Writer: Nora Ephron
Director: Rob Reiner
Cast: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby
Rating: R
Studio: MGM
Release Date: January 15, 2008

The great thing about When Harry Met Sally is that it’s one of those movies that get better every single time you watch it. I saw this movie for the first time in the 90s (it came out in 89). It wasn’t a conscious decision to see it. It was something on television and looked amusing so I began watching it. Before I knew it I was hooked. I loved the movie, as many others do.

Though I’m not a huge comedy fan, I have always found amusement in human nature and interactions. When Harry Met Sally brings that out in the best way possible. It’s a love story that deals with friendship, quirky behavior, and the interactions of men and women from different angles.

After the first time I watch When Harry Met Sally, it quickly became a favorite and I eventually picked it up on DVD when it was released. I was curious to see what this version of the movie could offer me that my original DVD could not. When I received this DVD for review I was looking for an enhanced picture and/or sound quality and a variety of special features, as the previous DVD was pretty much a bare bones release.

Release Information:
When Harry Met Sally first came out on VHS and in theaters in the late 1980s. A comedy filmed by Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron, it naturally became a cult favorite with lines that have been repeated and quoted in many other things, by many other people. This special collector’s edition is being released by MGM on January 15, 2008. With a movie such as this, the question is not whether or not you should buy it. It’s whether you should buy a new copy if you already own the old one.

The When Harry Met Sally Plot
Simply put, When Harry Met Sally is one of the best and funniest romantic comedies that has ever been made. A perpetual chick flick in nature, When Harry Met Sally comes through as a film that will be pleasing to both men and women, though likely for different reasons. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan shine on screen, offering great chemistry and characters so insanely neurotic that they would be hard to forget.

Billy Crystal plays Harry Burns. Harry is a hilariously flawed man that is brooding, intelligent without being intellectual, and absolutely hilarious when it comes to his thought process. Harry is best known for his revelation during his first meeting with Sally, where he proclaims that men and women can never be friends because sex always gets in the way. Sally, like most women might, asks about the attraction factor or the lack of attraction that may come with some women, but Harry has an answer for that, as well.

“You pretty much want to nail them, too.”

Meg Ryan plays Sally Albright in her breakthrough role. Sally is inevitably flawed and 100% the stereotypical woman. She is high maintenance, but doesn’t see that. She just wants things the way she wants them. She is neurotic, uptight, quirky, and has the ability to make you love her while she’s driving you mad. She’s the type of person that goes to a public mailbox and drops in 20 letters, checking each one on the way down before putting another letter in. You want to smack her, but she’s so cute you decide to love her instead.

Using Harry and Sally as models of the human species in the dating scene, this romantic comedy offers us a look into the lives of men and women in the areas of love and friendship. Harry and Sally meet several times throughout their lives. The first time they meet thanks to a girlfriend of Sally’s, who is dating Harry, Amanda Reese. She sets the two up in 1977, after they have graduated college at the University of Chicago. They are both heading to New York to start their lives and decide to share a ride to get things moving.

Harry comes off as a pig, but he’s so funny you can overlook that flaw. He’s dark, dreary, and obsessed with death. He is also flirty in an off-center way, and he’s generally laid back. Sally comes off as naive, prudish, and incredibly quirky. She sees nothing wrong with having her way and her strong moral center clashes with Harry’s brashness. As soon as they are in New York, they cannot part ways fast enough, and for awhile they remain out of each other’s way.

They will meet once more before they become friends over a decade later. Both have ended serious relationships and find an odd sense of solace in the other’s company. Once they are friends, the topics flow smoothly and we are introduced to their same sex best friends. Sally is best friends with Marie (Carrie Fisher) and Harry has his buddy, Jess (Bruno Kirby). Topics the two discuss include fake orgasms in delis, Harry’s ability to make women meow, and the fact that Sally is always right and Marie knows it!

In the middle of the various scenes in Harry and Sally’s lives there are some endearing real life couples that share their tales of love with the world. My personal favorite is the Asian couple with the wife, who only nods, and the husband who tells the tale of sneaking into his future wife’s “willage” so that he can see what she ‘look like’ before their arranged marriage. To quote him, he accepted her as his wife because, “she looked good to me.”

When Harry Met Sally is an absolutely perfect movie from start to finish. Nora Ephron’s most amazing script is paired with the capable direction styles of Mr. Meathead himself, Rob Reiner. When you add in the superb acting, the beautiful backdrop of New York City, and the musical prowess of the amazing Harry Connick Jr. there is little, if anything, to complain about.

Storyline/Plot:
Replayability:
Acting:
Directing:

Audio/Visual:
Offered in anamorphic widescreen, with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, When Harry Met Sally comes out looking more beautiful than I have ever seen it before. All of the colors are vibrant and everything looks great. It has been quite some time since I have watched the previous DVD presentation, so it’s honestly hard to tell you whether or not this quality is better than the previous version, but in looking at this without comparison, the video quality is well worth viewing.

The audio transfer is available in either Dolby Digital 5.1 or 2.0 surround sound. Both audio versions sound fine, though naturally the 5.1 grades on a higher scale. There are subtitles available in English and Spanish.

Visual:
Audio:

Bonus Features:
Back when the first DVD was released, When Harry Met Sally didn’t have much to offer in the way of special features. In this collector’s edition you have a chance to view a slew of extras that have never before been seen or released in previous versions.

An all new commentary is available bringing together Ephron, Crystal, and Reiner to discuss the movie a second time. The three work well together. The inclusion of Ryan would have been nice, but the commentary works well without her for the most part. In addition to the commentary, there are several featurettes including “It All Started Like This”, “In Stories of Love”, “I Love New York”, “What Harry Met Sally Meant”, “When Rob Met Billy”, “While Creating Harry”, and “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus”. There are also seven deleted scenes, previews of some other MGM films, and the theatrical trailer.

If you own the original, this collector’s version is well worth considering a re-purchase. Sure, you may be double dipping, but the features here definitely enhance the viewing experience. Besides, you can do what I did and sell the original version I already owned on eBay.

Bonus Features:

Bottom Line:
When Harry Met Sally is an absolute must have. This is one of those movies that make you wish all movies were this good. Completely satisfying from start to finish, you will laugh and feel empathy (one more than the other) for both of these amazing characters. When it comes to the Collector’s Edition, if you own the old one, I highly recommend you consider upgrading just this once. The enhanced look and the special features included in this Collector’s Edition, which previous releases of the film lack, really do make the re-purchase worthwhile. This one comes highly recommended!

Overall Rating:

Technorati Tags: When Harry Met Sally, Harry Burns, Billy Crystal, Sally Albright, Meg Ryan, Romantic Comedy, MGM, DVD Review, I’ll Have what She’s Having

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