When Harry Met Sally is a story following the title characters from the time they meet just before sharing a cross-country drive, through a decade or so of chance encounters in New York City. The popular film raises the question "Can men and women just be friends?" and raises many ideas about love, some of which became household concepts. Some of the concepts include the high-maintenance girlfriend and the "transitional person". In some cases, this film is a perfect example of a romantic comedy. I am not one for romantic comedies and if so, it has been those few that break the stereotypes and clichés. I truly enjoyed When Harry Met Sally regardless of the fact that it contains over half of the clichés in the class discussion on romantic comedies. How has the film been so everlasting and timeless for decades and why do people connect it to so poignantly? How does it defy the art of cinema with its approach to reach the hearts of the cynical and naïve alike?
Those answers are simple, and rings true for most genres: It was brilliant. The film does not rely on things relevant to our culture or generation. There are no cheap laughs or crude jokes that carry the "comedy" genre in our time. It relies on simple, relatable, and witty dialogue, that anyone of our generation or others can enjoy.
When Harry Met Sally is more than the sum of its parts. It might be faceted with cliché or stereotypes but the reliability, credibility, and artistic qualities make it a timeless piece of brilliant filmmaking. I personally have always been a fan and will encourage anyone to watch the film if they have the chance.
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