When Harry Met Sally is basically thought-about to be probably the greatest romantic comedies of all time, and but I had by no means seen it earlier than. I’ve seen nearly each different Nora Ephron-penned movie, however I used to be all the time hesitant to test it out in case I wound up hating it. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case, and I completely adored the Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal-led flick. In truth, I cherished it a lot that it made me understand how determined I’m for extra slow-burn, friends-to-lovers-style romantic comedies.
The 1989 movie begins in 1977 when school graduates Sally Albright (Ryan) and Harry Burns (Crystal) resolve to carpool as much as New York Metropolis to begin their grownup lives regardless of solely having one mutual good friend. The automobile journey is tumultuous, to say the least, and the 2 parted methods with out exchanging any contact info. 5 years later, their paths cross after they wind up on the identical flight, however as soon as once more, they separate with out sharing info.
When their paths cross once more 5 years later, Harry and Sally are each single for the primary time in years and resolve to attempt to be buddies. They spend a whole 12 months dancing round one another earlier than they sleep collectively, complicating their relationship. Within the authentic ending, Harry and Sally do not find yourself collectively, however fortunately, director Rob Reiner modified it, and as an alternative, the pair find yourself confessing their love for one another at a New 12 months’s Eve occasion.
In immediately’s film local weather, a movie masking 10 years is basically remarkable, particularly within the romantic comedy style. If you happen to take a look at any of the highest rom-coms from the final 5 years, you’ll discover that the majority of them happen over a couple of days or even weeks at most, thrusting the leads into epic, fast-moving relationships with flashy set items and excessive stakes. Gradual-burn, friends-to-lovers tales are seen extra in tv exhibits like Netflix’s One Day and even Abbott Elementary, due to Janine and Gregory’s relationship.
Whereas it is smart for this time of romance trope to be explored in tv exhibits the place there may be extra time to discover some of these relationships, the basic standing of When Harry Met Sally and its skill to proceed to maneuver new audiences, like me, is proof that individuals do need extra slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romances.
In my view, they’re far more plausible than the “love-at-first-sight” fashion films which were dominating the style for fairly a while. I all the time have a tough time believing two strangers may fall in love right away, so films that arrange characters as buddies first all the time work higher for me. Plus, there’s simply a lot extra stress when two characters are engaged in a will-they, gained’t-they kind of relationship, particularly when it spans a decade.
Certain, it may be irritating watching two folks dance round one another when it’s clear that they’re made for one another, however it’s the enjoyable type of irritating. And it makes the pay-off after they lastly get collectively a lot extra value it.
If it was as much as me, extra romantic-comedy writers would examine the whole lot When Harry Met Sally did proper and implement it in their very own movies. Since films take so lengthy to make, we most likely gained’t see a resurgence of slow-burn, friends-to-lovers films within the 2025 releases, however there may be all the time 2026!
Sadly, When Harry Met Sally isn’t streaming anyplace, however it’s obtainable to hire on Apple TV and Prime Video. And for those who’re actually keen on seeing if slow-burn romances are higher than love-at-first-sight ones, contemplate trying out Ephron and Ryan’s different movie, Sleepless in Seattle — which I watched for the primary time final 12 months.