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Too much of everything

A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

'You've Got Mail (1998)' isn't as dated as you might think, and, if it is, it is actually dated mostly in the areas you wouldn't suspect. It brings the internet into a timeless tale of pen-pal love, a combination which has become all the more relevant in today's 'online dating' society. Where it falters slightly is in its attempts to merge this 'A-plot', which essentially becomes a 'B-plot' for most of the piece, with a secondary narrative concerning competing book-stores and the tendency for big-business to swallow family-practices whole. It's only because this takes precedent over the 'mail' aspect, and indeed the romance, for most of the piece that the narrative seems slightly confused and baggy, with a length far to long for what the endeavour hopes to achieve. It also detracts from itself because this story was never the focus and so its quick, and arguably unsatisfying, conclusion doesn't do justice to the new emphasis placed upon it. Still, when the screen-time is shifted back to the main couple and their 'will they, won't they' dynamic - which is nicely justified by Hanks' character essentially being two people, the flick finds its feet again. It manages to do a lot with quite a little. The use of dramatic irony is rather inspired and, actually, fairly unique. From the very opening, we are let into a secret that neither of our heroes know and the rest of the picture is spent teasing us with the possibility of them finding out. It is fantastically frustrating, a wonderfully considered approach that makes each encounter - and the deteriorating nature of their in-person relationship - a devilish delight. We essentially know how the film will finish from the first frame, but it does everything it can to put that end-goal as far from sight as possible. This, and the continuing need for dramatic irony on account of at least one character, creates one of the only real problems with the picture. While Hanks' character's motivation is initially sound, once he continues to allow this dramatic irony to go on he basically slips from sympathetic to sociopath, toying with this poor woman's emotions to get what he wants - even if it is out of genuine emotional connection. It's not as bad as it sounds, perhaps, but it is bad enough that it's the real reason the two should be at odds and should certainly lead to a very different outcome. Overall, this is an enjoyable romantic-comedy, though. It conforms to convention but does just enough with the tools of the trade and the charisma of the characters (or, more accurately, the actors) to remain interesting throughout. 6/10

I grew up on the west side of New York City, so this is like going home to visit, and hanging out with my friends Meg and Tom. This is such a kind movie, and it gives me hope that compatibility is possible. It is 2018, 20 years after this movie was made, and I'm on plenty of fish, doing that you've got mail thing at age 66. If you have a mushy bone in your body, watch this movie, especially if you have a honey. It's just great.

"You Got Mail" is a warm, cozy movie, almost as much as Kathleen Kelly's(Meg Ryan) corner bookshop around which the plot is centered. The place has a cult status and fans that run to its defense when Fox Books, a large bookstore chain announces opening their own big bookshop across the street. The two main antagonists, Kelly and Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) soon clash over work ethics and the future of the little shop, which of course, eventually loses the battle. Both of them start an internet friendship without being aware of each other's identities, so two parallel plots start developing until they intersect in the finale. There's a great deal of comedy and great production design, which kind of makes you overlook the predictability of the plot (it's very clear where the whole thing is headed early on). The movie also addresses the issues small businesses are facing because of large corporations, making you root for the underdog, with the bookshop's homely atmosphere where you expect warm cocoa instead of designer frappucinos. There's even a nostalgic streak to it, with the dial-up tone and the AOL messenger, from the time Facebook& Instagram was still pure Sci-Fi. And one loves the movie for the amazing Manhattan landscapes as well, the brownstone interiors and a milieu of characters popular in Woody Allen's New York: writers, critics, publishers, artists. The whole movie makes you want to grab a good book and go to your neighborhood cafe. The supporting cast is brilliant, like Greg Kinnear. And it has to be said-"You Got Mail" has one of the best break-up scenes ever, where Ryan and Kinnear simultaneously confess they no longer love each other, just to jump to inquiring about new partners as if nothing had happened. I wish it was so easy in reality. My best recommendations!

You've Got Mail (1998): Dir: Nora Ephron / Cast: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Dave Chappelle, Parker Posey, Greg Kinnear: Dreadfully predictable romantic comedy about connecting and communication. Third film collaboration between Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. They make contact via e-mail while their poorly written significant others continue to dissatisfy them. Introducing them both as single would have left out this unnecessary rubbish. They are required to pass each other on the street and not know it, etc. Ryan owns a family bookstore handed down to her from her mother. Hanks is the son of the owner of a bigger bookstore around the corner that threatens her business. They are required to hate each other until the conclusion where Ryan cannot figure out the bloody obvious. Bookstore rivalry works but what follows is total idiocy. Director Nora Ephron is reworking Sleepless in Seattle but unfortunately she didn't counter the bullshit until Hanks came clean. Hanks does his best with the predictable tripe. Ryan plays a total airhead who cannot figure out that Hanks is sending the e- mails despite his sudden interest. Parker Posey and Dave Chappelle play flat supporting roles. And as in Sleepless in Seattle, Greg Kinnear gets to play that unnecessary boyfriend not needed for the plot. Purposely repeating Sleepless in Seattle but Ryan's airhead ways render this a return to sender. Score: 3 ½ / 10