When Harry Met Sally (1989)
from Reel Deep Dive Hosted by Ryan Valentine
One of the quintessential romantic comedies, When Harry Met Sally follows its titular characters through a twelve year period where their prickly acquaintance gradually evolves into a close friendship and ultimately a marriage. This film either established or popularized a great number of tropes that are associated with romcoms; it's not an overstatement to label When Harry Met Sally as one of the most imitated American films ever made. Ryan is joined by Rachel for this episode. Talking points include the film's quaint (and heteronormative) question about whether men and women can be friends without sexual tension spoiling everything. There's also a dialogue about When Harry Met Sally's connection to the 1970's romantic comedies of Woody Allen, something that has dogged the film ever since it came out (and yes, Ryan acknowledges the difficulties in discussing Allen's artistic efforts in light of the director being a sexual predator). Rachel brings up how When Harry Met Sally connects with her on a personal level and Ryan talks about how the storytelling attempts to straddle the line between the naturalistic approach of the French New Wave and the heightened artifice of Hollywood-styled crowd pleasing.
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