Hey, That's Tom Hanks!

So the most recent selection for the movie project came from the Romantic Comedy list.  Coming in at #10, You've Got Mail.

Wait, did I say You've Got Mail?  Excuse me, I meant Sleepless in Seattle.  Although, now that I mention it- it is basically the same movie, isn't it?  Sleepless in Seattle uses communication via radio and You've Got Mail features communication via radio for the more fast-paced society (aka- email).  If they were to put out yet another sequel, it would probably be called something along the lines of 'You Just Got Poked' and would feature a man and woman who met via Facebook. 

Whatever the title, you know what all these sequels would have in common?  Yep, they would all star Tom Hanks.  Which of course would make them all awesome.  I have a theory that the only reason Meg Ryan got invited back to reprise her lead female role in You've Got Mail is because Nora Ephron (the director of both SIS and YGM) knew that the movie would completely tank without Tom Hanks and telling basically the same story with a new girl would be slightly awkward.  I mean, that guy is so great that he's even carried a movie all by himself! (Think- Castaway).  But this way, by inviting them both back, they could almost intentionally play it off as, "of course we knew we were making the same movie, silly!"

I'll admit, I'm coming off a little harsh and judgmental.  Especially for someone who actually has a small guilty pleasure spot in her heart for both movies.  Sleepless in Seattle has a very serendipitous feel to it; two people who are from completely different cities and are at completely different points in their lives (one is engaged and one was recently widowed), discover through a series of chance encounters and fortunate accidents that they are destined to be together.  Yes, I know- a complete plate of cheese and yet it is a plate of cheese I have served myself probably 8-10 times.

However, seeing it again for the 11th or so time, (I had to, the rules of the AFI game are no movies go unwatched- even ones that may have been seen countless times in the past) did cause me to search the movie for stand-out scenes that I hadn't noticed before.  Below is just one example from those delightful new discoveries:

Think- the scene where Meg Ryan and Bill Pullman get engaged.  They're at the table discussing possible venues for the wedding, and some random family member and his wife go on a rant about how the wedding can't be outside because the husband is allergic to bees.  What makes this funny is that the man must have interjected "but the beeeeeees!" about a dozen times as if anyone was even remotely listening to him.  Hilarious.  As an added bonus?  The wife who also throws in a few bee interjections herself is played by the same woman who plays Barney Stinson's mother on HIMYM.  Only the cool readers (2 out of probably 3 readers total) know what that acronym stands for. 

Another interesting part of this movie project, is getting to enjoy multiple performances by the same actor.  For example, Mr. Thomas Andrews from the beloved Titanic movie has a small role in Sleepless in Seattle.  He plays the on-screen husband of Tom Hank's real-life wife, Rita Wilson.  The only notable scene that they share is the one in which Rita Wilson talks about some sappy movie and starts completely bawling her EYES out.  So- our dear friend Mr. Thomas Andrews is a bit cursed with unfortunate water-work incidents. 

And on that ill-chosen pun, I think I'll end this post. 

Movies Watched: 4/100
Days Remaining: A lot.