stephparsons's Review

Summary - Very Good 3.5

Sam (Hanks) and his son, Jonah, move to Seattle after the tragic death of his wife. It’s been a year and a half since her death, and Sam is still struggling to come to terms with her death. One night Jonah phones up a radio show to tell a psychiatrist all about his dad, eventually Sam continues the phone call with the psychiatrist and opens up about his wife and the struggles he faces in getting to sleep, and getting out of bed in the morning – little does Sam know how many women are listening. The radio show coins Sam with the phrase ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ and soon it’s a hit across America. One woman in particular, Annie Reed, feels a strange connection to Sam. Annie is a journalist in Baltimore who tries to figure out whether what she is feeling for this voice is something ridiculous, or fate. So, she invites ‘Sleepless’ to meet her on top of the Empire State Building on Valentine’s Day weekend. As Sam struggles with the idea of meeting a woman from a letter, he begins to argue with Jonah who wants him to be happy, and wants him to take a chance on fate. So, the question that arises is: Will Sam be there to meet Annie?

Films like this bring a true distinction to the romantic comedy genre – it’s wholesome, it’s natural, and it’s a joy to watch. ‘Sleepless’ proves that a classic rom-com does not need to include a steamy sex scene or use unnecessary bad language to do well, you can certainly create a classic movie without. Any true rom-com fan should watch this film, I guarantee you will enjoy it. However, if you claim to be a rom-com fan, but spend your time recommending movies based on the appearances of the cast, then you may not like this movie and also, you’re probably not a true rom-com fan! Many people might consider this film to be old fashioned and outdated being as it was released in 1993, but a timeless classic should never have a time stamp – and this film is a timeless classic.

Acting - Very Good 3.5

Before Katherine Heigl and Reese Witherspoon, the definitive Queen of the Romantic Comedy was most definitely Meg Ryan. Before Ryan Reynolds and Ryan Gosling, the actor who complimented the Queen so well was Tom Hanks. In Hollywood today, it seems that you need to be the epitome of beauty or masculinity to be in with a chance to be cast in a romantic comedy, however even though Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks are not your typical pin-ups – they are people who have normal appearances which makes the film much easier to relate to. These two have created a timeless classic in ‘Sleepless in Seattle’, and amazingly enough able to create another classic in ’You’ve Got Mail’.

Film - Good 3.0

The film was released in 1993, therefore naturally it oozes ‘the nineties’: the outfits, the script, the very young Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, the technology. This, however, should not detract from the quality of the film, but add to it. At the time of writing, this film is 20 years old, and you can most certainly tell – however, somehow these factors make it warm and charming rather than outdated and behind the times. If you sit down to watch this movie expecting it to reach the HD quality of newer movies, then please don’t – you will be disappointed. All you need to do is sit down and enjoy – you’ll be transported back to the ‘90s, back to when the internet was only text-based, when everyone used landlines, and people sent letters after listening to a radio show – it’s simple, uncomplicated, and yet brilliant.

Edge - Tame 1.1

This is probably one of the tamest films I’ve ever seen, there’s no violence, there’s no swearing, there’s no sex. It’s wholesome, suitable for children, though it’s very dialogue based so in that respect, so they might not last the entire film. I’d recommend watching it with your girlfriends for a night in, or with a very understanding boyfriend.

Reality - Natural 1.0

The film is set in Seattle/Baltimore/New York in the early 90s. Sam has a young son, Jonah, and together they are trying to move on after the death of his wife. It’s as natural as it can get. It’s a sad situation that does happen, and the process of grieving and eventually moving on is seen throughout this movie.

1 Comment

• Wick Jul 9, 2013 4:13PM

  Regarding stephparsons’s Review
  “If Meg Ryan is the Queen of the Romantic Comedy, then she only got there because Nora Ephron knows what she’s doing when directing one.” Good take.

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