"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!
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.
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.
My favorite RomCom of all time. FAVORITE! ❤ I'm so glad to have seen your reaction to it, I think your insights and fresh eyes are a welcome addition to the reaction scene.
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.
@@Lenka18s 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.
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.
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!!
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...
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Eeek, one of my top favorite movies ever! I hated going to bed last night after seeing this in my subscriptions, but it was so worth the wait! I love your enthusiasm and commentary to pieces!
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......
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 RUclips.
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!
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 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!!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.....
If you go down the romcom rabbit hole, you need to include the ORIGINAL romcom--'It Happened One Night (1934)' with Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. Won Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Writing in an Adaptation.
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.
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!
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've seen every romantic comedy worth seeing. This is hands-down THE best. Ever. The writing is incredible. The performances are insane. The direction, the music, the setting.... it's THE perfect romantic comedy. It does not get better than this movie. I'm struggling to think of even a half-decent film in this genre from the last decade. It's like Hollywood has lost all understanding of what makes a great rom com.(C'mon Hollywood... prove me wrong!) One of my go-to re-watch movies. Perfect to watch at the holidays, on a rainy day, on a day when you're feeling down... anytime, really! Great reaction video (first time watcher of your channel)... can't wait to watch your 'You've Got Mail' reaction next. 😊
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!!
Another favorite, re-watchable movie! The writing, the directing, the acting, everything seems genuine and real-to-life. The dialog is fantastic, and so well performed that it never feels like they are reading a script. You are just listening in on actual conversations. Love it! Another movie that gives me similar vibes is another Billy Crystal movie. Forget Paris. Definitely recommend watching that if you haven't yet!
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.
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.
This movie is so lovely! I watched pretty much all the Meg Ryan rom-com classics when I was young except for this one. And then when I ended up watching it, it immediately became my fave out of all of them because it’s just so freaking good.
I remember seeing this at 15 when it was brand new in the theaters and adoring it. In those days I had to wait more than a year before it was released on VHS. I watched it so much I have the dialogue memorized. So glad to see someone enjoying today!
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)
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.
Great video as always! This is my number one movie on a Top 5 list I made for Valentine's movies! One of my all time favorites... Glad you enjoyed it!😀
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.
As usual, Shanelle, this reaction was tops - I like that you keep it light but aren't afraid to make some insightful comments about the film. Being an actor, it was interesting to hear what you hadf to say about the split-screen phone call scene and the orgasm scene. You also commented on the funny action with the sad story technique which was spot-on. This is definitely one of my favourite comedies of all time - the dialogue is endlessly quotable, is fast-paced and (as you say) is complemented, or enhanced, by the choices of 'funny action' or the variety of settings to keep it fresh. Would definitely like to hear your take on another of my favourites - Something Wild from 1986. I missed your live Q&A and I know you get loads of requests but this is definitely one I think you would like for its quirkiness, its 80s setting, a killer soundtrack and loads of indie cool. Anyway, looking forward to your next reaction! Bye for now
Just subscribed, because I watched two of your reactions in a row and you're great. You clearly know a lot about filmmaking, about acting, about story structure, and about theme. And I really *like* that you talk all the way through it, and that your emotional reactions are genuine.
I’ve seen nothing else you’ve done but this is my favourite film. And as a film obsessive myself it was great to see someone knowing Nora Ephron’s and Rob Reiner’s works! You encapsulates everything I felt the first time, PLEASE keep this up x
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.
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 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'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.
That’s a perfect movie. Holds up so damn well. Expert acting, writing, and direction. It even had a classic Harry Connick Jr soundtrack. Enjoyed your video. Gonna subscribe.
😢 geez i didnt think i'd tear up that much, i dont remember it being that emotional. I always loved this flick. EZ classic. I've seen it prob 4 times. Perhaps your reaction made it feel fresh again 😅 cause i never realized when meg says "anyways its about friends" i think i was laughing over that part cause that part is the part & your reaction that got me. Great reaction. Your right those split screen shots are awesome
Hi Shanelle, i was 16 when this came out but i was already a big fan of Goldie Hawn, Because of her lead role in the 1980 film Private Benjamin, Thanks for sharing your time and your critique, and looking forward to your next instalment ;)
Much like Robin Williams, I think Billy Crystal frequently adlibs lines (such as the Pecan Pie incident). Also, you might like a couple of the 80's John Cusack Rom Coms. "The Sure Thing" is also directed by Rob Reiner. "Say Anything..." is referenced in Easy A.
First off, I love your videos. You have such a soothing voice, these are perfect for when I'm winding down before bed. With that out of the way, this is my favorite romcom of all time, and I'm SO glad you've watched it! You badly need to get around to Sleepless in Seattle, if you haven't seen that one already. There are a lot of ways that I think that one might be a little bit better (for starters, Tom Hanks plays more to his type,) but this one always takes the top spot, because Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal have such great chemistry. Some details I love: -The next time we see Marie after Jess promises, "You will never have to be out there again," she is trying on a wedding dress. -After Harry and Sally have sex, he literally has one foot out of bed, ready to run. -Harry mentioning he got to keep the apartment to Sally, but that moving men came when he was telling the story to Jess at the baseball game. When we see his apartment, it's practically empty. Helen is an asshole. -Unlike the majority of major romcoms I've seen, there's pretty much no focus on either of their careers. We don't see them at the office. We don't see them on the job. I think that's maybe to let the audience see them as they see each other? Or Nora Ephron rightly figured it was irrelevant to their friendship, so she didn't shoehorn anything in. RIP Bruno Kirby and Carrie Fisher
Love the channel! Just found you last week, and I think I've watched all your videos. I enjoy your film making comments on the movie, and that you have an understanding of how things are done... Compared to just watching the moving and reacting. The commentary from a film making perspective is very refreshing. You are also very entertaining!
I loved your analysis of the comedy patterns used here. I thought you were spot on about how men and women deal with things. Have you seen "Only You" with Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr.? It is a beautiful film.
It’s good to see you! Hope all is well. This is a pretty great movie. I like how the interviews are mixed in. Its a good time! Looking forward to more reactions!
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 was obsessed with this movie when it came out on VHS. I was 15 or so and had the dialogue memorized. I started telling people I wanted to be a political consultant like Crystals character and was in love with Meg Ryan. Still great all these years later.Btw, love your reactions Shanelle. The way you point things out behind the scenes is very cool.
It was a game changer. Love ❤️ your views and commentary, I did not understand why you watched you’ve got mail before watching Sleepers in Seattle, as you’ve got mail was promoted as “Tom and Meg together again”.
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
One other thing - you nailed it. Nora Ephron was a columnist as well as a journalist, novelist, and script writer. A truly brilliant woman.
"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." 😆
It was a WTF look 😂
"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.
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.
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?
My favorite RomCom of all time. FAVORITE! ❤ I'm so glad to have seen your reaction to it, I think your insights and fresh eyes are a welcome addition to the reaction scene.
I like how Shanelle went from wanting them to remain friends to "they better f**ing kiss. DO IT!"
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.
@@Lenka18s 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.
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.
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’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
"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!
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!
I like how she analyzes what we see and hear using her filmmaking knowledge.
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.
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!!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
15:30, RIP, Carrie Fisher Princess Leia. May the Force be with you.
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.
This is a great romcom. Another great classic in this genre is "Four Weddings and a Funeral".
Another good Billy Crystal movie is City Slickers 1991- Jack Palance won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
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 😍
Eeek, one of my top favorite movies ever! I hated going to bed last night after seeing this in my subscriptions, but it was so worth the wait! I love your enthusiasm and commentary to pieces!
This movie is perfection and the dialogue is so well written; funny, relatable, heartbreaking, & incredible.
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......
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 RUclips.
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.
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 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!!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.....
If you go down the romcom rabbit hole, you need to include the ORIGINAL romcom--'It Happened One Night (1934)' with Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. Won Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Writing in an Adaptation.
This is definitely one of my top 5 Rom-Com's. You should check out "Moonstruck" next!
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.
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 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've seen every romantic comedy worth seeing. This is hands-down THE best. Ever.
The writing is incredible. The performances are insane. The direction, the music, the setting.... it's THE perfect romantic comedy. It does not get better than this movie.
I'm struggling to think of even a half-decent film in this genre from the last decade. It's like Hollywood has lost all understanding of what makes a great rom com.(C'mon Hollywood... prove me wrong!)
One of my go-to re-watch movies. Perfect to watch at the holidays, on a rainy day, on a day when you're feeling down... anytime, really!
Great reaction video (first time watcher of your channel)... can't wait to watch your 'You've Got Mail' reaction next.
😊
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!!!!!
You are my favorite reactor on YT by far! Thank you for keeping me entertained!
aw thanks! happy to have you!
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!!
Another favorite, re-watchable movie! The writing, the directing, the acting, everything seems genuine and real-to-life. The dialog is fantastic, and so well performed that it never feels like they are reading a script. You are just listening in on actual conversations. Love it! Another movie that gives me similar vibes is another Billy Crystal movie. Forget Paris. Definitely recommend watching that if you haven't yet!
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.
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.
"I'll have what she's having" is right up there with all the classic film lines. Perfect timing.
This movie is so lovely!
I watched pretty much all the Meg Ryan rom-com classics when I was young except for this one. And then when I ended up watching it, it immediately became my fave out of all of them because it’s just so freaking good.
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!
I remember seeing this at 15 when it was brand new in the theaters and adoring it. In those days I had to wait more than a year before it was released on VHS. I watched it so much I have the dialogue memorized. So glad to see someone enjoying today!
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.
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.
This is one of my most favorite movies ever. I’m really glad that you liked it.
Great video as always! This is my number one movie on a Top 5 list I made for Valentine's movies! One of my all time favorites... Glad you enjoyed it!😀
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.
As usual, Shanelle, this reaction was tops - I like that you keep it light but aren't afraid to make some insightful comments about the film. Being an actor, it was interesting to hear what you hadf to say about the split-screen phone call scene and the orgasm scene. You also commented on the funny action with the sad story technique which was spot-on. This is definitely one of my favourite comedies of all time - the dialogue is endlessly quotable, is fast-paced and (as you say) is complemented, or enhanced, by the choices of 'funny action' or the variety of settings to keep it fresh. Would definitely like to hear your take on another of my favourites - Something Wild from 1986. I missed your live Q&A and I know you get loads of requests but this is definitely one I think you would like for its quirkiness, its 80s setting, a killer soundtrack and loads of indie cool. Anyway, looking forward to your next reaction! Bye for now
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.
Just subscribed, because I watched two of your reactions in a row and you're great. You clearly know a lot about filmmaking, about acting, about story structure, and about theme. And I really *like* that you talk all the way through it, and that your emotional reactions are genuine.
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)
I’ve seen nothing else you’ve done but this is my favourite film. And as a film obsessive myself it was great to see someone knowing Nora Ephron’s and Rob Reiner’s works! You encapsulates everything I felt the first time, PLEASE keep this up x
Still can't look at Meg Ryan without thinking about the deli scene. Also, I remember this movie made me switch to seedless grapes.
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.
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 never noticed the action+comedy thing - you have such a good eye. It’s also true when they’re in the batting cage.
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.
Good to see you again, Shanelle.
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.
That’s a perfect movie. Holds up so damn well. Expert acting, writing, and direction. It even had a classic Harry Connick Jr soundtrack. Enjoyed your video. Gonna subscribe.
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
😢 geez i didnt think i'd tear up that much, i dont remember it being that emotional. I always loved this flick. EZ classic. I've seen it prob 4 times. Perhaps your reaction made it feel fresh again 😅 cause i never realized when meg says "anyways its about friends" i think i was laughing over that part cause that part is the part & your reaction that got me. Great reaction. Your right those split screen shots are awesome
One of my favorite Meg Ryan movies is French Kiss. I’d recommend it.
Hi Shanelle, i was 16 when this came out but i was already a big fan of Goldie Hawn, Because of her lead role in the 1980 film Private Benjamin, Thanks for sharing your time and your critique, and looking forward to your next instalment ;)
This is my favorite romantic comedy ever.
Much like Robin Williams, I think Billy Crystal frequently adlibs lines (such as the Pecan Pie incident).
Also, you might like a couple of the 80's John Cusack Rom Coms.
"The Sure Thing" is also directed by Rob Reiner.
"Say Anything..." is referenced in Easy A.
BABY FISH MOUTH! BABY FISH MOUTH! Love this movie
One of my all-time favourites. You are right - extremely rewatchable. I often watch it on New Year's Eve.
Almost tame compared to "Sleepless in Seattle." Both have wonderful soundtracks.
First off, I love your videos. You have such a soothing voice, these are perfect for when I'm winding down before bed.
With that out of the way, this is my favorite romcom of all time, and I'm SO glad you've watched it! You badly need to get around to Sleepless in Seattle, if you haven't seen that one already. There are a lot of ways that I think that one might be a little bit better (for starters, Tom Hanks plays more to his type,) but this one always takes the top spot, because Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal have such great chemistry.
Some details I love:
-The next time we see Marie after Jess promises, "You will never have to be out there again," she is trying on a wedding dress.
-After Harry and Sally have sex, he literally has one foot out of bed, ready to run.
-Harry mentioning he got to keep the apartment to Sally, but that moving men came when he was telling the story to Jess at the baseball game. When we see his apartment, it's practically empty. Helen is an asshole.
-Unlike the majority of major romcoms I've seen, there's pretty much no focus on either of their careers. We don't see them at the office. We don't see them on the job. I think that's maybe to let the audience see them as they see each other? Or Nora Ephron rightly figured it was irrelevant to their friendship, so she didn't shoehorn anything in.
RIP Bruno Kirby and Carrie Fisher
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
What a reaction! AND she gives great insight into the process. Love you Shanelle!
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! 😂😂😂
Love the channel! Just found you last week, and I think I've watched all your videos. I enjoy your film making comments on the movie, and that you have an understanding of how things are done... Compared to just watching the moving and reacting. The commentary from a film making perspective is very refreshing. You are also very entertaining!
I loved your analysis of the comedy patterns used here.
I thought you were spot on about how men and women deal with things.
Have you seen "Only You" with Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr.? It is a beautiful film.
havent seen! but LOVE those two actors
@@ShanelleRiccio highly recommended
It’s good to see you! Hope all is well. This is a pretty great movie. I like how the interviews are mixed in. Its a good time! Looking forward to more reactions!
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.
the BEST RomCom!,,,,,,,,Meg's comedic timing is impeccable.....everyone is awesome
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!
I was obsessed with this movie when it came out on VHS. I was 15 or so and had the dialogue memorized. I started telling people I wanted to be a political consultant like Crystals character and was in love with Meg Ryan. Still great all these years later.Btw, love your reactions Shanelle. The way you point things out behind the scenes is very cool.
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!
It was a game changer. Love ❤️ your views and commentary, I did not understand why you watched you’ve got mail before watching Sleepers in Seattle, as you’ve got mail was promoted as “Tom and Meg together again”.