helped making Harry and Sally real persons, but one also has to congratulate writer Nora Ephron for creating such natural and credible characters. Their romance is not conventional, but their scenes together feel natural and by no means forced, and Ephron's screenplay makes sure their dialogue together feels as realistic as possible. Additionally, the movie is funny, (unlike other romantic "comedies") and is full of quotable lines and memorable moments. (One of my favorite lines involves Harry randomly theorizing about hieroglyphics.)

Ultimately, When Harry Met Sally... is one of the best romantic comedies I've ever seen. Granted, the film's no masterpiece (Meg Ryan's crying scene is laughably over-the-top and feels really awkward, almost deliberately-staged) but it's nevertheless a really engaging and entertaining motion picture. Unlike many other contemporary romantic comedies, this one's actually romantic and funny, and never tries to manipulate the audience with exaggerated melodrama or over-the-top gags. When Harry Met Sally... works because of the chemistry between Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, Nora Ephron's witty screenplay, and Rob Reiner's competent direction. (The insertion of documentary-style clips from interviews with old couples is particularly effective.) When Harry Met Sally... is the perfect Valentine's Day movie, and one of the most effective, intelligent and funny romantic motion pictures I've ever seen.