Title: "You've Got Mail"
Director: Nora Ephron
Producers: N. Ephron and L.S. Donner
Editing: Richard Marks
Composer: George Fenton
Starring:
- Tom Hanks as Joe "NY152" Fox
- Meg Ryan as Kathleen "Shopgirl" Kelly
- Greg Kinnear as Frank Navasky
- Parker Posey as Patricia Eden
- Hallee Hirsh as Annabel Fox
- Jeffrey Scaperrotta as Matthew Fox
- Steve Zahn as George Pappas
- Dave Chappelle as Kevin Jackson
Plot and Critical Review: Kathleen Kelly is involved with Frank Navasky, a leftist postmodernist newspaper writer for the New York Observer who's always in search of an opportunity to root for the underdog. While Frank is devoted to his typewriter, Kathleen prefers her laptop and logging into her AOL e-mail account. There, using the screen name "Shopgirl", Kathleen communicates with "NY152". This is the screen name for Joe Fox. Joe belongs to the Fox family which runs Fox Books — a chain of "mega" bookstores similar to Borders or Barnes & Noble. Kathleen, on the other hand, runs the independent bookstore The Shop Around The Corner, that her mother ran before her. The central conflict of the film revolves around the ability of Kathleen and Joe to interact well in virtual reality while they are business competitors in the "real world." A persistent mode of dramatic irony appears when Kathleen and Joe read each other's emails.
The movie begins with Kathleen logging on to her AOL account to read an email from "NY152" (Joe). In her reading of the e-mail, she reveals the boundaries of the online relationship; no specifics. The two then pass each other on their respective ways to work, unbeknownst to either one. Joe arrives at work, overseeing the opening of a new Fox Books in New York with the help of his friend and assistant Kevin. Meanwhile, Kathleen and her three store assistants, George, Birdie, and Christina open up shop.
Following a day on the town with his eleven-year-old aunt Annabel and four-year-old brother Matthew (the children of his frequently divorced grandfather and father, respectively), Joe enters Kathleen's store to let his younger relatives experience story time. The two have a friendly conversation that reveals Kathleen's fears about the Fox Books store opening around the corner, shocking Joe. He introduces himself as "Joe. Just call me Joe", omitting his last name of Fox and makes an abrupt exit with the children. However, at a publishing party later in the week, Joe and Kathleen meet again, both of them being in the "book business," where Kathleen discovers Joe's true identity.
All the while, "NY152" and "Shopgirl" continue their courtship, to the point where "NY152" asks "Shopgirl" to meet. Too embarrassed to go alone, Joe brings Kevin along for moral support. He insists that "Shopgirl" may be the love of his life. Meanwhile Kevin, looking in a cafe window at the behest of Joe, discovers the true identity of "Shopgirl". When Joe discovers that it is actually Kathleen behind the name, he confronts her as Joe (concealing his "NY152" alter ego). The two exchange words and Joe leaves the cafe hurt.
Following invitations from Frank and Joe via "NY152", Kathleen begins a media war, including both a boycott of Fox Books and an interview on the local news. Despite all efforts, The Shop Around the Corner slowly goes under. In a somber moment Kathleen enters Fox Books to discover the true nature of the store is one of friendliness and relaxation, yet not as personal as her independent shop. Eventually, the employees move on to other jobs as Christina goes job hunting, George gets a job at the children's department at a Fox Books store (Joe later compares George's knowledge to a PhD) and a gleeful Birdie retires off the riches of her investments: "I bought Intel at six!"
Allowing time for their electronic relationship to convalesce, Joe visits Kathleen while she is sick, and for the first time makes a favorable impression. Joe discovers that Kathleen has broken up with Frank, who moved in with a talk show host that interviewed him, predated one week by Joe and his uptight girlfriend, Patricia, who broke up in their apartment building while stuck in the elevator. The two develop a tentative friendship that blossoms over the course of a few weeks and they eventually fall for one another.
At the same time, "NY152" and "Shopgirl" agree to meet one more time. Joe and his dog Brinkley (the topic of numerous e-mails) meet Kathleen at Riverside Park. The two kiss as Kathleen cries and Over the Rainbow takes the movie out.
Having already appeared together as Joe Banks and DeDe in "Joe Verses The Volcano" (1990) and Sam Baldwin and Annie Reed in "Sleepless In Seattle" (1993), Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan were the sweethearts of the American screen when they took up the roles of Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly for the endearing "You've Got Mail". Once again under the masterful direction of romantic comedy genius Nora Ephron (who directed the couple in "Sleepless..."), Hanks and Ryan charm the screen and soul. "You've Got Mail" grossed more than three times its budget, making it one of the most successful romantic comedies of all time. Released as a holiday feature, "You've Got Mail" is a remake of the popular 1940 "The Shop Around The Corner", which is indirectly referenced a few times in Ephron's rendition, namely Kathleen's book store being named "The Shop Around The Corner". It's worth watching the 1940 film to compare and appreciate how the famous cinematic couples have changed over the last 70 years and remained the same; stars shining in the firmament of the silver screen.
My Rating: 7.5/10
Content to Caution:
V-1 - No comment.
L-2 - No comment.
DU-1 - Some drinking.
RT-0 - No comment.
H/S-0 - No comment.
CH-2 - No comment.
S/N-1 - Some kissing.
The "Reel Revelation": "And Can It Be?"
“You’ve Got Mail” is about how two people overcome seemingly impossible odds and find true love. While not all people enjoy romantic comedies, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t like a story (in whatever form) that challenges the protagonist to reach a goal that seems unattainable. What makes good romantic movies work, however, is the challenge that the lovers must overcome to reach their blessed union. It’s that sort of challenge and tension that keeps us interested and wanting to see the outcome. Can you think of a time when you were been faced with a challenge that seemed impossible to overcome?
There's no greater story of the impossible coming to pass than Jesus' glorious resurrection from the dead. And, as if His resurrection wasn't enough, God deigns to share the very same power and promise of that Resurrection with us. What is more impossible than that?! Not only does God become a man, live among us, die among us, rise from the dead, and ascend into Heaven...he makes the fullness of His own divinity, grace, and love available to us every day.
"And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior's blood!
Died he for me? who caused his pain!
For me? who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in him, is mine;
Alive in him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th' eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th' eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own."
(Text: Charles Wesley, Music: Thomas Campbell)
"And can it be...", indeed. But as magnificent as that blessed knowledge is, we still struggle with worldly challenges that seem impossible to overcome. Being Christian doesn't lift us above the circumstances and challenges of human nature, after all.
"The things that are impossible with people are possible with God." (Luke 18:27)
That's good news! Not only does this verse remind us of our mortal weakness and human frailty, it reminds us that what we can't do, God can! However, it's important to avoid incorrectly apply this passage. Jesus isn't a "wild card" we can "play" when we encounter a challenge we can't overcome. If that was the case, would there be any need for hope, faith, and the spirit of perseverance? Quite to the contrary; God wants us to know that what must be accomplished will be by God's power and not our own. And if you're wondering what "what must be accomplished" means for your life, turn to God and ask Him to reveal His will to you.
And what happens when the impossible remains impossible? Have you ever been angry or upset as God because He didn't "come through" for you in the way you expected? It's natural to feel that way, just as a child is angry toward his/her parent(s) when they don't get what they want. But our faith is stronger than our selfish anger, and just because we don't bulldoze through the challenges of life doesn't mean that God isn't guiding us. Sometimes we have to run into an immovable barrier to point us in a new direction; the right direction. Sometimes it seems more impossible to recover from the disappointments in life than to rejoice in the victories. And sometimes, when we face the impossible challenge, it is God who leads us into green pastures and gently whispers, "let Me handle this one."
I wish you good and peace - E.T.
Director: Nora Ephron
Producers: N. Ephron and L.S. Donner
Editing: Richard Marks
Composer: George Fenton
Starring:
- Tom Hanks as Joe "NY152" Fox
- Meg Ryan as Kathleen "Shopgirl" Kelly
- Greg Kinnear as Frank Navasky
- Parker Posey as Patricia Eden
- Hallee Hirsh as Annabel Fox
- Jeffrey Scaperrotta as Matthew Fox
- Steve Zahn as George Pappas
- Dave Chappelle as Kevin Jackson
Plot and Critical Review: Kathleen Kelly is involved with Frank Navasky, a leftist postmodernist newspaper writer for the New York Observer who's always in search of an opportunity to root for the underdog. While Frank is devoted to his typewriter, Kathleen prefers her laptop and logging into her AOL e-mail account. There, using the screen name "Shopgirl", Kathleen communicates with "NY152". This is the screen name for Joe Fox. Joe belongs to the Fox family which runs Fox Books — a chain of "mega" bookstores similar to Borders or Barnes & Noble. Kathleen, on the other hand, runs the independent bookstore The Shop Around The Corner, that her mother ran before her. The central conflict of the film revolves around the ability of Kathleen and Joe to interact well in virtual reality while they are business competitors in the "real world." A persistent mode of dramatic irony appears when Kathleen and Joe read each other's emails.
The movie begins with Kathleen logging on to her AOL account to read an email from "NY152" (Joe). In her reading of the e-mail, she reveals the boundaries of the online relationship; no specifics. The two then pass each other on their respective ways to work, unbeknownst to either one. Joe arrives at work, overseeing the opening of a new Fox Books in New York with the help of his friend and assistant Kevin. Meanwhile, Kathleen and her three store assistants, George, Birdie, and Christina open up shop.
Following a day on the town with his eleven-year-old aunt Annabel and four-year-old brother Matthew (the children of his frequently divorced grandfather and father, respectively), Joe enters Kathleen's store to let his younger relatives experience story time. The two have a friendly conversation that reveals Kathleen's fears about the Fox Books store opening around the corner, shocking Joe. He introduces himself as "Joe. Just call me Joe", omitting his last name of Fox and makes an abrupt exit with the children. However, at a publishing party later in the week, Joe and Kathleen meet again, both of them being in the "book business," where Kathleen discovers Joe's true identity.
All the while, "NY152" and "Shopgirl" continue their courtship, to the point where "NY152" asks "Shopgirl" to meet. Too embarrassed to go alone, Joe brings Kevin along for moral support. He insists that "Shopgirl" may be the love of his life. Meanwhile Kevin, looking in a cafe window at the behest of Joe, discovers the true identity of "Shopgirl". When Joe discovers that it is actually Kathleen behind the name, he confronts her as Joe (concealing his "NY152" alter ego). The two exchange words and Joe leaves the cafe hurt.
Following invitations from Frank and Joe via "NY152", Kathleen begins a media war, including both a boycott of Fox Books and an interview on the local news. Despite all efforts, The Shop Around the Corner slowly goes under. In a somber moment Kathleen enters Fox Books to discover the true nature of the store is one of friendliness and relaxation, yet not as personal as her independent shop. Eventually, the employees move on to other jobs as Christina goes job hunting, George gets a job at the children's department at a Fox Books store (Joe later compares George's knowledge to a PhD) and a gleeful Birdie retires off the riches of her investments: "I bought Intel at six!"
Allowing time for their electronic relationship to convalesce, Joe visits Kathleen while she is sick, and for the first time makes a favorable impression. Joe discovers that Kathleen has broken up with Frank, who moved in with a talk show host that interviewed him, predated one week by Joe and his uptight girlfriend, Patricia, who broke up in their apartment building while stuck in the elevator. The two develop a tentative friendship that blossoms over the course of a few weeks and they eventually fall for one another.
At the same time, "NY152" and "Shopgirl" agree to meet one more time. Joe and his dog Brinkley (the topic of numerous e-mails) meet Kathleen at Riverside Park. The two kiss as Kathleen cries and Over the Rainbow takes the movie out.
Having already appeared together as Joe Banks and DeDe in "Joe Verses The Volcano" (1990) and Sam Baldwin and Annie Reed in "Sleepless In Seattle" (1993), Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan were the sweethearts of the American screen when they took up the roles of Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly for the endearing "You've Got Mail". Once again under the masterful direction of romantic comedy genius Nora Ephron (who directed the couple in "Sleepless..."), Hanks and Ryan charm the screen and soul. "You've Got Mail" grossed more than three times its budget, making it one of the most successful romantic comedies of all time. Released as a holiday feature, "You've Got Mail" is a remake of the popular 1940 "The Shop Around The Corner", which is indirectly referenced a few times in Ephron's rendition, namely Kathleen's book store being named "The Shop Around The Corner". It's worth watching the 1940 film to compare and appreciate how the famous cinematic couples have changed over the last 70 years and remained the same; stars shining in the firmament of the silver screen.
My Rating: 7.5/10
Content to Caution:
V-1 - No comment.
L-2 - No comment.
DU-1 - Some drinking.
RT-0 - No comment.
H/S-0 - No comment.
CH-2 - No comment.
S/N-1 - Some kissing.
The "Reel Revelation": "And Can It Be?"
“You’ve Got Mail” is about how two people overcome seemingly impossible odds and find true love. While not all people enjoy romantic comedies, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t like a story (in whatever form) that challenges the protagonist to reach a goal that seems unattainable. What makes good romantic movies work, however, is the challenge that the lovers must overcome to reach their blessed union. It’s that sort of challenge and tension that keeps us interested and wanting to see the outcome. Can you think of a time when you were been faced with a challenge that seemed impossible to overcome?
There's no greater story of the impossible coming to pass than Jesus' glorious resurrection from the dead. And, as if His resurrection wasn't enough, God deigns to share the very same power and promise of that Resurrection with us. What is more impossible than that?! Not only does God become a man, live among us, die among us, rise from the dead, and ascend into Heaven...he makes the fullness of His own divinity, grace, and love available to us every day.
"And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior's blood!
Died he for me? who caused his pain!
For me? who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in him, is mine;
Alive in him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th' eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th' eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own."
(Text: Charles Wesley, Music: Thomas Campbell)
"And can it be...", indeed. But as magnificent as that blessed knowledge is, we still struggle with worldly challenges that seem impossible to overcome. Being Christian doesn't lift us above the circumstances and challenges of human nature, after all.
"The things that are impossible with people are possible with God." (Luke 18:27)
That's good news! Not only does this verse remind us of our mortal weakness and human frailty, it reminds us that what we can't do, God can! However, it's important to avoid incorrectly apply this passage. Jesus isn't a "wild card" we can "play" when we encounter a challenge we can't overcome. If that was the case, would there be any need for hope, faith, and the spirit of perseverance? Quite to the contrary; God wants us to know that what must be accomplished will be by God's power and not our own. And if you're wondering what "what must be accomplished" means for your life, turn to God and ask Him to reveal His will to you.
And what happens when the impossible remains impossible? Have you ever been angry or upset as God because He didn't "come through" for you in the way you expected? It's natural to feel that way, just as a child is angry toward his/her parent(s) when they don't get what they want. But our faith is stronger than our selfish anger, and just because we don't bulldoze through the challenges of life doesn't mean that God isn't guiding us. Sometimes we have to run into an immovable barrier to point us in a new direction; the right direction. Sometimes it seems more impossible to recover from the disappointments in life than to rejoice in the victories. And sometimes, when we face the impossible challenge, it is God who leads us into green pastures and gently whispers, "let Me handle this one."
I wish you good and peace - E.T.
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