Thank you for saying that You've Got Mail is the greatest romcom of all-time! I see so many other films being called that – even other Nora Ephron films – but I really do think it's the best.
I love that they’ve made a Rom Com with mature people! I love Nora Ephron. For my film school thesis I wrote a Rom Com TV pilot with two mature people reconnecting through Facebook. Windy City Love rewritten it 12 times. Submitted it & it’s been rejected much. Need to continue to figure out how to get it seen & made. Mature people actually have sex in it lol.
Erin, What I didn't mention and hope you'll take a look: I'm posting a memoir that builds on the rom-com and opens with _When Harry Met Sally_. Here's the link to Chapter 1: https://marytabor.substack.com/p/i-need-to-live-alone-chapter-1 We so need to connect ...
I am definitely going to buy this book. Wasn’t so sure about seeing the movie but after reading this blog, yes, am going to drag my 40-something daughter along and relive old times at home in our jammies with popcorn and her 10-year old self asking why I was crying :)
Maybe I read this a little late, but "You've got mail" is one of my favorite romantic movies, because in addition to the typical love tension between the protagonists we have Kathleen's relationship and the love she feels for her business (not in a greedy way) as a nostalgic extension to her mother, to her history. That's why I always thought that it has a very realistic ending, great!... but realistic, it is a sweet and bitter ending. They end up together, but she lost her store, David didn't beat Golliat in the business world.
Hi Agustin! Thank you for reading. You make a really great point — and I think the love and attachment that she has for The Shop Around the Corner is part of what gives the movie so much depth.
Loved reading your piece. Felt so good to see the clips again, be reminded of Meg’s indescribable quality on screen. It reaches out and physically touches you as another human sharing the planet. Sad that the populace rejected her own humanity in life… the reality is she’s not a character, she’s a living breathing person. Love her. ♥️
I hate to be dramatic (except I don’t) that last line from your book gave me chills. You are so correct. When she is onscreen she evokes something that no else can. This swirl of warmth, truth, power, vulnerability, joy, and sincerity.
Joe vs the Volcano 🌋 is the greatest movie ever made...with a rubber shark in it. (Second only to The Batman Movie).
You are absolutely correct about its being "criminally underrated." Meg holds her own in not one, but three roles, amidst a cavalcade of star-studded cameos by everyone from Abe Vigoda to Robert Stack, and embellished with songs sung by Hanks himself to Ray Charles & The Young Rascals!
The Batman Movie is, rather, the runner up in the category. I tried editing the comment, but, as the saying goes, "Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb!"
I saw _What Happens Later_ with friends in a totally empty theater in LA on this past rainy Wednesday. the last day it was in theaters. What a shame that it ran so briefly and with so little critical support. It's a truly marvelous flick. Kudos to Ryan for the risks she took and to Duchovny for giving perhaps his most vulnerable performance.
They were both wonderful and shared great chemistry — I really rooted for their characters and want to know what happens to them after What Happens Later! A sequel, perhaps?
Wouldn't that be grand. We went in to _What Happens Later_ with low expectations—though I would have seen it no matter what. We expressed beforehand concerns about the lack of an ensemble cast, and that Meg Ryan's seemingly intuitive comedic timing might not work in this essentially two-person setup. But it works brilliantly--with the added risk of a bit of the "supernatural", not Marvel comic stuff, but with extras hard to describe without spoilers, to what she did in that scene in the bookstore after it closed. I argue in my memoir how the rom-com has been misunderstood and when it can be brilliant. So glad I found you, Erin. Maybe Ryan will revive the rom-com that has had no equal since Nora Ephron died and the with the exception of Nancy Myers. I'd love to know what you think about her work.
Nancy is one of the best! I don't know how many times I've watched The Holiday, but it gets better with each rewatch. Those scenes with Cameron Diaz and Jude Law! I SWOONETH.
In a former life I once threw a party in Tribeca that Meg Ryan attended and I remember being so starstruck to see her with her wavy blond hair framing her face and loose-fitting neutral-toned clothes. I spent so many hours of my life watching her movies (even Joe Versus The Volcano), and these were hours well spent because never mind her beauty she came across as relatable and real and someone to route for, never someone to compare oneself to and go down a negative spiral over. I cheer her on with her new film and p.s. always loved David Duchovney in Return to Me!!! - Diana
What, no mention of French Kiss? Meg & Kevin Klein in Paris, then on to the Côte d’Azur? C’est dommage...🥰
An underrated classic — I should do a full post on it!
I will be there with bells on when this happens. I consider French Kiss a coping skill at this point.
Yeah, that was a first class film and wasn't Klein superb.
The best! Thanks for mentioning it! Plus I steal her look of baggy chinos and a Breton shirt weekly.
Ooo, La laaaaa! Just don’t eat the cheese...LOL! 🇫🇷💋🇫🇷
French Kiss is my all-time favorite RomCom. I based my college film class thesis on it, and got a A+
I want to read that thesis!!
Thank you for saying that You've Got Mail is the greatest romcom of all-time! I see so many other films being called that – even other Nora Ephron films – but I really do think it's the best.
It’s utter perfection, from the performances to the plot structure to the warm, witty script. There’s been nothing like it since!
Agreed
I love that they’ve made a Rom Com with mature people! I love Nora Ephron. For my film school thesis I wrote a Rom Com TV pilot with two mature people reconnecting through Facebook. Windy City Love rewritten it 12 times. Submitted it & it’s been rejected much. Need to continue to figure out how to get it seen & made. Mature people actually have sex in it lol.
You had me with “Windy City Love” — I would watch this!!!
Your reply gave me life! I’ll keep working on it, even if I have to make the pilot myself!
You must!!!
Erin, What I didn't mention and hope you'll take a look: I'm posting a memoir that builds on the rom-com and opens with _When Harry Met Sally_. Here's the link to Chapter 1: https://marytabor.substack.com/p/i-need-to-live-alone-chapter-1 We so need to connect ...
I love it!
It's free and I so hope you can spare some time to read it, dear writer and expert and soulful critic--the latter so rare today!
❤️❤️❤️
I am definitely going to buy this book. Wasn’t so sure about seeing the movie but after reading this blog, yes, am going to drag my 40-something daughter along and relive old times at home in our jammies with popcorn and her 10-year old self asking why I was crying :)
❤️❤️❤️
Maybe I read this a little late, but "You've got mail" is one of my favorite romantic movies, because in addition to the typical love tension between the protagonists we have Kathleen's relationship and the love she feels for her business (not in a greedy way) as a nostalgic extension to her mother, to her history. That's why I always thought that it has a very realistic ending, great!... but realistic, it is a sweet and bitter ending. They end up together, but she lost her store, David didn't beat Golliat in the business world.
Hi Agustin! Thank you for reading. You make a really great point — and I think the love and attachment that she has for The Shop Around the Corner is part of what gives the movie so much depth.
Loved reading your piece. Felt so good to see the clips again, be reminded of Meg’s indescribable quality on screen. It reaches out and physically touches you as another human sharing the planet. Sad that the populace rejected her own humanity in life… the reality is she’s not a character, she’s a living breathing person. Love her. ♥️
Nice reading. Thank you.
Thank you, Gareth!
So loved this <3
Thanks, Wesley!
I hate to be dramatic (except I don’t) that last line from your book gave me chills. You are so correct. When she is onscreen she evokes something that no else can. This swirl of warmth, truth, power, vulnerability, joy, and sincerity.
We're kindred spirits, Kaitlyn! We must protect Meg at all costs.
Joe vs the Volcano 🌋 is the greatest movie ever made...with a rubber shark in it. (Second only to The Batman Movie).
You are absolutely correct about its being "criminally underrated." Meg holds her own in not one, but three roles, amidst a cavalcade of star-studded cameos by everyone from Abe Vigoda to Robert Stack, and embellished with songs sung by Hanks himself to Ray Charles & The Young Rascals!
Yes, I am a cult member.
It is so wacky and wonderful and never gets old. I love Ebert's contrarian review in 1990 -- he was the only critic to get it right!!
The Batman Movie is, rather, the runner up in the category. I tried editing the comment, but, as the saying goes, "Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb!"
@Meg Ryan ... "A lady of a Certain Age" by the Divine Comedy ... always gorgeous x
And what about _French Kiss_ that isn't streaming anywhere? Another marvelous flick, this time with Kevin Kline and Meg is amazing!
I’m gonna devote a full newsletter to French Kiss, and petition for streaming accessibility!
Oh, that's grand. I'll sign ... 🥰
I saw _What Happens Later_ with friends in a totally empty theater in LA on this past rainy Wednesday. the last day it was in theaters. What a shame that it ran so briefly and with so little critical support. It's a truly marvelous flick. Kudos to Ryan for the risks she took and to Duchovny for giving perhaps his most vulnerable performance.
They were both wonderful and shared great chemistry — I really rooted for their characters and want to know what happens to them after What Happens Later! A sequel, perhaps?
Wouldn't that be grand. We went in to _What Happens Later_ with low expectations—though I would have seen it no matter what. We expressed beforehand concerns about the lack of an ensemble cast, and that Meg Ryan's seemingly intuitive comedic timing might not work in this essentially two-person setup. But it works brilliantly--with the added risk of a bit of the "supernatural", not Marvel comic stuff, but with extras hard to describe without spoilers, to what she did in that scene in the bookstore after it closed. I argue in my memoir how the rom-com has been misunderstood and when it can be brilliant. So glad I found you, Erin. Maybe Ryan will revive the rom-com that has had no equal since Nora Ephron died and the with the exception of Nancy Myers. I'd love to know what you think about her work.
Nancy is one of the best! I don't know how many times I've watched The Holiday, but it gets better with each rewatch. Those scenes with Cameron Diaz and Jude Law! I SWOONETH.
In a former life I once threw a party in Tribeca that Meg Ryan attended and I remember being so starstruck to see her with her wavy blond hair framing her face and loose-fitting neutral-toned clothes. I spent so many hours of my life watching her movies (even Joe Versus The Volcano), and these were hours well spent because never mind her beauty she came across as relatable and real and someone to route for, never someone to compare oneself to and go down a negative spiral over. I cheer her on with her new film and p.s. always loved David Duchovney in Return to Me!!! - Diana
Diana, I LOVE THIS. And you're absolutely right -- Meg always made us feel GOOD about ourselves, and what a wonderful quality that is!
Thank you for this, Erin. The walk down Memory Lane this morning was unexpected but welcomed. I’m looking forward to the movie.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Jack!