I’ll have what she’s having.
It’s New Years Eve. In film terms this means that it’s When Harry Met Sally time. I sat trying to think of another NYE affiliated film that comes close, but I was stumped. Do you know any?
Let’s be honest, no other rom com even comes close.
When Harry Met Sally is perfection. And screenwriter Nora Ephron is the ultimate goddess storyteller and master of dialogue, I’ll miss her forever. As stated
here in Grantland, Ephron "isn’t interested in simply making Harry the player and Sally the goal; they share custody of their story." It has the New York backdrop, classic Jewish neuroses, finickity humour, an examination of friendships in the realest sense and it looks at men and women without shortchanging or elevating either.
It’s the kind of film you’ll be excited to show your daughter for the first time. How many other romcoms can you say that about?
I mean I’d lower the bar as far to say “is there any other rom com that doesn’t offend your entire being?”
That sweet, sweet summer of ’89 brought us both When Harry Met Sally and Do The Right Thing. And that’s why NYC is the place to be.
Also, style. Let’s do this.
We open on Meg Ryan as Sally aka Farrah Fawcett on full beam.
Except she's not. Because she's a sarcy lil twat. And it's brilliant.
She may swan around in those nice knit cardigans, well ironed pastel shirts and khaki shorts like a hoity toity camp leader but she's no waif. She's indignant and argumentative as hell. She's so much fun.
And this is how Sally and Harry first meet. Both graduating in Chicago and heading to New York, they're introduced via a mutual and share the drive. They also get on each others' last nerve.
Harry is young, cynical and boastful. He thinks he knows all there is to know. Sally is naive but strong minded, she's certain he doesn't really know all there is to know.
Spoiler alert: she's right.
So when they arrive in New York, Sally's Flippy Curl and Harry's Stained Hoodie say sayonara.
She's got a bumper sticker and a belt, and he's got a baseball bat and a laundry bag. They're just very different people.
Five years later and they bump into each other at the airport. This time Sally's look is more Secretarial Blowout. And she's found the only New Yorker whiter and blonder than her to go out with.
This photo below sums up 'Harry and Sally: The Early Years' pretty nicely. She's still in her journalistic daydream and he's like "oh hey girl want a lecture on sexual politics again"
We jump five years again and Sally has broken up with her Aryan Banker, but at least she's still into tweed and shoulder pads.
And she's discovered these magnificent glasses. And it's the start of the Meg Ryan In Turtleneck Golden Years. I know she's broken up with her boyfriend, but let's be real, she's winning. She's a legit journalist and she's bezzies with Carrie Fisher.
She runs into Harry again. He's not a complete scruffbag now but he is getting divorced :(
This time they like each other. They're both starting fresh and need each others' perspectives and sense of humours. They also both wear great blazers now.
I miss this about film. We never get split screens of people in bed chatting on the landline any more, and we never will again.
I love this scene. It's the root of Woody Allen but filtered through shared experience. It's not one man's lone wankfest of his own problems, it's give and take. And it's pure Ephron.
*DRUMROLL FOR THE STYLE HIGHLIGHT*
It's this beauty. It was always going to be this beauty.
The hat, the blazer, the jumper, the trousers, the gloves, the boots. It's perfection. Add that to the autumnal trees and you've got yourself a movie promo poster.
Sally is Annie Hall, but she's Meg Ryan Annie Hall, if you know what I mean? I know what I mean.
I love Meg Ryan so much. When science people talk about when covalent bonds happen because two atoms of the same element form, I'm like "oh yeah, like when Nora Ephron and Meg Ryan met". Also known as perfection plus Sleepless in Seattle.
LOOK AT THIS JUMPER LIPSTICK COMBO
And now we've made it to the famous scene. Which don't get me wrong, is incredible, but that's the power of When Harry Met Sally; it's definitely not the funniest scene by a long way.
But it is hilarious. Billy Crystal's sad sack face in that check jumper is so good. And Meg Ryan committed 100%. And it's such a great contrast from one of the first scenes when Sally shouted about having had great sex in the road trip diner when she feels humiliated. No humiliation in sight now.
Also one of my favourite shirts in existence.
I love the double button and emblem.
So by now Harry and Sally are firm friends. They go to a New Years Eve party together.
And it's not awkward when the clock strikes midnight cuz they're just friends right?
Nah wait, it is awkward.
It's definitely awkward.
At least they both look like their best late 80's selves.
Why don't actresses ever get to wear huge winter coats anymore? That was a great time. Michelle Pfeiffer was also a pro at it.
THIS. This is my favourite When Harry Met Sally scene. The karaoke scene. They're both just being silly and larking about with hats in a department store, having a grand old time.
They find this new thing called a singing machine. They decide to sing. Because they're not monsters.
But bummer city because Harry's ex wife shows up and ruins the fun. The way Meg Ryan just carries on singing is comedy gold tho.
And then they argue and she's wearing the most Mom Jeans I've ever seen.
Harry and Sally are moving on. They agree to leave their exes behind and put themselves out there. Not with each other though :(
This pink dress is s'cute. What a great colour to go with such big hair.
The hair gets bigger. This is it's biggest moment and coupled with insane sobbing = hilarity ensues.
This is the face that Harry just can't resist. This is the face that leads to Harry and Sally having sex. I know. Unsurprisingly things get uncomfortable shortly after. The BFF to lovers course never runs smoothly. Our protagonists aren't speaking to each other.
Sally is the picture of "ergh fuck him". She goes wedding dress shopping with her pal Carrie Fisher but is really just down for snacking and bitching.
A lady in a suit saying IDGAF is my favourite thing.
Harry and Sally have to hang out at the wedding.
They argue. How you could argue with Meg Ryan when her shoulders are that big and keep a straight face are testament to the skills of Billy Crystal.
He's sorry. He calls her. A lot. He leaves very funny messages. He's very charming, that Harry.
But she ain't having it. She put herself out there and he let her down.
And I'm over here still feeling wistful for landlines.
But we all have to move on because it's New Years Eve again! Sally hates Harry and Harry is still grovelling. He's mopping around the New York streets when he realises that he's an idiot and he loves her. Because, duh.
So he runs to the party she's at to tell her.
She's like "You're pathetic and lonely and go away" for all of five seconds and then they snog.
YAY
YAY!
And now they join the rest of the couples on the sofa sharing their origin story. And what a beautiful story it is.
Look at these bloody cuties.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE
This is the year you can do what you said you'd do in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
You can do it. I believe in you.
Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal believe in you too.
