I heard about this movie lots of times during all these years and from time to time it's aired often on channel 24 (a channel where they air 24h non-stop various movies especially from the 1990s) and it has been quoted in many TV shows (including animated ones such as THE SIMPSONS and AMERICAN DAD). One day last April (during the total lockdown) I had finally the occasion of watching it and I think it's as good as they all say.
When the film begins it shows Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks)'s wife's funeral and he decides to move with his eight-year-old son Jonah in Seattle living on a houseboat as Chicago gives him sad memories about his wife. One evening Jonah hears about a radio program that helps people finding her true love and he decides to participate because he thinks his father needs a new woman in his life. This becomes quite a national case as journalist Annie Reed (Meg Ryan) gets involved. After a while lots of love letters arrive to Sam and Jonah picks as the first one Annie's. Sam and Annie manage to meet for the first time on the top of the Empire State Building in New York on St. Valentine's Day, just like in AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER.
This is among the classics of rom com movies because of its story that is quite original and also for the likeability of the characters. Tom Hanks gives one of his best performances of that period, and I think that 1993 was among his best years as he also did PHILADELPHIA (the first movie for which he won the Academy Award). Meg Ryan shines in her most known genre and Rosie O'Donnell (as Ryan's best friend), Bill Pullman and Rita Wilson (Hanks' real life wife) give great supporting performances.
A well directed rom com, with an intelligent and thoughtful script and with an endearing child actor. I'll recommend it not only to rom com fans as it's one of those movies that can be loved independently from the genre.
When the film begins it shows Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks)'s wife's funeral and he decides to move with his eight-year-old son Jonah in Seattle living on a houseboat as Chicago gives him sad memories about his wife. One evening Jonah hears about a radio program that helps people finding her true love and he decides to participate because he thinks his father needs a new woman in his life. This becomes quite a national case as journalist Annie Reed (Meg Ryan) gets involved. After a while lots of love letters arrive to Sam and Jonah picks as the first one Annie's. Sam and Annie manage to meet for the first time on the top of the Empire State Building in New York on St. Valentine's Day, just like in AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER.
This is among the classics of rom com movies because of its story that is quite original and also for the likeability of the characters. Tom Hanks gives one of his best performances of that period, and I think that 1993 was among his best years as he also did PHILADELPHIA (the first movie for which he won the Academy Award). Meg Ryan shines in her most known genre and Rosie O'Donnell (as Ryan's best friend), Bill Pullman and Rita Wilson (Hanks' real life wife) give great supporting performances.
A well directed rom com, with an intelligent and thoughtful script and with an endearing child actor. I'll recommend it not only to rom com fans as it's one of those movies that can be loved independently from the genre.