Sleepless in Seattle

Starring: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Bill Pullman, Ross Malinger, Rosie O'Donnel, Rob Reiner, Rita Wilson

Year: 1993

I love, love, LOVE this movie!! A classic. A true classic. An all-time fave for me. Did I mention I love it?? Who hasn't seen "Sleepless in Seattle" at least once?! For me, over a hundred times I am sure. And, even after all these years, with pretty much every scene and line memorized, I could watch it a hundred times more.

A Nora Ephron film (You've Got Mail, When Harry Met Sally, Julie & Julia, Hanging Up), it doesn't disappoint. Not one single bit.

This film starts off with two stories, that eventually become one. It's the story of Sam (Hanks), a recently widowed father and his son Jonah (Malinger). And the story of Annie (Ryan) who is engaged to Walter (Pullman) and yet believes her future is with Sam. The only problem is that she has never met Sam. She only knows Sam exists because Jonah called into a radio talk show on Christmas Eve, asking for help to find his dad a new wife. And Annie was listening. The radio host then asks to speak to Sam. And it isn't until Annie hears Sam say the word "magic", that her heart goes pitterpat, her brain goes into over-drive and she truly believes he is THE ONE for her. The only two itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny issues....she is engaged to Walter and lives on the opposite side of the country.

Annie's story is a similar version of the old classic "An Affair to Remember" and a favourite of Annie's. After watching "An Affair to Remember" with her bestie, Becky (O'Donnel), her heart overtakes her brain and she writes a letter to Sam, asking that they meet on top of the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day. But then comes to her senses and doesn't actually send it. But unbeknownst to her, Becky does.

Who doesn't want to watch a classic movie like "Sleepless in Seattle" and experience all the romantic and wonderful feelings the characters do? Live along side them and share their pain, their joy, and all their romantic moments? Sigh.

Fun Fact: A little off topic, but did you know that all of Jane Austin's stories end with an engagement? It's true. It allows the audience to visualize and imagine their own version of the characters' happily ever after. And just like Jane Austin, Nora Ephron has chosen to do the same. End the movie at the beginning of Sam and Annie's life together. Oops. Sorry. Spoiler! ....as if you didn't know!😍

What's even more interesting, if you really think about it, is that Tom and Meg are in hardly any scenes together until the end. And yet, almost right from the start, you can feel their chemistry. Their spark. Their magic.

I can't say enough about this movie. It's cute, funny, heart-warming and romantic. It is exactly how every romantic-comedy should be. Perfect.

Favourite Lines:

*Your destiny can be your doom...

*I was just taking her hand to help her out of a car and I knew. It was...magic.

*You make a million decisions that mean nothing and then one day you order take-out, and it changes your life.

*A ho! My dad's been captured by a ho!

*What if someone you never met, someone you never saw, someone you never knew, was the only someone for you?

From one movie "buff" to another....get that popcorn popped, the lights dimmed and the movie rolling.