It finally happened. I watched what is probably one of the most iconic romantic movies of all time. Here’s the Bitchin’ Bio on When Harry Met Sally….
Release Date: July 14, 1989
Synopsis: Sally (Meg Ryan) drives from Chicago to New York City with her college friend’s boyfriend, Harry (Billy Crystal), arguing along the way. Years later, they meet again. The third time they meet, about a decade after their original road trip, Harry and Sally decide to try becoming friends. They quickly become very close but attempt to avoid a romantic relationship.
Degrees of Kevin Bacon: 1. Meg Ryan stars in In the Cut (2003), in which Kevin Bacon has an uncredited role. (The internet seems to have a lot of questions about this.)
How I Watched It: HBO Max
Come For: What I came for—a classic film to check off your bucket list.
Stay For: It lives up to its hype. The banter between Harry and Sally is hilarious, and the chemistry in their friendship before they’ve fallen in love is so sweet.
Had I Seen It?: No, but I had wanted to for a long time.
Did I Like It?: I really did. I feel like every time I heard this movie described— it was described incorrectly. People always talk about it like the titular pair have been close friends for 12 years, but I soon realized that was not the case. Maybe it’s good I went in with different expectations because the movie was able to surprise me despite being so famous. Like probably everyone, I had seen the final scene before. In context, though, it felt completely different than it did alone, and, of course, it made me cry. My crying really seems like a recurring theme of this column.
Aside from Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal (I lost it when he stood up to do “the wave” at a baseball game while in the middle of talking about his divorce), Carrie Fisher is so good in this movie! And the shots of Central Park foliage are absolutely gorgeous. I was mesmerized in the one scene when Harry and Sally are in the Met, and you can see the Autumn leaves through the glass.
If you liked this one, you might enjoy: You’ve Got Mail (1998): Another Nora Ephron/Meg Ryan/love letter to NYC. I don’t love the ending, but I love everything else— especially Steve Zahn.
Thanks for reading one of my very last ‘80s Archives for Her Campus. I can’t believe that my last two are coming up in the next couple of weeks. Until next time….
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