Analysis
Symbols and Tropes
Hero's Journey
Ever notice that every blockbuster movie has the same fundamental pieces? A hero, a journey, some conflicts to muck it all up, a reward, and the hero returning home and everybody applauding his or...
Setting
The Big Apple in the Late '80sAnnie Hall. Moonstruck. You've Got Mail. The Apartment. Breakfast at Tiffany's. There are so many classic romantic comedies set in New York, we hardly know where to st...
Point of View
Chronological, with Framing Faux-DocumentariesThe Meet-CutesWhen it comes to romantic comedies, it's all about the meet-cute.What's a meet-cute, you ask? Allow this key scene from the movie The Hol...
Genre
Romantic ComedyTwo hilarious people fall in love. We're done here, folks. Just KiddingWhile this is a no-brainer—When Harry Met Sally is a romantic comedy through and through—there's still a gr...
What's Up With the Title?
When Harry Met Sally...You've heard the title a billion times, but have you ever really considered it? Like, the moment Harry met Sally happened over a decade ago and didn't go so well, so what giv...
What's Up With the Ending?
It's a swoon-worthy one, that's for sure. Just when you think Harry and Sally are kaput for good, you remember that, hey, this is a romantic comedy. It only ends one way. And as luck would have it,...
Shock Rating
RIt's got a few F bombs, tons of sex talk, and a prolonged scene in which Meg Ryan fakes an orgasm in a diner full of people. Yeah, you should probably be 17 when you watch this. Unless, that is, y...