"Pecan Pie" scene is improvised as well. Caught Meg Ryan off-guard, and you see her surprise when she looks off-camera to Rob Reiner with that "what the" look on her face.
"Draw something resembling anything!" "Baby talk? That's not a saying!" "Oh, but Baby Fishmouth is sweeping the nation..." The dialogue in this movie is fantastic, and I've always loved Billy Crystal's dry wit!
His nickname was Satchmo, which was short for "satchel-mouth," although there isn't a definitive explanation for where that came from. It might have been from his childhood habit of storing coins in his mouth.
Jack Quaid, Meg Ryan's son (who's in The Boys and Plus One), was interviewed about *that scene* and he said he felt really proud of his mom and how brave she had to be to act that.
That line cracked me up the first time I saw the film in a theater in 1989, and it still cracks me up every single time I play this movie. Ya go dancing, ya do the white man's overbite...
11:39 Has anyone mentioned that Billy was improvising the whole 'pecan pie' conversation. Meg genuinely started to laugh and turns to Rob Reiner expecting him to call a cut but he was loving it and gestured to Meg to keep it going. Genius directing, genius acting and a genius film. In my top 10 for Billy's final monologue to Meg about wanting to start your life with someone straight away. Love it.
Well that’s the good thing about Depression, you get your rest - a phrase that made its way into my real life lexicon years ago. lol I love the dialogue in this movie!
This is THE romcom that set the standard for all others to aim for. Whenever I hear that someone hasn’t seen this, I’m amazed. I’m so glad you watched it for your channel!
It's a nice movie (and reaction video!) but with all due respect, that's off the mark, this is very much a watered-down Hollywood version of Woody Allen's "Annie Hall" (which had won Best Picture a few years earlier), that's definitely the way it was seen at the time. I mean, even the opening credits is imitation Woody Allen. Ha, check it out: www.huffpost.com/entry/when-harry-met-sally-anniversary_n_5584730 See what I mean? It's a good movie, but it didn't re-invent the wheel. I remember sitting in the theatre thinking I was watching imitation Woody Allen/DIane Keaton. And, no offense to Billy and Meg, who were great but in that contest, Keaton & Allen win hands down, lol.
@@TTM9691 Everybody likes something different. I've seen Annie Hall and I have seen When Harry met Sally, and I actually prefer WHMS - it has more heart in it, and jokes land better for me.
@@lenusniq_9746 I'm just saying: stylistically, from the entire soundtrack to the font of the credits is Woody Allen. You get points for originality and innovation and being first. I like WHMS! And WHMS was just the next in a long line of imitators, starting with "The Goodbye Girl". It doesn't detract from my enjoyment of WHMS. It's like "A Bronx Tale" is imitation Scorsese. Know what I mean? I can still enjoy it while knowing it's not the original article.
This movie gave me a deeper appreciation for Romantic Comedies. This was one of your BEST reactions EVER!!! Keep these coming! I've watched 95% of your reactions to date (saving some for my viewing first), and they just get better and better!!
I literally stopped half way this reaction because I realized I never saw this movie because I’m usually not into rom-coms. After seeing this reaction I had to give it a try. Then returned to see the rest of the reaction. I have so much respect for this writing and direction as a film now.
The "interviews" were all done with actors, but taken from actual couple stories. They originally tested just couples telling their stories, but decided it was better to use actors in the long run (mainly for comedic timing)
11:15 Mind blowing fact, When Harry Met Sally was made *BEFORE* Misery, by a year. Rob dropped a reference to a movie he would make the following year.
You said that "every rom com has this point of no return moment" This was THE first one that did this, the blueprint for almost every rom com since... And it holds up SO WELL!! This has been my favorite of your reactions. Keep 'em comming!
One of my favorites of all time. I don't remember Romcoms being much of a genre before this came out. After this, there was an explosion of movies trying to copy the success this one had.
Yes, Nora Ephron was a columnist. She use to write for The Republic. Her parents wrote screenplays for some great Hollywood movies including The Desk Set, Daddy Long legs, Carousel. Nora lived on the Upper West Side for the last 30 years of her life. I love her writing and her movies.
I'm glad someone else suggested City Slickers, one of my favorites, worked at a theater in college and this was playing, so I was able to watch this movie over and over and never got tired of it.
I don't know how many times I've seen this movie, so so many. Best romantic comedy of all time, hands down. That line at the end "when you realize you want to spend the ret of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible" like COME ON I start sobbing minutes before we even get there because it's so perfect. I don't know who thought to put Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, I didn't watch this for years because I didn't think they would have any chemistry but they are absolute perfection together. I hope we get to see them together again someday.
Love this movie, and for another great Billy Crystal and Bruno Kirby comedy I recommend City Slickers. New Yorkers try to be cowboys, it's dark and hilarious.
I'm glad you picked up on the punctuation of the action like the spitting of the grapes or doing the wave at the football stadium. Its one thing I tell people about this movie to describe its brilliance.
Fyi, this movie is fully worthy of being your gold standard to measure other romances or romcoms against. You've Got Mail, had Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, but they had a more successful romcom earlier with, Sleepless in Seattle. But that was not their first romcom. The first movie they did together was, Joe Versus the Volcano, an amazing movie that is entirely overlooked. It comes from the same era as Tom Hanks' stand-up days, perhaps just after, maybe the movie that decided it, the same time as, Splash, Bachelor Party, and the sitcom, Busom Buddies, with Peter Scolari.
@@themoviedealers He did, and he was in the Groundlings briefly. I never saw his stand-up, but he he said it was pretty amateurish, in an interview when he did the movie, Punchline. I can't quote you the show or the interviewer, but I recall him saying it, and about how it informed his performance in the movie, how comedy got him into TV and then the movies, and that, Punchline, was the perfect way to try his hand at something more dramatic. I personally have a hard time reconciling the actor we know today with the guy from, Busom Buddies, and, Bachelor Party, they don't fit together in my head well.
But looking at his movies just now, Joe Versus the Volcano, wasn't an early film at all for him, 1990. Well, I'm no expert, but it's still wildly overlooked.
My husband and I went to see this in the theaters when it came out, after we had just decided to stop being friends and start dating. It's near and dear to my heart because it's not only nostalgic for us, but it's a reflection of our relationship. When we go out to eat I make substitutions and ask for things on the side, and my husband asks for a #3. My husband has even been told he resembles Billy Crystal (in both looks and personality). We've probably seen this movie at least 50 times and quote dialogue at length to each other. When the woman in the deli said "I'll have what she's having", the laughing went on so long and so hard that you couldn't hear any dialogue for at least a minute, and I've heard that this was the typical reaction for many theater showings.
This is my #1 rom-com, and probably my #1 movie of all time. Last line always gets me in the gut "When you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible". Too good, too fantastic. Plus, the Deli scene....I mean....cmon!! Edit: the woman who said "I'll have what she's having" was Rob Reiner's mother. Makes that scene even better
I had this as one of two VHS tapes in middle/high school (the other was Total Recall). We watched this hundreds of times and it never got old. Love your breakdown!!
One of my favorite movies of all time! I can't count how many times I have seen it, but I have watched it quite a lot. Your reactions were so cute, and I really enjoyed the extra information you provided at the end of the film. Nora Ephron was a comedic genius! RIP Nora...you are sorely missed.
I’ll recommend my favorite romcom that no one has ever seen. It’s a one-hour TV movie done for PBS back in 1980 called “Who Am I This Time?” It’s based on a Vonnegut short story, directed by Jonathan Demme, and stars Susan Sarandon and Christopher Walken as rather repressed residents of a small town in the ‘60s who blossom on the stage when they plays Stella and Stanley in a local playhouse’s production of “A Streetcar Named Desire.” It’s a wonderful ode to amateur theatrics, and the chemistry between Sarandon and Walken is amazing. It’s a real shame he was never cast as the romantic lead again. You can see it on TH-cam.
That sounds amazing and I can’t believe I never heard of it before given how much I love those actors and how much of their work I’ve seen. Thank you for commenting!
I think you might like "City Slickers" Billy Crystal Mr Moustache (Bruno Kirby), Daniel Stern, Helen Slater. You might also like "Running Scared" Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines as buddy cops in Chicago.
Not many people know this; Billy Crystal got his start in a 1970s comedy tv show called Soap that was a high-freaking-larious parody of day time soap operas. However it was one of the dramody type shows where every character had their seriosu moment. Billy Crystal played Jody who was as far as I know the first openly gay character on tv and they did a really good job of delving through his character on the show. It's worth a watch.
I still vaguely remember the Social Services custody interview. "I understand you are a practicing homosexual" "I don't have to practice, I'm very good at it"
It's currently streamimg on Tubi.. Billy Crystal just brilliant from the go.. and a gay empathetic character in the early 80s???! He was fantastic as Jody Dallas..
@@simonoleary9264 well they never got to vampires.. Which one of the soaps actually did. Lol. But after demonic possession, ninja cults and actually alien body swaps I don't know where season 5 would have went.
This is the quintessential romantic comedy. It’s sweet, beautiful, tearful, and always satisfying. It’s on my top 5 fave films list. So good. Thank you for the watch along!!
Yes, you definitely could tell how you felt about that one just from your expressions. You were beaming through most of the movie! Loved the joy and excitement in your eyes. A truly fun reaction to watch. I feel I couldn't have started my day off in a better way, thank you.
And to answer your question at the end of the video, yes, I saw it in theaters at the time--the audience was screaming laughing, especially during the diner scene. It felt special, and still does--a bit like other rom-coms want to be it, but can't quite manage to get there. I suspect the avoidance of cliches which you went into in your recap section.
I saw this in 1990 as a 15 year old. Had the exact same reactions though I didn't fully understand some of it. I then went on to basically live this exact life. Your reaction he made me very happy.
I was the 1000th like! Yay! One of my all time favorites! This was the movie that made me realize good writing in movies. Fell in love with Meg Ryan and what a soundtrack! This made Harry Connick Jr a household name. I worked at a movie theater when this was out and it stayed in the theater for months! It seemed like it would never leave but it never got stale or old. I still laughed at all the parts and eventually ended up memorizing the lines. Awesome reaction. I was giddy in anticipation of all the parts I thought would make someone laugh. Another great movie you might want to react to is Cinema Paradiso. It's in Italian but as someone in the industry you will appreciate the film making. Thank you... and today the rest of the day I will talk like Thissss. Peecan Piiieeee.... Peeecan Piiieeeee......
Ephron talked about "Christian" vs "Jewish" romcoms, I think in an interview about "You've Got Mail." She said that the former involves an external obstacle preventing the leads from getting together, and the latter has the relationship being blocked by the characters' respective neuroses. Ephron generally writes the latter. However, she also wrote Sleepless in Seattle, which is arguably an example of the former.
That’s interesting. In Sleepless in Seattle, though, the obstacle doesn’t feel like a cheap plot device, because it’s literal distance. That movie, for me at least, is one of the few great good modern rom coms. So is When Harry Met Sally, obviously.
The Jewish Man/Gentile Woman romantic pairing dynamic was obviously a staple of Woody Allen, but it really went into overdrive and became more accessible because of this movie. It then evolved and was copied into those romantic TV shows with the same vibe, like Paul Reiser/Helen Hunt (Mad About You), and Richard Lewis/Jamie Lee Curtis (Anything But Love), etcetera. It was definitely a thing then.
From a deconstruction point of view, this is easily my favorite reaction of yours. Also I love when you say "we." "We love Billy Crystal." I just love your channel.
This was literally my first date movie... asked a friend of a friend out, super casual, "hey, there's this movie out I wanted to see... might you want to go with me?" 8/8/89... the weird things that you remember many years later.
The iconic scene at Katz’ Deli, it’s fun to hear Billy Crystal and Rob Reiner tell the backstory: How Rob told Meg that she would really have to sell it, or the scene would never work. And how Billy had to sit opposite Rob, as the director demonstrated to Meg what he wanted from her. Billy described it as quite distressing, but as we can all see, it paid off.
Someone has already said this I’m sure but the scene where Harry has the silly accent in the museum “I would like to partake of your paprikash” was half improvised. The line about the movies was in the script but the silly lead in was improvised. You can actually see Meg Ryan say “oh no” and then look to Rob Reiner because she thought he would cut the scene but he motioned to her to keep going so she did. This is my favorite rom com, I just think it’s perfect.
an all time fav for me... the scene where billy asks meg to go to a movie in a strange voice was another improv where billy just sort of takes off with the scene and has meg try to keep up... about half way thru she looks off camera directly at rob as to say "oh hell no" but rob just tells her to keep going. every time i see this i think about the panic she was feeling at that moment and how she almost ended that scene with her look to rob.....
What I read about the couples that were interjected between certain scenes were stories from actual real life couples but their words were done by actors/actresses for the film. The way that Sally orders her meals at restaurants are actually based upon Nora herself. Rob Reiner was taken aback the first time Nora and him ate together and how she was so picky about how she wanted her food to be. Rob also said that Billy and Bruno ad-libbed a lot of their lines, particularly Billy's tirade about the wagon wheel coffee table "I WAS BEING NICE!"
All time favorite. Your weepy eyes reaction is mine every time i watch this. And I’ve had it memorized for decades. Great movie, defines the genre for me.
I saw this on cable TV...then videotaped it from the same source later in the day. Used to watch it, or have it playing as background when I was writing, and ignoring school assignments.
An interesting companion piece to this would be The Sure Thing, also directed by Rob Reiner. It's his take on teen romcoms and sort of a precursor to this one.
I saw this in the theater with my mom and my grandma. We all liked it and came out of the theater feeling warm fuzzies, so good memory. ☺ I thought for sure this movie came out in 1987 or 88 though...seeing that it came out in 1989, not only that but *summer 1989* ...holy moly! That's another huge film I didn't realize that was in what I knew was already the biggest movie summer in history!I If you watch the movie Working Girl (if you haven't seen it already) I promise you the same comfort and good feelings and familiarity that you felt with this movie. Also it's directed by the legendary Mike Nichols. Best Regards!
Another suggestion if you like Billy Crystal is "City Slickers". Also staring Bruno Kerby (mustache guy) and the late grate Jack Palance. Also "Throw Mama from the Train", also staring Danny DiVito.
Yes! Nora was a large journalist in her career before becoming a scriptwriter, her parents were so she always saw it as a path but always knew once she started with movies she wouldnt be able to stop, her biggest recommendation for starting scriptwriters is to do traditional journalism to help make the dialogue get to the point and to keep attention
I've watched this many times. I just now caught that the time jump starts with Sally making out with her boyfriend, in contrast to the opening with Harry making out with his girlfriend with her as the onlooker.
I think that is why they added the physicality that Shannelle notices ( the grapes , them doing the wave , etc ) - to differentiate it a bit , so it doesn't look TOO much like a Woody Allen picture.
I first saw this on VHS with a group of friends my freshman year of college in 1995 or 1996. One guy in our group was from New York and had the same pessimistic outlook like Harry early in the film. We all had a good laugh about it.
I loved your reaction and commentary ! Well, as always ! As many of the comments point "Sleepless in Seattle" is wonderful, but one of the best (Christmas) romcoms is "While you were sleeping" 🤩😍❤️Sandra Bullock ❤️/ Peter Gallagher ❤️/ Bill Pullman ❤️
So happy you covered this! One of my all-time favorites! Just an iconic rom-com. Enjoyed the trivia. Some I heard. Some were a surprise. Great catch on the physical action punctuating the dialogue. Never really thought about that, but it works so well. “Sleepless in Seattle” is of course a must, but I have to request/recommend “Roxanne”. Another one I could watch over and over, and have.
The dialogue in this movie is so amazing that it's much more than just a romcom. It's one of the greatest movies ever made. Romcom-wise. If you saw You've Got Mail, it was an attempt to recapture the magic of Sleepless in Seattle which would be a good place to go. If you just want to see a romance buried in a terrific script, you might want to consider Top Gun.
Sleepless in Seattle kept the leads apart for most of the movie, which is very different from the friends to lovers of When Harry Met Sally. It was Ryan and Hanks' second film together.
I graduated from high school in 1989 and I have to say it was one of the best years of movies that I remember... When Harry Met Sally, Field of Dreams, Glory, Born on the 4th of July, Batman, Dead Poets Society, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Parenthood, Road House, Steel Magnolias, Say Anything, Driving Miss Daisy, Coming to America, etc, etc. I had plenty of movies to take my high school girlfriend out to see that year, and this is still one of my favorites.
Saw this film for the first time 3 years ago. Started dating my best friend soon after so it always held a place in my heart. We broke up a week ago and now here is your review of said film. Full circle!!
This is the original and best romcom that others try to emulate. They still haven’t made one to match this in my opinion. I’ve watched it more times than I can count
An oft-overlooked film, but my second favorite rom-com after WHMS is Down With Love, a loving tribute/parody of the classic Doris Day-Rock Hudson rom-coms of the '60s directed by Peyton Reed and starring Ewan MacGregor and Renée Zellweger. It came out in 2003 and has a great deal of your favorite tropes (since Zellweger had just finished Chicago and MacGregor had just done Moulin Rouge, Reed decided they HAD to do a musical duet number at the end) -- even if you're not familiar with the material it's a pastiche of, I think you'd really enjoy it. The comedic timing of the actors is impeccable.
I saw this on a date in theaters when it came out, and the discussion at the time was how much it was like a Woody Allen movie, with the couple vignette scenes interspersed in the film. It was a fun movie, and still holds up.
This movie is just as timeless as Casablanca. Of course, Rob Reiner directed two Stephen King films. The other being an adaptation of the short story "The Body" which was re-named "Stand By Me".
This and As Good As It Gets are in my opinion the best of the genre. I also like In Her Shoes, Fools Rush In and Three to Tango as rom coms that do not get mentioned often (Three to Tango may have dated slightly, but Neve Campbell is charming in it).
One other thing - you nailed it. Nora Ephron was a columnist as well as a journalist, novelist, and script writer. A truly brilliant woman.
The woman who says "I'll have what she's having" is Rob Reiner's mother!
And Carl Reiner’s wife.
I love that line. I didn't know it was Mrs. Reiner. Thanks.
And Meathead's mom too!
she knew that was coming but Harry couldn't tell.
nahhh... she is the mother of the director of This is Spinal Tap
"Pecan Pie" scene is improvised as well. Caught Meg Ryan off-guard, and you see her surprise when she looks off-camera to Rob Reiner with that "what the" look on her face.
And it is Rob Reiner’s mother who said, “I’ll have what she’s having.”
Never caught that she looked off camera instead of at Billy. Now that I know that, rewatching it I can't miss that.
"Waiter, there is too much pepper on my paprikash." 😆
"Draw something resembling anything!"
"Baby talk? That's not a saying!"
"Oh, but Baby Fishmouth is sweeping the nation..."
The dialogue in this movie is fantastic, and I've always loved Billy Crystal's dry wit!
He and Bruno Kirby have good chemistry. Love City Slickers.
@@tempsitch5632 Yes and I loved Bruno Kirby in Tin Men too. Hard to believe that Bruno and Carrie Fisher are no longer with us. Gone way too soon.
@@tempsitch5632 City Slickers is one of my favorites!
@@centuryrox Haven’t thought about that good flick for a long time. Thanks.
That voice you like so much potato potatoe is the legendary Louis Armstrong
I have a signed photo of Louis Armstrong, my Grandpa got in Vegas, back in the day.
His nickname was Satchmo, which was short for "satchel-mouth," although there isn't a definitive explanation for where that came from. It might have been from his childhood habit of storing coins in his mouth.
He was excellently used, to poignant effect, in Good Morning Vietnam.
Jack Quaid, Meg Ryan's son (who's in The Boys and Plus One), was interviewed about *that scene* and he said he felt really proud of his mom and how brave she had to be to act that.
And you believe that?
I guess when Jack Quaid as a five year old said 'I feel really proud of y mom and how brave she was to act that"
@@voodoochile333 ……no. I don’t? And Jack Quaid was born 3 years after this movie even came out. Are you okay?
I’ve been weirding people out with the “white man’s overbite” since this movie came out.
That line cracked me up the first time I saw the film in a theater in 1989, and it still cracks me up every single time I play this movie.
Ya go dancing,
ya do the white man's overbite...
LOL
I like how Shanelle went from wanting them to remain friends to "they better f**ing kiss. DO IT!"
I like how she analyzes what we see and hear using her filmmaking knowledge.
"While You Were Sleeping" is another good one.
The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951) is another good Movie.
So good! In fact, its probably my favourite romcom. The way the characters interact, the family scenes - its perfect.
Love that movie!
11:39 Has anyone mentioned that Billy was improvising the whole 'pecan pie' conversation. Meg genuinely started to laugh and turns to Rob Reiner expecting him to call a cut but he was loving it and gestured to Meg to keep it going. Genius directing, genius acting and a genius film. In my top 10 for Billy's final monologue to Meg about wanting to start your life with someone straight away. Love it.
Well that’s the good thing about Depression, you get your rest - a phrase that made its way into my real life lexicon years ago. lol
I love the dialogue in this movie!
This is THE romcom that set the standard for all others to aim for. Whenever I hear that someone hasn’t seen this, I’m amazed. I’m so glad you watched it for your channel!
Im glad I finally caught it too!
It's a nice movie (and reaction video!) but with all due respect, that's off the mark, this is very much a watered-down Hollywood version of Woody Allen's "Annie Hall" (which had won Best Picture a few years earlier), that's definitely the way it was seen at the time. I mean, even the opening credits is imitation Woody Allen.
Ha, check it out: www.huffpost.com/entry/when-harry-met-sally-anniversary_n_5584730 See what I mean? It's a good movie, but it didn't re-invent the wheel. I remember sitting in the theatre thinking I was watching imitation Woody Allen/DIane Keaton. And, no offense to Billy and Meg, who were great but in that contest, Keaton & Allen win hands down, lol.
@@TTM9691 Everybody likes something different. I've seen Annie Hall and I have seen When Harry met Sally, and I actually prefer WHMS - it has more heart in it, and jokes land better for me.
@@lenusniq_9746 I'm just saying: stylistically, from the entire soundtrack to the font of the credits is Woody Allen. You get points for originality and innovation and being first. I like WHMS! And WHMS was just the next in a long line of imitators, starting with "The Goodbye Girl". It doesn't detract from my enjoyment of WHMS. It's like "A Bronx Tale" is imitation Scorsese. Know what I mean? I can still enjoy it while knowing it's not the original article.
This movie gave me a deeper appreciation for Romantic Comedies. This was one of your BEST reactions EVER!!! Keep these coming! I've watched 95% of your reactions to date (saving some for my viewing first), and they just get better and better!!
I literally stopped half way this reaction because I realized I never saw this movie because I’m usually not into rom-coms. After seeing this reaction I had to give it a try. Then returned to see the rest of the reaction. I have so much respect for this writing and direction as a film now.
15:30, RIP, Carrie Fisher Princess Leia. May the Force be with you.
The "interviews" were all done with actors, but taken from actual couple stories. They originally tested just couples telling their stories, but decided it was better to use actors in the long run (mainly for comedic timing)
Thanks, was looking for this comment ✨
Oh, I didn't know that. I thought they were real.
11:15 Mind blowing fact, When Harry Met Sally was made *BEFORE* Misery, by a year. Rob dropped a reference to a movie he would make the following year.
I recommend some old school Doris Day/ Rock Hudson movies like “Pillow Talk”. Cheeky humor for its day.
That Touch of Mink is another wonderful rom-com with Doris Day and Cary Grant.
Cary Grant, Rock Hudson, James Garner, all Hollywood hunks 😍
You said that "every rom com has this point of no return moment" This was THE first one that did this, the blueprint for almost every rom com since... And it holds up SO WELL!!
This has been my favorite of your reactions.
Keep 'em comming!
My favorite Meg Ryan romcom is French Kiss, with Kevin Kline. I highly recommend it!
An absolute must!
Hard to pick her best. I'm kind of partial to Addicted to Love where she played alongside Matthew Broderick.
French Kiss, Innerspace and You’ve Got Mail are my top favorite Meg Ryan Movies!
Mine, too, hands down! It’s one of my very favorite romcoms, period.
Mine too!
Carrie Fisher also acted as script doctor for this.
Finally! Writer cred ftw.
IM SO glad! We STAN Carrie
@@ShanelleRiccio You could say she really...Carrie'd the script..
Never heard Carrie had worked on the script.. But doesn't surprise me. She had a brilliant quick mind.
@@mcgilj1 there were a tonne of movies she did script punch-ups for, without being credited.
One of my favorites of all time. I don't remember Romcoms being much of a genre before this came out. After this, there was an explosion of movies trying to copy the success this one had.
It was Rob Reiner’s mother who said, “I’ll have what she’s having.”
When his father, Carl, was still alive, my mom thought that he and his widowed best friend, Mel Brooks, should have moved in together.
This movie is perfection and the dialogue is so well written; funny, relatable, heartbreaking, & incredible.
I'd suggest Romancing The Stone next, absolute classic 80s romance.
this could easily lead you down a Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito rabbit hole, but I'd be there for it.
Matthew has nailed it, Romancing the Stone perfect rom/com movie.
I was OBSESSED with Romancing the Stone and Jewel of the Nile, it’s sequel, when I was a teenager!
Yes!
ALSO MOONSTRUCK!!!!!
Yes, Nora Ephron was a columnist. She use to write for The Republic. Her parents wrote screenplays for some great Hollywood movies including The Desk Set, Daddy Long legs, Carousel. Nora lived on the Upper West Side for the last 30 years of her life. I love her writing and her movies.
Wow!! I loved those films!!
Another good Crystal movie from my childhood was City Slickers.
Better one is forget paris.such a overlooked gem.
I'm glad someone else suggested City Slickers, one of my favorites, worked at a theater in college and this was playing, so I was able to watch this movie over and over and never got tired of it.
I don't know how many times I've seen this movie, so so many. Best romantic comedy of all time, hands down. That line at the end "when you realize you want to spend the ret of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible" like COME ON I start sobbing minutes before we even get there because it's so perfect. I don't know who thought to put Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, I didn't watch this for years because I didn't think they would have any chemistry but they are absolute perfection together. I hope we get to see them together again someday.
the BEST RomCom!,,,,,,,,Meg's comedic timing is impeccable.....everyone is awesome
Love this movie, and for another great Billy Crystal and Bruno Kirby comedy I recommend City Slickers. New Yorkers try to be cowboys, it's dark and hilarious.
Another great movie that Daniel Stern was in.
I'm glad you picked up on the punctuation of the action like the spitting of the grapes or doing the wave at the football stadium. Its one thing I tell people about this movie to describe its brilliance.
Fyi, this movie is fully worthy of being your gold standard to measure other romances or romcoms against.
You've Got Mail, had Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, but they had a more successful romcom earlier with, Sleepless in Seattle. But that was not their first romcom. The first movie they did together was, Joe Versus the Volcano, an amazing movie that is entirely overlooked. It comes from the same era as Tom Hanks' stand-up days, perhaps just after, maybe the movie that decided it, the same time as, Splash, Bachelor Party, and the sitcom, Busom Buddies, with Peter Scolari.
Tom Hanks never did stand up comedy.
@@themoviedealers He did, and he was in the Groundlings briefly. I never saw his stand-up, but he he said it was pretty amateurish, in an interview when he did the movie, Punchline. I can't quote you the show or the interviewer, but I recall him saying it, and about how it informed his performance in the movie, how comedy got him into TV and then the movies, and that, Punchline, was the perfect way to try his hand at something more dramatic. I personally have a hard time reconciling the actor we know today with the guy from, Busom Buddies, and, Bachelor Party, they don't fit together in my head well.
But looking at his movies just now, Joe Versus the Volcano, wasn't an early film at all for him, 1990. Well, I'm no expert, but it's still wildly overlooked.
The Sure Thing was a favorite of mine alongside this one.
Of course anything with John Cusack is always good.
You know, actually The Sure Thing would make a really cool reaction video for Shanelle.
I love the sure thing. It’s very under appreciated.
John Cusack is definitely underrated in rom-coms. Sure Thing, High Fidelity, Grosse Point Blank. (all great movies)
This is a great romcom. Another great classic in this genre is "Four Weddings and a Funeral".
My husband and I went to see this in the theaters when it came out, after we had just decided to stop being friends and start dating. It's near and dear to my heart because it's not only nostalgic for us, but it's a reflection of our relationship. When we go out to eat I make substitutions and ask for things on the side, and my husband asks for a #3. My husband has even been told he resembles Billy Crystal (in both looks and personality). We've probably seen this movie at least 50 times and quote dialogue at length to each other.
When the woman in the deli said "I'll have what she's having", the laughing went on so long and so hard that you couldn't hear any dialogue for at least a minute, and I've heard that this was the typical reaction for many theater showings.
This is my #1 rom-com, and probably my #1 movie of all time. Last line always gets me in the gut
"When you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible".
Too good, too fantastic.
Plus, the Deli scene....I mean....cmon!!
Edit: the woman who said "I'll have what she's having" was Rob Reiner's mother. Makes that scene even better
I had this as one of two VHS tapes in middle/high school (the other was Total Recall). We watched this hundreds of times and it never got old. Love your breakdown!!
"I'll have what she's having" is right up there with all the classic film lines. Perfect timing.
One of my favorite movies of all time! I can't count how many times I have seen it, but I have watched it quite a lot. Your reactions were so cute, and I really enjoyed the extra information you provided at the end of the film. Nora Ephron was a comedic genius! RIP Nora...you are sorely missed.
I’ll recommend my favorite romcom that no one has ever seen. It’s a one-hour TV movie done for PBS back in 1980 called “Who Am I This Time?” It’s based on a Vonnegut short story, directed by Jonathan Demme, and stars Susan Sarandon and Christopher Walken as rather repressed residents of a small town in the ‘60s who blossom on the stage when they plays Stella and Stanley in a local playhouse’s production of “A Streetcar Named Desire.” It’s a wonderful ode to amateur theatrics, and the chemistry between Sarandon and Walken is amazing. It’s a real shame he was never cast as the romantic lead again. You can see it on TH-cam.
Thanks for that recommendation. It is charming and brilliant.
That sounds amazing and I can’t believe I never heard of it before given how much I love those actors and how much of their work I’ve seen. Thank you for commenting!
I hasten to add my admiration for Demme. I love good directors, as well, lol
loved this film! i believe it's also where sarandon & walken met and had a tempestuous real-life affair. that's why the chemistry is smoldering.
The woman who delivered the line “I’ll have what she’s having” is Estelle Reiner, the mother of the films Director, Rob Reiner.
You should watch French Kiss with Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline. She is so adorable in it!
Yes!!!!
Shanelle, I would *love* to see your reaction and commentary to "French Kiss".
Stop the rocking! 😂😂😂
I think you might like "City Slickers" Billy Crystal Mr Moustache (Bruno Kirby), Daniel Stern, Helen Slater.
You might also like "Running Scared" Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines as buddy cops in Chicago.
Running Scared is so good. Billy & Gregory had such great chemistry. I really wish they’d made a sequel.
@@iChristyD Glad to hear someone else likes it also
Don't forget Jack Palance he does a wonderful "straight man" to Billy.
Harry's speech about friendship between men and women is true.
Agree
Absolutely.
@@medalgear654 I have several “gay” guy friends but no straight ones.🤷♀️
@@TinaLaGreca hmm me too but only straight ones lol
Not many people know this; Billy Crystal got his start in a 1970s comedy tv show called Soap that was a high-freaking-larious parody of day time soap operas. However it was one of the dramody type shows where every character had their seriosu moment. Billy Crystal played Jody who was as far as I know the first openly gay character on tv and they did a really good job of delving through his character on the show. It's worth a watch.
I still vaguely remember the Social Services custody interview.
"I understand you are a practicing homosexual"
"I don't have to practice, I'm very good at it"
I also kinda wonder if they stopped doing soap because no matter how ridiculous a storyline was, sooner or later one of the real soaps caught up 🤣
Loved Soap!! It was so good!! So many awesome actors in that show.
It's currently streamimg on Tubi.. Billy Crystal just brilliant from the go.. and a gay empathetic character in the early 80s???! He was fantastic as Jody Dallas..
@@simonoleary9264 well they never got to vampires.. Which one of the soaps actually did. Lol. But after demonic possession, ninja cults and actually alien body swaps I don't know where season 5 would have went.
This is the quintessential romantic comedy. It’s sweet, beautiful, tearful, and always satisfying. It’s on my top 5 fave films list. So good. Thank you for the watch along!!
Yes, you definitely could tell how you felt about that one just from your expressions. You were beaming through most of the movie! Loved the joy and excitement in your eyes. A truly fun reaction to watch. I feel I couldn't have started my day off in a better way, thank you.
Wonderful rom-com, possibly the best ever. The "I'll have what she's having" lady is Rob Reiner's mom. (Best button line ever.)
And to answer your question at the end of the video, yes, I saw it in theaters at the time--the audience was screaming laughing, especially during the diner scene. It felt special, and still does--a bit like other rom-coms want to be it, but can't quite manage to get there. I suspect the avoidance of cliches which you went into in your recap section.
I saw this in 1990 as a 15 year old. Had the exact same reactions though I didn't fully understand some of it. I then went on to basically live this exact life. Your reaction he made me very happy.
8:52. Whoa, nice catch, I never noticed that. Now I'm going to be looking out for this technique to see if other directors use it.
I was the 1000th like! Yay! One of my all time favorites! This was the movie that made me realize good writing in movies. Fell in love with Meg Ryan and what a soundtrack! This made Harry Connick Jr a household name. I worked at a movie theater when this was out and it stayed in the theater for months! It seemed like it would never leave but it never got stale or old. I still laughed at all the parts and eventually ended up memorizing the lines. Awesome reaction. I was giddy in anticipation of all the parts I thought would make someone laugh. Another great movie you might want to react to is Cinema Paradiso. It's in Italian but as someone in the industry you will appreciate the film making. Thank you... and today the rest of the day I will talk like Thissss. Peecan Piiieeee.... Peeecan Piiieeeee......
Ephron talked about "Christian" vs "Jewish" romcoms, I think in an interview about "You've Got Mail." She said that the former involves an external obstacle preventing the leads from getting together, and the latter has the relationship being blocked by the characters' respective neuroses. Ephron generally writes the latter. However, she also wrote Sleepless in Seattle, which is arguably an example of the former.
That’s interesting. In Sleepless in Seattle, though, the obstacle doesn’t feel like a cheap plot device, because it’s literal distance. That movie, for me at least, is one of the few great good modern rom coms. So is When Harry Met Sally, obviously.
The Jewish Man/Gentile Woman romantic pairing dynamic was obviously a staple of Woody Allen, but it really went into overdrive and became more accessible because of this movie. It then evolved and was copied into those romantic TV shows with the same vibe, like Paul Reiser/Helen Hunt (Mad About You), and Richard Lewis/Jamie Lee Curtis (Anything But Love), etcetera. It was definitely a thing then.
@@peteg475 How disappointed must these mothers be with their sons.
@@hanng1242 LOL
@@peteg475 The scene were they duck into the museum to get out of the rain was copied from Woody Allen's Manhattan.
From a deconstruction point of view, this is easily my favorite reaction of yours.
Also I love when you say "we." "We love Billy Crystal."
I just love your channel.
Almost tame compared to "Sleepless in Seattle." Both have wonderful soundtracks.
This was literally my first date movie... asked a friend of a friend out, super casual, "hey, there's this movie out I wanted to see... might you want to go with me?" 8/8/89... the weird things that you remember many years later.
This is one of my most favorite movies ever. I’m really glad that you liked it.
The iconic scene at Katz’ Deli, it’s fun to hear Billy Crystal and Rob Reiner tell the backstory: How Rob told Meg that she would really have to sell it, or the scene would never work. And how Billy had to sit opposite Rob, as the director demonstrated to Meg what he wanted from her. Billy described it as quite distressing, but as we can all see, it paid off.
Now you need to watch A League of Their Own. It's based on the real history of the women's baseball league.
It’s such a great movie, I never get tired of watching it.
The Series version is filming now in Pittsburgh
Yes. Love that movie. Geena Davis, Tom Hanks.
for sure!!
YES, YES, YES!
Someone has already said this I’m sure but the scene where Harry has the silly accent in the museum “I would like to partake of your paprikash” was half improvised. The line about the movies was in the script but the silly lead in was improvised. You can actually see Meg Ryan say “oh no” and then look to Rob Reiner because she thought he would cut the scene but he motioned to her to keep going so she did.
This is my favorite rom com, I just think it’s perfect.
This is definitely one of my top 5 Rom-Com's. You should check out "Moonstruck" next!
The actress who plays "Helen" was in a little comedy with Scott Bakula called "Necessary Roughenss". She played a teacher and his romantic lead.
One of my favorite Meg Ryan movies is French Kiss. I’d recommend it.
an all time fav for me... the scene where billy asks meg to go to a movie in a strange voice was another improv where billy just sort of takes off with the scene and has meg try to keep up... about half way thru she looks off camera directly at rob as to say "oh hell no" but rob just tells her to keep going. every time i see this i think about the panic she was feeling at that moment and how she almost ended that scene with her look to rob.....
This is my favorite romantic comedy ever.
What I read about the couples that were interjected between certain scenes were stories from actual real life couples but their words were done by actors/actresses for the film.
The way that Sally orders her meals at restaurants are actually based upon Nora herself. Rob Reiner was taken aback the first time Nora and him ate together and how she was so picky about how she wanted her food to be.
Rob also said that Billy and Bruno ad-libbed a lot of their lines, particularly Billy's tirade about the wagon wheel coffee table "I WAS BEING NICE!"
All time favorite. Your weepy eyes reaction is mine every time i watch this. And I’ve had it memorized for decades. Great movie, defines the genre for me.
I saw this on cable TV...then videotaped it from the same source later in the day. Used to watch it, or have it playing as background when I was writing, and ignoring school assignments.
An interesting companion piece to this would be The Sure Thing, also directed by Rob Reiner. It's his take on teen romcoms and sort of a precursor to this one.
I saw this in the theater with my mom and my grandma. We all liked it and came out of the theater feeling warm fuzzies, so good memory. ☺
I thought for sure this movie came out in 1987 or 88 though...seeing that it came out in 1989, not only that but *summer 1989* ...holy moly! That's another huge film I didn't realize that was in what I knew was already the biggest movie summer in history!I
If you watch the movie Working Girl (if you haven't seen it already) I promise you the same comfort and good feelings and familiarity that you felt with this movie. Also it's directed by the legendary Mike Nichols.
Best Regards!
Still can't look at Meg Ryan without thinking about the deli scene. Also, I remember this movie made me switch to seedless grapes.
Another suggestion if you like Billy Crystal is "City Slickers". Also staring Bruno Kerby (mustache guy) and the late grate Jack Palance. Also "Throw Mama from the Train", also staring Danny DiVito.
Has to be in my top 5 movies of all time and definitely my favorite romantic comedy. Absolutely love this movie.
Ditto. This is my go to for rom com classic
The line "I'll have what she's having," was delivered by Rob Reiner's mother, Estelle.
People who compare that to you've got mail are nuts. This is leagues above that. A brilliant New York Movie
Annie Hall territory fer shure
Agree this is MUCH better, and works better across the board
Yes! Nora was a large journalist in her career before becoming a scriptwriter, her parents were so she always saw it as a path but always knew once she started with movies she wouldnt be able to stop, her biggest recommendation for starting scriptwriters is to do traditional journalism to help make the dialogue get to the point and to keep attention
I've watched this many times. I just now caught that the time jump starts with Sally making out with her boyfriend, in contrast to the opening with Harry making out with his girlfriend with her as the onlooker.
Watched this movie for years without knowing the actor playing Joe is President Gerald Ford's son.
Good to see you again, Shanelle.
The old couples talking are a straight-up homage to “Annie Hall,” which I recommend you watch, as the similarities don’t end there.
I think that is why they added the physicality that Shannelle notices ( the grapes , them doing the wave , etc ) - to differentiate it a bit , so it doesn't look TOO much like a Woody Allen picture.
I first saw this on VHS with a group of friends my freshman year of college in 1995 or 1996. One guy in our group was from New York and had the same pessimistic outlook like Harry early in the film. We all had a good laugh about it.
You should react to the Before Trilogy!
• Before Sunrise
• Before Sunset
• Before Midnight
A wonderful romance trilogy
I loved your reaction and commentary ! Well, as always !
As many of the comments point "Sleepless in Seattle" is wonderful, but one of the best (Christmas) romcoms is "While you were sleeping"
🤩😍❤️Sandra Bullock ❤️/ Peter Gallagher ❤️/ Bill Pullman ❤️
So happy you covered this! One of my all-time favorites! Just an iconic rom-com. Enjoyed the trivia. Some I heard. Some were a surprise. Great catch on the physical action punctuating the dialogue. Never really thought about that, but it works so well.
“Sleepless in Seattle” is of course a must, but I have to request/recommend “Roxanne”. Another one I could watch over and over, and have.
It is rewatchable. Wonderfully rewatchable. KNOWING the ending does not remove any bump or twist along the way.
Romcom recommendations:
"My Man Godfrey"
"Roxanne"
"Father Goose"
"Night Shift"
Father Goose is prity good don't think I've seen Cary Grant on here yet.
Roxanne, my 2nd fav Steve Martin movie (Planes Trains and Automobiles has to be first)
I'd add Fools Rush In and Bridget Jones' Diary.. and it's not great but I still find it highly underrated, Nine Months.
You, sir or madam, have exceptional taste in films!
We love hearing your thoughts summarized at the end of the reaction!
The dialogue in this movie is so amazing that it's much more than just a romcom. It's one of the greatest movies ever made.
Romcom-wise. If you saw You've Got Mail, it was an attempt to recapture the magic of Sleepless in Seattle which would be a good place to go. If you just want to see a romance buried in a terrific script, you might want to consider Top Gun.
Sleepless in Seattle kept the leads apart for most of the movie, which is very different from the friends to lovers of When Harry Met Sally. It was Ryan and Hanks' second film together.
I graduated from high school in 1989 and I have to say it was one of the best years of movies that I remember... When Harry Met Sally, Field of Dreams, Glory, Born on the 4th of July, Batman, Dead Poets Society, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Parenthood, Road House, Steel Magnolias, Say Anything, Driving Miss Daisy, Coming to America, etc, etc. I had plenty of movies to take my high school girlfriend out to see that year, and this is still one of my favorites.
15:20 The man you call "mustache" is the late, great, Bruno Kirby.
Godfather 2, Spinal Tap, The Freshman....
I've liked him since Disney flicks.
He was in City Slickers with Crystal as well.
As a Scot, Auld Lang Syne is telling you to remember your old friendships and the good times you had. That is why it is appropriate for New Year.
Saw this film for the first time 3 years ago. Started dating my best friend soon after so it always held a place in my heart. We broke up a week ago and now here is your review of said film. Full circle!!
This is the original and best romcom that others try to emulate. They still haven’t made one to match this in my opinion. I’ve watched it more times than I can count
An oft-overlooked film, but my second favorite rom-com after WHMS is Down With Love, a loving tribute/parody of the classic Doris Day-Rock Hudson rom-coms of the '60s directed by Peyton Reed and starring Ewan MacGregor and Renée Zellweger. It came out in 2003 and has a great deal of your favorite tropes (since Zellweger had just finished Chicago and MacGregor had just done Moulin Rouge, Reed decided they HAD to do a musical duet number at the end) -- even if you're not familiar with the material it's a pastiche of, I think you'd really enjoy it. The comedic timing of the actors is impeccable.
I saw this on a date in theaters when it came out, and the discussion at the time was how much it was like a Woody Allen movie, with the couple vignette scenes interspersed in the film. It was a fun movie, and still holds up.
Awesome! I was watching Tomorrow War and was like, “this is gonna be more fun to watch!” Let’s goooooooo!
This movie is just as timeless as Casablanca.
Of course, Rob Reiner directed two Stephen King films. The other being an adaptation of the short story "The Body" which was re-named "Stand By Me".
🤠 I'll get killed for saying this, but, I always thought of this as the best Woody Allen movie that Woody Allen didn't make.
This definitely lifts a lot of its style from Annie Hall.
@@ThreadBomb 🤠 I totally agree! 🎬
Especially Harry running to the party after his epiphany.
This and As Good As It Gets are in my opinion the best of the genre. I also like In Her Shoes, Fools Rush In and Three to Tango as rom coms that do not get mentioned often (Three to Tango may have dated slightly, but Neve Campbell is charming in it).
Carrie Fisher speaks one of the Single Greatest Comic Lines in Cinema History
"Someone is starting at you from personal growth."
that line NEARLY made the cut, but I sliced it for copyright!! haha
I only saw this movie within the past decade, but it is absolutely a favorite. I love this film.