Rating: Summary: You've Got Class, You've Got Style, "You've Got Mail" Review: To those who are wont to put forth the proposition that "They don't make 'em like they used to," I have a rejoinder: The two best romantic comedies ever made, EVER, have come our way since 1998; one of them is "You've Got Mail," an absolute delight of a movie directed with heart-felt care and finesse by Nora Ephron. It's the story of two people who meet in a chat room on the Internet; Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) is the owner of a chain of bookstores, and Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) is the owner of a small, independent children's book store called "The Shop Around The Corner," whose continued existence is threatened by the Fox superstore which offers discounts and cappuccino. Harsh competitors in the real world, they are able to connect with one another via the net only because of the anonymity provided by cyberspace, where neither has a clue as to whom the other really is. The charismatic Hanks delves beneath the businessman veneer of Fox to give him some real humanity; he's tough in the trenches of commerce, but he makes it clear that this is a guy whose interests range beyond the bottom line. Hanks lends a natural, self-assurance and charm that makes Fox a complete character, and one you can't help but like. And Meg Ryan has never been better than she is here as Kathleen Kelly, a role she was born to play. As soon as you meet her, you feel as though you've known her a long time; she is so open, wears her heart on her sleeve and has a vulnerability and benevolence to her nature that make her totally endearing. Ryan imbues her with a joy and warmth that is almost tangible, and she plays her with nuance that is distinctly drawn and which makes her unique from any character she's ever done before. There's a real chemistry between her and Hanks, and Ryan utterly lights up the screen with her winsomeness. There's a terrific supporting cast on hand here as well, which includes Greg Kinnear (Frank), Parker Posey (Patricia), Heather Burns (Christina), Steve Zahn (George) , Jean Stapleton (Birdie), David Chappelle (Kevin), Dabney Coleman (Nelson Fox) and John Randolph (Schuyler Fox). This is a great story, with outstanding performances by all, the dialogue is crisp and witty, and it's all put together and delivered so well, and with such style and class by Ephron that it makes "Sleepless In Seattle," (an excellent movie in it's own right) seem like a mere warm-up for this team. The music, with the choice of songs and the specific scenes into which they are inserted, is just another reason this film works so well. The musical interludes, which set Hanks and Ryan at different stages of their relationship against the backdrop of New York City, are entirely effective; the city comes alive during these scenes and adds further character to the overall ambience of the movie. "You've Got Mail" is quite simply the second best romantic comedy ever made, and it should have walked away with a basketful of Oscars, especially for Meg Ryan's performance. And anyone who comes away from this one thinking differently is jaded and needs some serious help (and I say that with a smile, folks), because this is one terrific movie that must not be missed. If there's any romance in your soul at all, you're going to love this one.
Rating: Summary: Good Remake of a Classic Review: You Got Mail is a wonderful movie, but it is hardly an original story. The screenplay is losely based on 1949 classic "In the Good Old Summertime" starring Judy Garland and Van Johnson. Both Garland and Johnson work together in a music store and unknowingly begin to have romantic correspondances. They bicker endlessly, but begin to fall in live even before they realize they had been writting to each other the whole time. There are several scenes directly used in the picture, including the wonderful coffee house scene where Hanks badgers Ryan about her mysterious date. What makes You got Mail work is the sappy romance this duo created in Sleepless..." and carry over to this movie. Very enjoyable, but certainly check out the original if you have the time. (note: I would have loved Meg Ryan trying some of Garlands dance numbers)
Rating: Summary: OK Movie, But Not All That Good Review: This tiring and predictable romantic comedy centers around two people who hate each other in person, but unknowingly are infatuated with each other on-line. Sometimes funny and charming, this film falls apart shortly after the first half-hour. Worth viewing on a rainy day, or quiet evening.
Rating: Summary: not very good Review: I thought this looked like a good movie, so I rented it, and boy, was I dissapointed. Everything was stolen from a different movie. It was basically sleepless in seattle with e-mail, but SIS wasn't even that good in the first place. The worst of all though, is that they used AOL. The movie seemed like a long AOL ad.
Rating: Summary: Just A Great Movie Review: This is just a great movie. It's about a women Cathline who owns a childerns bookshop called The Shop Around The Corner. A new book store is opening around the corner called Fox and Sons Books, the oner Joe Fox. What Cathline and Joe don't know is that they are comunicating on the internet, e-mail. But they do not know who they are writing letters to. Then Joe puts Cathline out of besness. Will they ever know who they are writing letters to, watch the movie and find out!
Rating: Summary: A CHARMING ALTERNATE REALITY-- THE BIG APPLE IT AIN'T Review: I have to admit that I've watched YOU'VE GOT MAIL quite a few times on cable this past winter -- usually when I was bored silly and there was nothing else worth watching on some 80 different channels (to quote Tom Hank's character, Joe Fox, "Why is that?"). So do I like it? Sure... what's not to like? Do I think it's a great film? Nope.YOU'VE GOT MAIL is definitely a very pleasant viewing experience... when you've got a couple hours to kill. I'm told it made a great "date film" when it was showing in the theaters. It sure beats SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, which was way too lame, sappy and far-fetched for my tastes. Of course, (need I say it?) Meg Ryan is every "over-30-single-straight-guy's" fantasy and Tom Hanks is the witty, urbane type that every male New Yorker aspires to be. The "Oh-So-New-York" references were entertaining the first time 'round, but got old pretty quickly. I would love to know how they were able to close down Zabar's long enough to film the cash register scene without causing a riot. Also, I have to wonder what kind of filter they used on the camera lens to make "the City" look so neat and tidy... I mean the background scenery was downright pretty (the local realtors must really love this flick). And just what did they do with all the homeless folks you usually see on those streets? This story did strike a personal note: I was working on the Upper West Side, where the film takes place, when Barnes & Nobles opened it's megastore in the neighborhood in the early '90s. Yup, there were quite a few quaint little bookstores that "bought it" as a result, just like in the movie... though I can just picture the owners of those unfortunate stores and their laid-off employees, scratching their heads in incredulous wonder, as they try to figure out the reasoning behind the movie's apparent message that corporate ruthlessness, greed and monopoly makes for a happy ending. Ah, well, I guess it's just another veritable parable for our times.
Rating: Summary: Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan...how can you go wrong? Review: The romantic team of our generation, Hanks and Ryan lead you down a familiar road of heart ache and love. In an age of computer cyber relationships, this movie is the forerunner of romantic comedies. Any helpless romantic wishes that they were Hanks in this movie, where he finally gets the girl in the end. If you have ever met someone on-line, and wondered what they are really like, this movie is a fun one to watch.
Rating: Summary: You¿ve got corn syrup Review: Director Nora Ephron is obviously the kind of woman who believes you can't be too cute. I mean this is one cute movie. To begin with, Meg Ryan practically defines cuteness. Even at thirtysomething she is cute enough to fawn over, bless her heart; and Jean Stapleton as her bookkeeper and her mother's bookkeeper-adorable. The clever old gal even bought Intel at six-just adorable! And can Tom Hanks ever handle this? Play a male lead with property and money and a bad dye job? Piece of cake. I mean, just behave and you are plenty eligible and totally adorable yourself. Throw in a dog and some cute kids and a fairy tale New York, and what have you got? You've got corn syrup! That's what you've got. My lord, even Dabney Coleman is cute in this! (And don't you just love the way his bad dye job mustache matches Hanks' bad dye job hairdo?) This is a diabolical, cynical seduction of sappy-hearted lovers everywhere. Indulge. This is femme porn. Bring a box of Kleenex (actually the Ephrons anticipated this and put a few on screen, bless their hearts) and some bon-bons. Know that the female lead will find true love, money and life-long security simultaneously after going through some real fun misdirections en route. Muggers in New York? AIDS? Cockroaches? Crack cocaine? Summer swelters? Dirty snow? Garbage strikes? Smelly, polluted Hudson? Odoriferous poverty? I mean, get real! Even the two roommates that our lovers dump are going to live happily ever after. Do we experience heartaches? Does love bite? Diss off! This is the yellow brick road in Olde New York, and it feels just like mainlining heroin. Best line: As Hanks reveals himself to Meg he uses her email handle and says, "Don't cry, Shopgirl" while the sound track prompts our tears with "Somewhere over the Rainbow." I mean, this is a BIG HANKY kind of movie! In summation, the "cute" speed limit was greatly exceeded in this Pollyannish feel-gooder, and I am imposing the following fine on Director Nora Ephron: 200 hours of community service in the ladies powder room of the Bronx welfare office, and a promise never to do anything like this again, no matter how great the temptation.
Rating: Summary: Darrin & Samantha meet cute on-line... Review: Boy is this movie a disappointment. The characters, especially those other than the 2 stars, have absolutely no substance, the dialogue is almost all pointless one-liners. It even looks awful. Someone's been watching too many late-model Woody Allen movies.
Rating: Summary: The Shop Around the Corner Review: This movie is a modern version of "The Shop Around the Corner" featuring Van Johnson & Judy Garland. (also another version w/ James stewart) These three films are based on two main characters who worked together (despising each other, for various reasons) & have unknowingly begun a pen pal friendship. If you are a follower of Meg Ryan or Tom hanks you'll love this version just as much as I love The Shop Around the Corner. (my favorite) It's a perfect family movie. A light comedy , keeps the interest of people of all ages :)
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