You've Got Mail (1998)
Director: Nora Ephron Cast: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Parker Posey, Jean Stapleton, Steve Zahn, David Chappelle, Greg Kinnear, Dabney Coleman Screenplay: Nora Ephron, Delia Ephron Producers: Nora Ephron, Lauren Shuler-Donner Runtime: 115 min. US Distribution: Warner Bros. Rated PG: mild language
Copyright 1998 Nathaniel R. Atcheson
Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) isn't a bad guy -- he's just a rich guy. He, along with his father (Dabney Coleman), owns one of the more successful bookstore chains in New York, Fox Books. He knows that business isn't personal, and that he isn't intentionally putting all of the independent bookstores out of business. Nonetheless, Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) feels the effects of Fox Books directly – she owns The Store Around the Corner, which specializes in children's books and has been in business for forty-two years. Kathleen takes it personally, and she hates Joe Fox.
What Kathleen and Joe don't know is that they're having an on-line e-mail affair with one another. Because they've made a pact to not divulge personal information through the internet, they have no idea of each other's true identity. They both feel guilty about pseudo-cheating on their spouses; Joe's editor girlfriend, Patricia (a wonderful Parker Posey) is a shallow beast, while Kathleen's relationship with journalist Frank Navasky (Greg Kinnear) lacks passion. And so begins a surprisingly funny and touching situational comedy that relies almost completely on the cuteness factor.
You've Got Mail couldn't have been more perfectly timed. Here we have a movie about the internet, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, and directed by Nora Ephron. It's a money-making machine, guaranteed to rake in hundreds of millions of dollars. It doesn't bother me that it's a film built to make money, because it's been built the right way: You've Got Mail features a bright, thoughtful script, but it also features two immensely appealing actors playing people that we wouldn't mind knowing in real life.
Oh sure, it's gooey and sentimental. There's no doubt that the people involved really wanted to make us cry. What makes You've Got Mail different from the typical tear-jerker, aside from being made with a lot of skill, is that I almost felt inclined to get all teary-eyed at the end. I really had to fight it off. Any movie that forces me to fight off tears is worth something.
What You've Got Mail comes down to is how much we love Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Both performers are great at what they do: they've both proven themselves in numerous dramatic and comedic performances. You've Got Mail requires a little of everything; Hanks has the difficult role of making Joe Fox likable, even though he seems at first to be a rich sadist. Ryan, who is literally too cute for words (and too cute for sex appeal, I'm afraid) is very funny, and even manages to do a little bit of acting. Some of the best scenes occur when Joe and Kathleen hate each other – their first encounter at a caviar party is perfectly timed.
Of course, there's a lot more to like about the movie, not the least of which is the spectacular supporting cast. Posey is so perfect as Joe's superficial girlfriend (although it's surprising to see her in a mainstream film). Kinnear is convincing and engaging, although he's been stuck with the role of the boyfriend who gets blown off (the plot device introduced to keep him from seeming like a loser isn't very effective). Coleman has some good scenes as Joe's thoughtless father. And Ephron ties everything together with a nice script and some great romantic comedy pacing.
What I really liked about You've Got Mail is that it doesn't feel like an obligatory blockbuster. It has an emotional center and realistic characters to care about. Joe, for instance, is a troubled man, and Hanks adds a dimension to the character that might not have been present in the hands of a lesser actor. In fact, I'm surprised with how much I liked this movie – it's a perfect family Christmas release, because it does its job with class and style. And even though you may feel like you've been dunked in syrup by the end, this particular kind of syrup tastes pretty good.
Psychosis Rating: 7/10
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Nathaniel R. Atcheson
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