Every girl has her go-to movie. For my roommates and me this movie is When Harry Met Sally. When one of us has a stressful day in library or in a silly fight with our boyfriend, our first attempt to numb our angst is to pop in this 1989 movie directed by Rob Reiner.
Starring chick-flick queen Meg Ryan and satire king Billy Crystal, When Harry Met Sally successfully blends the romance and comedy genres. Meg Ryan plays Sally an independent, high maintenance single woman. Billy Crystal plays Harry a wisecracking bachelor.
Their relationship starts when they meet as strangers to take a road trip to New York City. During the car ride Harry and Sally clash heads over many topics but one particular opinion of Harry’s truly upsets Sally. Harry believes that “men and women can't be friends because the sex part always gets in the way.”
Friendships between men and women can be confusing simply because it is hard to tell when the line between friendship and relationship is crossed. This issue struck home with much of When Harry Met Sally’s audience and is the key factor as to why this movie remains so popular.
Harry and Sally run into each other a few times after their short road trip, once on an airplane and later in a bookstore in the city. On their second encounter Harry has just gotten a divorce and Sally has just broken up with her long-term boyfriend. They bond over the over the recent losses of their romantic partners and become close friends. The duo relies on each other to buffer situations between coupled off friends and remain available for each other.
One of the most effective scenes of the movie takes place during a New Year’s Eve party. Harry and Sally go to the party together and both actors do a great job showing the real emotion that the characters feel for one another.
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