Films are generally most overrated when they
are currently playing in theaters. Based upon
past work by the director or cast, and combined
with studio publicity, the weaknesses of a
film are often downplayed until after the
initial run has been completed.
Such was the case for "You've Got Mail",
a romantic comedy from a specialist of the
genre, Nora Ephron. One of Ephron's biggest
successes was "Sleepless in Seattle", starring
Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. It would seem like a
good idea to reunite them in a remake of 1940's
"The Shop Around the Corner", updating the
Jimmy Stewart classic.
Perhaps the film should have been called "America
Online Presents 'You've Got Mail'". Joe Fox (Hanks)
and Kathleen Kelly (Ryan) have developed a close
friendship after meeting on an AOL message board.
They have never met, and do not know the other's
true identity. Kathleen owns a small children's
bookstore, which becomes threatened by a large
discount bookstore owned by Joe that opens a few
blocks away. Joe and Kathleen also find other
reasons to dislike each other. When the online
friends arrange a real-life meeting, what will
be their reaction when they realize that face
to face, they are enemies?
"You've Got Mail" does have a few good lines
buried in the script. My favorite is the
observation, "It's like those people who brag
because they are tall." But even when the
lines are good, they don't work, because they
aren't used in the right context. The dialogue
is often disjointed and odd. Mostly the film
drags, and Hanks' character seems more obnoxious
and less likable than usual. The result is a
comedy that is much more tedious than funny. (30/100)
You ve Got Mail delivers all the wit, charm and warmth you d expect from a reunion of the stars (Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan) and director (Nora Ephron) of Sl...More at Buy.com
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