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By now, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan have amassed such a fund of goodwill with moviegoers that any new onscreen pairing brings nearly reflexive smiles.In You've Got Mail, the quintessential boy and girl next door repeat the tentative romantic crescendo that made Sleepless in Seattle, writer-director Nora Ephron's previous excursion with the duo, a massive hit. The prospective couple do actually meet face to face early on, but Mail otherwise repeats the earlier feature's gentle, extended tease of saving its romantic resolution until the final, gauzy shot.

The underlying narrative is an even more old-fashioned romantic pas de deux that is casually hooked to a newfangled device.The script, cowritten by the director and her sister, Delia Ephron, updates and relocates the Ernst Lubitsch classic, The Shop Around the Corner, to contemporary Manhattan, where Joe Fox (Hanks) is a cheerfully rapacious merchant whose chain of book superstores is gobbling up smaller, more specialized shops such as the children's bookstore owned by Kathleen Kelly (Ryan).Their lives run in close parallel in the same idealized neighborhood, yet they first meet anonymously, online, where they gradually nurture a warm, even intimate correspondence. As they begin to wonder whether this e-mail flirtation might lead them to be soul mates, however, they meet and clash over their colliding business fortunes.

It's no small testament to the two stars that we wind up liking and caring about them despite the inevitable (and highly manipulative) arc of the plot. Although their chemistry transcended the consciously improbable romantic premise of Sleepless, enabling director Ephron to attain a kind of amorous soufflé, this time around there's a slow leak that considerably deflates the affair. Less credulous viewers will challenge Joe's logic in prolonging the concealment of his online identity from Kathleen, and may shake their heads at Ephron's reinvention of Manhattan as a spotless, sun-dappled wonderland where everybody lives in million-dollar apartments and color coordinates their wardrobes for cocktail parties. --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (480)

Caviar Garnish
This is the second remake of "The Shop Around the Corner". The first was Technicolor musical called "In the Good Old Summertime" which starred Judy Garland. References to Miss Garland's most famous film "The Wizard of Oz" abound in "You've Got Mail" (Meg Ryan hanging ruby slippers on a Christmas tree and reading the book "The Scarecrow of Oz" while ill, the song "Over the Rainbow" being sampled throughout and sung in its entirety at the end, etc.) In addition to reminding me of the two previous versions, I was also reminded of "Pillow Talk". In "Pillow Talk", Doris Day and Rock Hudson, who hate each other, fall in love over a party line without either realizing who the other is. Here, it's Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks falling in love over the Internet. The plot is lightweight and predictable, but the performances more than make up for that. Dabney Coleman, Jean Stapleton, Greg Kinnear, and indie-queen Parker Posey are all brilliant, and although neither of the leading rolls are much of a stretch for Hanks or Ryan, they are at least likeable and have more than enough star power to make this picture work. The script is light and funny, and this film is sure to please if you don't ask it to be more than it is.

The best romantic flick I've ever experienced.
There are a couple of things this film has going for it. First is the chemistry between the on-screen characters. There's a reason Hanks and Ryan were casted for this flick- it's because audiences (including myself) like to see the sparks between these two people. They were a great team in Sleepless in Seattle, and it's pretty obvious the 'magic' is still there.

The soundtrack to this movie is absolutely incredible. Harry Nilsson is perfect (the puppy song, over the rainbow), and the rest of the songs fit so well with the mood of the movie at all times. Sinead O'Conner's addition (I think it's called the lord must live in NY city) adds to the mood I talk about later, and Carol King's Anyone At All is one of the best romantic songs I've ever heard/played.

The mood to the movie is always incredibly upbeat- which is strange- most movies have their lulls or depressing moments. This movie, however, never gets itself in that rut. It's always very very cheery and bright. Although some may hate that, I can do nothing but appreciate the change of style. Everytime I watch You've Got Mail, I just think, "I WANT TO GO TO NEW YORK!!!"

Overall, the movie just makes you feel good. It's one of my favorite movies, and is certainly my most favorite romantic film. Even techies won't get annoyed, because thank goodness the focus isn't aol or anything of that matter.

Bouquets of sharpened pencils, indeed
Here's the main and completely irrelevant reason to love this movie: New York City in the fall. Honestly, it should have no bearing whatsoever on the plot, but it does -- and it's impossible not to fall in love with the bright, sunshiny, orange-leaved sheer beauty of the city encapsulated in this movie. Without even resorting to shots of Central Park in all its glory (and really, who can resist that?), "You've Got Mail" takes you on a lovely scenic tour of the Upper West Side, Starbucks and all. Who can resist the street fairs, the parks, the stores, the dock? It's picture-perfect, and if it's a bit surreal, I won't admit it: New York really is rather lovely in the fall.

Aside from making me want to run away to the Big Apple and work in the children's section at Fox Books, "You've Got Mail" also features Meg Ryan at her most adorable ("Aren't daisies just the friendliest flower?"), Tom Hanks at his most charming, and a terrific supporting cast (Greg Kinnear and those typewriters!). The story, a modernized little "remake" of "The Shop Around The Corner", is more fairy tale than realism -- two people fall in love over email, in war in real life, and however can such a thing be solved -- but it's an enchanting story nonetheless. In a time when romance on the web seems all-too-seedy and in reality, sometimes frankly dangerous, this little tale of two people sharing their most intimate thoughts long before they share a single glance is like a breath of fresh air. Sure, the technology's a little faded, but the magic's still there.

I know, I know...
I know what you're thinking. Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Greg Kinnear. You think you're too good for this movie, don't you? It's the sappiest, dumpiest little half-a-flick ever reared by Nora Ephron. Romantic comedies suck. Do I paint a correct picture, or do I exagerate? Well I think you're just cinematically jaded.

Yeah, that's right! I said it!

A lifetime of Vietnam movies and tragic love stories has left you too cynical to enjoy a simple romance between two adults. Teenagers getting into car crashes, mothers being diagnosed with breast cancer, murderers who you like despite the fact that they're pure evil. These are the cinematic icons that appeal to you, yes? Well what about hard-edged bookstore manager and idealistic bookshop owner? What about oddly-principled boyfriend who owns two identical typewriters? What about...uh...Jean Stapleton? She was funny, right?

Look, the point is it doesn't suck and don't judge it just because it's a Hanks/Ryan romantic comedy on par with "Sleepless In Seattle" (Which was a good one too, by the way).

Although, I still prefer the original "Shop Around the Corner" with Jimmy "Not Bow-Legged" Stewart.

Clever!
This is an excellent updated version of "The Little Shop Around The Corner" with anonymous penpals using email instead of the letters used in the original with Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullivan. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks,as always,make a great team. ... Read more

Reviews (117)

Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan give charming and sweet performances!
I still love this movie! "Sleepless in Seattle" is still one of the best romantic films that I have seen since...ever! The performances in the film were top-notch and the storyline was terrific! To me, this film talks about two things...fate and destiny. "Sleepless" focuses on Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks), a recently widowed father who, because of the death of his wife Maggie (Carey Lowell), decides to move out to Seattle with his son Jonah (Ross Malinger) to start over again. One night, Jonah calls a talk radio show, who asks Sam to come to the phone and explain everything. So Sam sat down and talked about everything that he and his wife had done over the past few years, how he loved her, and such. Sam's story was such a big hit across America that women have been pouring letters of comfort at Sam's home. The story has also reached the heart of a newspaper writer named Annie Reed (Meg Ryan). Annie is single, lives in New York, and is engaged to a man named Walter (Bill Pullman), who is pretty much allergic to everything. After hearing Sam's story on the radio that night, Annie believes that she and Sam are destined to be together, due to typical Hollywood romance from such films as, for example, "An Affair to Remember". And romantic charm and trouble ensues from there on as, for example, Annie goes to Seattle to sort of "spy" on Sam to see what he is like, especially with his son, etc. "Sleepless in Seattle" marks the second teaming of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan from their first hit, "Joe Versus the Volcano" in 1990, and before they starred a third time in 1998's "You've Got Mail", which is directed by "Sleepless" director Nora Ephron ("This is My Life"). And speaking of the director, she directed this film with a lot of heart, soul, and emotion. Nora Ephron's best work to date! "Sleepless in Seattle" has also the absolute best performances of all time from Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. I kind of liked the way that Meg Ryan's hair looked in the film. To me, you don't get to see Meg Ryan with hair like that a lot. I like this film because it is one of those films where two people eventually cross paths continuously, and in the end, they meet each other for the first time and live happily ever after! I really hope that there is a sequel to this film in the making, but if there isn't, then I will still enjoy "Sleepless in Seattle" for years to come!

A Laugh-Out-Loud Funny Charmer
First of all, Sleepless in Seattle IS a chick flick, yes, and there are certainly some stretches of the imagination required as far as plot goes, but the real emphasis is the characters, and that is the strength of the movie...the entire cast is excellent, from Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks to the supporting cast (Rosie O'Donnell, Bill Pullman, Ross Malinger and Robert Reiner). The story and chemistry is charming, but more than that, the movie is hysterical. Everytime I watch the movie again (I've seen it about 5 or 6 times now) I realize how funny it is...Nora Ephron may be the best current writer of real romantic comedies. There are SO many funny little things scattered throughout the movie...even if you don't like "chick flicks," you should watch it because it's one of the funniest movies ever.

Absolutely wonderful!
I first saw this movie when I was in college with my roomate, who knows all the best movies out there. I absolutely fell in love with it, and I went out and bought it immediately. It's ideal if you are single, it gives you hope for finding that perfect someone :), at least it did for me. If you like You've Got Mail, you'll also like Sleepless in Seattle, or if you haven't seen either, they go perfect together!!

great chick flick for chicks
Tom Hanks stars as recent widower from Seattle who talks to a radio show host about his troubles and Meg Ryan plays a recently engaged woman from New York who develops a relationship with Hank's character. The plot is a bit cheesy as well as the lines, but that is how chick flicks are made--cheesy plots and lines. Though most guys will not like "Sleepless in Seattle" unless they enjoy other "chick flicks," most women enjoy this contemporary classic of long distance romance. If you like the movie be sure to check out the DVD, which has many more added features such as a music video and commentary by the director and co-writer.

Sleepless in Seattle
WOW! I LOVE this movie! It's a favorite of all my families. I think this is a great love story and almost anyone would enjoy it. ... Read more

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After the box-office success of Phenomenon, John Travolta continued to charm audiences with this 1996 comedy-fantasy in which he plays a grubby angel who's got one last good deed to do before heading back to heaven. Living peacefully in the rural Iowa home of an old, friendly motel owner (Jean Stapleton), the winged Michael (Travolta) is hardly the image of a perfect angel. He's scruffy, unshaven, eats sweetened cereal by the box-full and chain-smokes all day long. But when tabloid reporters (William Hurt, Robert Pastorelli) learn of Michael's alleged existence and head to Iowa to check him out, Michael soon realizes that it's his task to see that Hurt falls in love with an "angel expert" (Andie MacDowell) and breaks free from his habitually cynical attitude. There's more to the story, of course (and Chasing Amy fans will recognize Joey Lauren Adams as a waitress who charms the angel), but Michael is more about the effect that this enchanting angel has on the earthbound humans around him. Whether he's chipping away at Hurt's skepticism or attracting a crowd of women on a truck-stop dance floor, Michael is an enchanting figure, and Travolta plays him with just the right tone of humor, reverence, and effervescent charm. Sure, it's lightweight fluff, but director Nora Ephron specializes in lightweight fluff, and Michael is the kind of feel-good movie that never wears out its welcome. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (39)

A Slice Of Comedic Heaven
This movie trashes traditional religion, patronizes the Midwest, squeezes laughs out of a dying dog and a sick old woman, scorns marriage and romance and bashes men gleefully. Yet it buys into the notion that angels might really exist.

Travolta, who displays his gift for irony and whimsy, plays an unorthodox angel--a paunchy slob with moth-eaten wings who smokes, hits the bottle and chases women, even as he is on some unspecified angelic assignment in Iowa. Director Nora Ephron shows the humor and power of Michael by having Travolta, perform his Pulp Fiction dance to Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools." In fact, most of the script, by Ephron, her sister Delia and others, displays ingenuity, grace, wit and taste.

Hurt, MacDowell, and Pastorelli play cynical tabloid reporters hunting down the hapless angel. The venerable Jean Stapleton offers bright moments as the rambunctious motel owner who discovers Travolta's powers.

Repeat watching will uncover thought provoking subtleties. And of course laughs at our favorite parts--'Lines? I invented lines. Before that people were just walking around'.-- 'Pies, everybody loves pie'.

you gotta learn to laugh....it's the way to true love
man, this is a very heart warming movie about an angle named Michael. he's not your typical angel though. he smokes and is very interested in woman.
but he is also very passionate about Earth and this happens to be his last hurrah on Earth, as only 26 visits are allowed.
this is a very very heart warming movie and John Travolta is magnificant!

my favorite part is when he sees the bull at the Biggest Ball of Twine and inhales and says, "Battle".
he battles the bull and is completely happy.
overall, this is just a good movie.

We're all angels inside.
This film is brilliant! if i did't have much space for this review it would be enough to stop there! the film makes you think and start to wonder about life certain aspects of it at least, and the meaning of life.
the film tells a story of an angel who is not the stereotypical, clea, pure godly figure. the message of the film as that we are all angels. you dont have to be pure, clean or run around in white wings an a halo all day to be loved by someone an love others. sunday afternoon smiley movie me thinks!!

"Michael" is a Lot of Fun!
Now I don't for an instant classify "Michael" as a 5-Star masterpiece as, say, "Apocalypse Now," but it's definitely a great flick for its genre (romantic comedy/road movie). I don't know exactly what I was expecting -- another boring "chick flick" perhaps -- but "Michael" really surprised me. My wife and I had a great time watching it -- lots of laughs and, if you look carefully enough, even some profundities.

Michael, who is excellently portrayed by John Travolta, is an unorthodox Archangel enjoying his last mission (vacation?) to Earth. A supermarket tabloid from Chicago sends a team to Iowa to get a story and pictures; after discovering that he's a real angel they naturally want to bring him back to the big city.

What works best is that the story is essentially a fun-spirited road movie (I'm a sucker for road movies). William Hurt, Andie MacDowell and Robert Patorelli have an exceptional time meeting Michael and trying to escort him back to Chicago. Michael acts like a tourist having the time of his life, humorously wanting to see those silly little attractions we see dispersed across the countryside (e.g. "the world's biggest non-stick frying pan," etc.) -- you know, the ones most of us adults roll our eyes at.

Lots of fun things and miricles take place along the way (e.g. women are naturally attracted to Michael, bar fight, bull fight, etc.); you should discover them for yourself when watching the film. What struck me the most about Michael is that he had a true spirit of joy. The simple joy-of-living-itself was all over him; and this naturally had a big impact on all the people around him. This is something most of us could learn from Michael.

I was pleasantly surprised -- "Michael" is fun, charming and delightful -- not just another run-of-the-mill "chick flick" (in other words, guys will enjoy it too). Recommended.

Beware: the DVD case is almost entirely made of cardboard
and when I tried to peel the protection seal off, the printing of the cover started to came off with it.
Very bad quality. ... Read more

Reviews (117)

Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan give charming and sweet performances!
I still love this movie! "Sleepless in Seattle" is still one of the best romantic films that I have seen since...ever! The performances in the film were top-notch and the storyline was terrific! To me, this film talks about two things...fate and destiny. "Sleepless" focuses on Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks), a recently widowed father who, because of the death of his wife Maggie (Carey Lowell), decides to move out to Seattle with his son Jonah (Ross Malinger) to start over again. One night, Jonah calls a talk radio show, who asks Sam to come to the phone and explain everything. So Sam sat down and talked about everything that he and his wife had done over the past few years, how he loved her, and such. Sam's story was such a big hit across America that women have been pouring letters of comfort at Sam's home. The story has also reached the heart of a newspaper writer named Annie Reed (Meg Ryan). Annie is single, lives in New York, and is engaged to a man named Walter (Bill Pullman), who is pretty much allergic to everything. After hearing Sam's story on the radio that night, Annie believes that she and Sam are destined to be together, due to typical Hollywood romance from such films as, for example, "An Affair to Remember". And romantic charm and trouble ensues from there on as, for example, Annie goes to Seattle to sort of "spy" on Sam to see what he is like, especially with his son, etc. "Sleepless in Seattle" marks the second teaming of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan from their first hit, "Joe Versus the Volcano" in 1990, and before they starred a third time in 1998's "You've Got Mail", which is directed by "Sleepless" director Nora Ephron ("This is My Life"). And speaking of the director, she directed this film with a lot of heart, soul, and emotion. Nora Ephron's best work to date! "Sleepless in Seattle" has also the absolute best performances of all time from Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. I kind of liked the way that Meg Ryan's hair looked in the film. To me, you don't get to see Meg Ryan with hair like that a lot. I like this film because it is one of those films where two people eventually cross paths continuously, and in the end, they meet each other for the first time and live happily ever after! I really hope that there is a sequel to this film in the making, but if there isn't, then I will still enjoy "Sleepless in Seattle" for years to come!

A Laugh-Out-Loud Funny Charmer
First of all, Sleepless in Seattle IS a chick flick, yes, and there are certainly some stretches of the imagination required as far as plot goes, but the real emphasis is the characters, and that is the strength of the movie...the entire cast is excellent, from Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks to the supporting cast (Rosie O'Donnell, Bill Pullman, Ross Malinger and Robert Reiner). The story and chemistry is charming, but more than that, the movie is hysterical. Everytime I watch the movie again (I've seen it about 5 or 6 times now) I realize how funny it is...Nora Ephron may be the best current writer of real romantic comedies. There are SO many funny little things scattered throughout the movie...even if you don't like "chick flicks," you should watch it because it's one of the funniest movies ever.

Absolutely wonderful!
I first saw this movie when I was in college with my roomate, who knows all the best movies out there. I absolutely fell in love with it, and I went out and bought it immediately. It's ideal if you are single, it gives you hope for finding that perfect someone :), at least it did for me. If you like You've Got Mail, you'll also like Sleepless in Seattle, or if you haven't seen either, they go perfect together!!

great chick flick for chicks
Tom Hanks stars as recent widower from Seattle who talks to a radio show host about his troubles and Meg Ryan plays a recently engaged woman from New York who develops a relationship with Hank's character. The plot is a bit cheesy as well as the lines, but that is how chick flicks are made--cheesy plots and lines. Though most guys will not like "Sleepless in Seattle" unless they enjoy other "chick flicks," most women enjoy this contemporary classic of long distance romance. If you like the movie be sure to check out the DVD, which has many more added features such as a music video and commentary by the director and co-writer.

Sleepless in Seattle
WOW! I LOVE this movie! It's a favorite of all my families. I think this is a great love story and almost anyone would enjoy it. ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Nothing gets me more in the XMas Spirit than this movie !!
This is my favorite Holiday movie. From the first time I saw this dark comedy six years ago, I have enjoyed it year after year. Nora Ephron did a wonderful job taking something as tragic as a Suicide Hotline on Christmas Eve and turning it into something funny. Of course the subject of suicide itself is far from funny, and if you cant get past that, then you probably wont like this movie (although the movie doesnt dwell on that subject too much).

But this film keeps it light with lots of subplots, an outrageous cast including Steve Martin, Madeline Khan (who is hysterically convincing as the uptight Mrs. Munchnick), Adam Sandler, Rita Wilson (in her best performance to date), Tony LaPaglia, Liev Schreiber (very funny in drag), and others.

The music is very upbeat, the plot is fast-paced and there is a great blend of subtle humor (Khan insisting on increasing the suicide tote board by one number arguing that "even though the person calling did not seem suicidal 'he or she may have become suicidal had they not called the hotline'") and in-your-face humor (Martin dancing (against his will) with Schreiber-in-drag and ensuring that he keeps his body as far away from Schreibers as possible, that is, until he, Martin, realizes that he is actually enjoying himself).

The other great thing about this movie is that it can actually make the normal holiday blues seem not nearly as bad when you compare them to some of the problems that these characters encounter ........ and still they're able to find the true meaning of the holiday and have a happy Christmas.

Needless to say, I highly recommend this film.

Dave

Twisted sense of humor.
I laughed all the way through this movie. It has a definite WARPED sense of humor, so be prepared. Either you'll love it, or hate it. I chose to love it.

All the characters are great in this film. I always enjoy Steve Martin, and he was quite amusing and clever in this movie. Rita Wilson (Tom Hank's real life wife) is quite delightful as Martin's lovely but underappreciated coworker (and potential love interest). The late Madeline Kahn is my particular favorite--she has the most sharp and clever sense of humor, and her talents are displayed well in this movie.

There are plenty of other future stars in this film (Adam Sandler, Jon Stewart, and so on) and they all do well in their parts.

The story goes awry during the last 20 minutes or so, so suspend your disbelief. It isn't supposed to make sense, or be realistic. (Or at least, it ought not be!) It's just a bizarre and funny movie. There's also lot of gallows humor here, so be warned, and just allow yourself to appreciate it!

Christmas on Venice Beach is certainly a unique experience in this movie!

It is not that bad
I don't know why does almost everybody hate this movie. I think that's pretty funny.
The cast is excellent and the plot is so morbid that you can just laugh. I did. It was a kind of Married with children (with Al Bundy)-story because the movie wasn't so sweet like a candy...and we have several candy-chistmas films so I think is was time to do another type-movie as well.

So if you like something different and you can accept that chistmas is not the same for everybody, then buy it.

Christmas is more fun if you are a little warped
Mixed Nuts grows on you IF you have a quirky sense of humor. Yes, there are parts that grate, annoy, and perturb, and there are other parts that will delight you. No matter how often I watch this, I love the musical intro to the film with all the scenes around Venice, with a bum wrapped up like a candy cane, an angelic girl's choir waiting on a bus bench, a skating snowman, and the bad-tempered roller bladers. Madeline Kahn gets some of the greatest lines, rapping "I'm stuck inna' elevator" with a Christmas toy, trying to make enough racket so that someone will come to her rescue. Once rescued, she races to the bathroom in urgent need, only to find that the self-indulgent and pregnant Juliette Lewis has locked herself in it. Finally the girl opens the door and everyone topples in. Madeline next turns up on the john, holding a bath towel as a privacy screen, as she shares her private moment with everyone else.

The world is a sadder place without Madeline Kahn in it. She makes a sad, lonely and bitter woman lovable in the end.

Nora Ephron assembled a cast and characters that cannot exist in real life...except that I walked past a local shop of oddities and such, with the proprietress busy arranging a wide assortment of rummage, and I realized that it was the Juliette Lewis character come to life, even aged appropriately since the movie's date. I whispered "Mixed Nuts" to my husband, and he got the joke immediately.

Now we're watching for that pink-wrapped fruitcake.

Put your tongue in your cheek, have some eggnog & enjoy!
White Christmas, A Wonderful Life, and Mixed Nuts are can't miss classics in our household. Sure, it doesn't meet the historical significance of the first two, but for a light hearted and wacky Christmas movie with a different twist and campy performances from a well known cast (some up and coming at the time such as Adam Sandler and Jon Stewart), have another eggnog, sit back and enjoy! ... Read more

Reviews (30)

A LOT FUNNIER THAN EXPECTED!
"LUCKY NUMBERS" didn't do big numbers in its theatrical release but is worth a look if you're in the mood for a rowdy, raunchy heist farce.

John Travolta is big fish TV weatherman in a small Pennsylvania pond. Beset with financial woes -- his snowmobile dealership is not doing well during an unpredictably warm winter -- so he teams up the Lisa Kudrow, the station's angry, sleep-around lottery girl, and with the help of wanna be gangster and strip bar owner Tim Roth, they devise a plan to rip off the state lottery.

Things quickly go very bad. And get much worse. Not quite up to the Coen brothers, but a lot funnier than most alleged comedies. Nora Ephron directs an Adam Resnick screenplay supposedly based on a real incident.

Unexpectedly funny. But Travolta will have to do many more little gems like this to make up for the pain and suffering his fans endured in "Battlefield Earth."

Lucky Numbers is an odds on riot of a dark comedy!
Lucky Numbers is a pretty likable movie. For a dark comedy it's pretty appealing and while it doesn't have a ton of belly laughs, it's really quite funny. Imagine Ruthless People crossed with Fargo and you have a decent idea of what to expect in this film.John Travolta shines as Russ Richards, TV weatherman and mega star in his own mind. He drives a Jaguar, lives in a huge home and has a booth (and parking spot) reserved for him at the local Denny's. Russ even owns his own snowmoble dealership which is hurting due to the warm winter. To make matters worse, Russ has spent much more money than he has, so, to preserve his local celebrity persona, Russ becomes a desperate man. His friend Gig (Tim Roth in a welcome return to the screen), a sleazy barkeep suggests he get his girlfriend Crystal (Lisa Kudrow), the lotto girl, to rig the drawing. From here on in, things get out of control. Russ and Crystal's scam works, all of a sudden, everybody wants in on the action. Crystal's strange cousin (Michael Moore of 'Roger and Me' fame), Dale the Thug (Michael Rappaport), and even TV station manager Dick (Ed O'Neill), who is having an affair with Crystal, all want a pice of the lottery fortune. Bill Pullman turns up towards the middle (as a lazy cop illegally collecting disability) to investigate the goings on. All of this adds up to quite a funny movie. All of the cast seem to work well together, the chemistry is great and the dialogue very funny. While Lucky Numbers isn't always such a winner in terms of its plot, there is a superb ensemble cast here, and every one of them give it their all.Travolta is very funny as the stressed out 'celebrity' whose scam falls apart before it really begins. His increasingly frenzied behavior is hilarious by the end. Bill Pullman steals the show as the cop who'd rather be doing anything else, and Lisa Kudrow is both likable and despisable as the greedy woman who cares only for the money. In smaller roles, Ed O'Neill, Tim Roth and Michael Moore also pull off their roles with charm. For a film about backstabbing and greed, there certainly are a lot of likable characters. Lucky Numbers may not be a comedy masterpeice, but it's so fun to watch that audiences should enjoy themselves with it. Director Nora Ephron is better known for her 'romantic comedies', she directed You've Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle. Ephron takes on a different film with Lucky Numbers, a comedy about people trapped in middle America and will do anything to get out. This may not be the most admirable message to try and get across, but the movie itself is pure fun. With such a good cast and plenty of chuckles, Lucky Numbers is a million dollar winner all the way.

Definitely NOT a comedy but...
It's an interesting approach at what people will do for money. Still, I hated it. John Travolta was terrible [as usual]. Lisa Kudrow, who was the reason I watched this, was so incredibly unlike her role on "Friends" as she was a murderous goldigging nympho-biatch who made you mad every time she was on screen. I was very disappointed with her performance. I can't believe this hilarious comedic actress went for such a ... part. The other supporting actors were no good either with the exception of Bill Pullman, who was pretty funny as the "I could give a damn about it" cop. The best thing about this movie though, is the cute, gullible waitress named Wendy who's only on screen about five minutes throughout the entire film. Anyway, skip this one. It was just plain awful.

Just saw it on TV for the first time
Not only was the movie set in Harrisburg, most of it was filmed in Harrisburg, as well as the suburbs(Palmyra, Hampden Township and Wormleysburg) and is loosely based on the Real Lottery scam in Pennsylvania on April 24, 1980 when the Daily Pick 3 game was rigged by the station announcer in Pittsburgh (the Late Nick Perry, who I had the pleasure of growing up watching do various bowling programs. In Pittsburgh, "Bowling for dollars aired immediately after the drawing on Channel 4, WTAE.) Just like in the movies all but the #4 and #6 balls were injected with paint, and 6-6-6 came up. The drawings were moved to WHP-TV (channel 21) the next day, where State Officials kept a better eye on things. Nick and the stage hands at channel 4 went to Jail (here in Camp Hill).

So the story was as advertised, amusing, not great; and it was great to see big time celebreties visit town. Especially Ed O'neill. Those of us who lived in Harrisburg for a long time will get the inside jokes, and geographic references. My wife yelled at me, when I was over-commenting, finding bloopers, and trying to pick out the local scenery, most of which had buildings remodeled, and again shot outside of Harrisburg in the suburbs. So some of the local bloopers showed Russ trying to drive the truck down Route 22 and Devonshire Road (in Downtown Colonial Park, where I live), and it wrecked. Was he trying to get to I-81 or I-83? Not the way to get to Colorado from Harrisburg. Eighteen wheelers don't go down Devonshire Road (winding and hilly and two-laned)too well, and Rt. 22 at that intersection is a 6-lane divided highway. There is actually an auto dealer at that corner, but was not used in the filming.

Like I said us locals caught some of the inside jokes (like the Perry County School Teacher who locked the student in the broom closet, and the mobster from Linglestown), which made the movie more enjoyable than the critics gave it credit for.

For those who don't know although there is no channel 6 in Harrisburg, there is (sort of) well, was really WTPA-TV. WTPA-Radio is still on the air. New owners years ago changed the call letters to WHTM, and is actually channel 27. Keeping that in mind, Al Bundy, er, Dick Simmons comments on real-life then WTPA now WHTM weatherman Chuck Rhoades, who has a breif cameo in the movie, and on whom Travolta's character is loosely based (Actually Bill Murray's wheaterman in Groundhog Day is closer to the real Chuck Rhoades, a thirty year fixture on local TV). To me, Chuck is the big star in the movie, even though he is eeen from a distance for a few seconds. Chuck's best acting job to date. And he wasn't acting! That clip is from 1988 when the movie was set, when Harrisburg had one of its biggest heatwaves ever. Anothe Harrisburg weatherman, Don Rooney has a cameo scene at the TV station.

When the movie was filmed out here, it was the biggest deal to hit Harrisburg , since the Three Mile Island accident. Yes, Harrisburg is really like that-- and Denny's is the Classiest Bistro in Town, at least the one in Hampden Township (US Rte. 11--where JT is seen jaywalking to the Evergreen (actually Hampden) Diner.

All in all an enjoyable movie for us in Harrisburg.

Probably the worst Travolta movie ever made
"What was he thinking?" was all I could think while watching this ... This is, without a doubt, John Travolta's worst movie since 1978's Moment by Moment with Lily Tomlin. The script is [weak] and the performances are lackluster. Lisa Kudrow, as in every role she plays, is downright annoying with her ever present snarling lip. Travolta is too talented an actor to waste his time on [stuff]like this. It's more suited to a ...comic like Rob Schneider or Adam Sandler. Director Nora Ephron also loses some credibility for having anything to do with this film. ... ... Read more

Reviews (117)

Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan give charming and sweet performances!
I still love this movie! "Sleepless in Seattle" is still one of the best romantic films that I have seen since...ever! The performances in the film were top-notch and the storyline was terrific! To me, this film talks about two things...fate and destiny. "Sleepless" focuses on Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks), a recently widowed father who, because of the death of his wife Maggie (Carey Lowell), decides to move out to Seattle with his son Jonah (Ross Malinger) to start over again. One night, Jonah calls a talk radio show, who asks Sam to come to the phone and explain everything. So Sam sat down and talked about everything that he and his wife had done over the past few years, how he loved her, and such. Sam's story was such a big hit across America that women have been pouring letters of comfort at Sam's home. The story has also reached the heart of a newspaper writer named Annie Reed (Meg Ryan). Annie is single, lives in New York, and is engaged to a man named Walter (Bill Pullman), who is pretty much allergic to everything. After hearing Sam's story on the radio that night, Annie believes that she and Sam are destined to be together, due to typical Hollywood romance from such films as, for example, "An Affair to Remember". And romantic charm and trouble ensues from there on as, for example, Annie goes to Seattle to sort of "spy" on Sam to see what he is like, especially with his son, etc. "Sleepless in Seattle" marks the second teaming of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan from their first hit, "Joe Versus the Volcano" in 1990, and before they starred a third time in 1998's "You've Got Mail", which is directed by "Sleepless" director Nora Ephron ("This is My Life"). And speaking of the director, she directed this film with a lot of heart, soul, and emotion. Nora Ephron's best work to date! "Sleepless in Seattle" has also the absolute best performances of all time from Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. I kind of liked the way that Meg Ryan's hair looked in the film. To me, you don't get to see Meg Ryan with hair like that a lot. I like this film because it is one of those films where two people eventually cross paths continuously, and in the end, they meet each other for the first time and live happily ever after! I really hope that there is a sequel to this film in the making, but if there isn't, then I will still enjoy "Sleepless in Seattle" for years to come!

A Laugh-Out-Loud Funny Charmer
First of all, Sleepless in Seattle IS a chick flick, yes, and there are certainly some stretches of the imagination required as far as plot goes, but the real emphasis is the characters, and that is the strength of the movie...the entire cast is excellent, from Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks to the supporting cast (Rosie O'Donnell, Bill Pullman, Ross Malinger and Robert Reiner). The story and chemistry is charming, but more than that, the movie is hysterical. Everytime I watch the movie again (I've seen it about 5 or 6 times now) I realize how funny it is...Nora Ephron may be the best current writer of real romantic comedies. There are SO many funny little things scattered throughout the movie...even if you don't like "chick flicks," you should watch it because it's one of the funniest movies ever.

Absolutely wonderful!
I first saw this movie when I was in college with my roomate, who knows all the best movies out there. I absolutely fell in love with it, and I went out and bought it immediately. It's ideal if you are single, it gives you hope for finding that perfect someone :), at least it did for me. If you like You've Got Mail, you'll also like Sleepless in Seattle, or if you haven't seen either, they go perfect together!!

great chick flick for chicks
Tom Hanks stars as recent widower from Seattle who talks to a radio show host about his troubles and Meg Ryan plays a recently engaged woman from New York who develops a relationship with Hank's character. The plot is a bit cheesy as well as the lines, but that is how chick flicks are made--cheesy plots and lines. Though most guys will not like "Sleepless in Seattle" unless they enjoy other "chick flicks," most women enjoy this contemporary classic of long distance romance. If you like the movie be sure to check out the DVD, which has many more added features such as a music video and commentary by the director and co-writer.

Sleepless in Seattle
WOW! I LOVE this movie! It's a favorite of all my families. I think this is a great love story and almost anyone would enjoy it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Hanging Up
You've got to admire a movie that embraces womanhood as so few mainstream movies do, and Hanging Up deserves credit for combining issues of sisterhood and elderly parent care while relying on neuroses to carry its unconventional plot. But you've also got to lament this botched "dramedy" from screenwriting sisters Nora and Delia Ephron (adapting the latter's novel) and director Diane Keaton, who lack a coherent plan for illuminating their trio of female siblings. Despite a sharp focus on Meg Ryan as the middle sister Eve--a capable Los Angeles event planner--the movie never quite seems to know where it's going, and you feel like the best scenes are merely happy accidents. In exploring the foibles of family, Keaton fared better with her earlier film Unstrung Heroes.In addition to directing, Keaton plays the eldest sister Georgia, a celebrity magazine editor, and Lisa Kudrow is kid sister Maddy, a soap-opera actress who's nearly as self-absorbed as Georgia. They leave it to Eve to care for their declining father (Walter Matthau), a retired screenwriter who slips in and out of lucidity and is, at best, a cantankerous curmudgeon whose estranged wife (Cloris Leachman) has long since severed all family ties. This is potent material--at least it could have been--and Ryan admirably struggles to hold the film together. But it's ultimately a losing battle as the movie, so full of cell phones and disconnected people (hence the title), becomes disconnected itself, offering hollow humor and a few memorable moments with characters whose problems are too minimal to worry about. --Jeff Shannon

Sleepless in Seattle
The director and stars of 1998's You've Got Mail scored a breakthrough hit with this hugely popular romantic comedy from 1993, about a recently engaged woman (Meg Ryan) who hears the sad story of a grieving widower (Tom Hanks) on the radio and believes that they're destined to be together. She's single in New York, he lives in Seattle with a young son, but the cross-country attraction proves irresistible, and pretty soon Meg's on a westbound flight. What happens from there is ... well, you must have been living in a cave to have let this sweet-hearted comedy slip below your pop-cultural radar. There's little complexity or depth to writer-director Nora Ephron's cheesy tale of a romantic fait accompli, and more than a little contrivance to the subplots that threaten to keep Hanks and Ryan from actually meeting. But the purity of star chemistry here is hard to deny, and this may be the first film to indicate the more serious and sympathetic side of Hanks that is revealed in later roles. With its clever jokes about "chick movies" and repeated homage to the classic weeper An Affair to Remember, this may not be everybody's brand of amorous entertainment, but it's got an old-Hollywood charm that appeals to many a movie fan. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (2)

1 hit + 1 flop = a poor choice for a double feature!
Why only 2 stars?? 5 stars for Sleepless in Seattle. -1 star for whoever chose to pair it on a double feature release with "Hanging Up". -2 stars for "Hanging Up".

I think they missed the boat on this one. "Sleepless In Seattle" was a fun romantic comedy, and being a classic movie buff, I really loved how they tied in the scenes and story from "An Affair To Remember". After the wonderful performances by Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, I was certainly eager to see Nora Ephron bring them together again in "You've Got Mail"; a sweet, modernized remake of the original "The Shop Around The Corner". Granted, it didn't do as good as "Sleepless", but it sure beat "Hanging Up"! So why didn't they feature "Mail" as the second feature? Let's see.... same lead actors, same director, both parallel previously made films, both did pretty well at the box office... I guess it wasn't obvious enough.

So, unfortuantely they chose to pair "Sleepless In Seattle" with the box office flop "Hanging Up" for this double feature. Just surf over to the reviews for "Hanging Up" and you'll probably ask the same question. Why?

My guess is that they threw these two movies together to bank on the continued success of "Sleepless In Seattle" in an attempt to make up for the financial loss that was suffered on "Hanging Up". But seriously, if you're looking to add a little romantic comedy to your movie collection, save some bucks and buy "Sleepless in Seattle" separately. "Hanging Up" is worth hanging up on! If you really want to see what you're not missing, spend a few bucks and rent it instead.

Sleepless isnt so sleepless, hanging up should have hung up
I found that Sleepless in Seattle is original, well written and funny. Hanging Up was similar comedy but way more worse than Sleepless in Seattle. My advice is: buy Sleepless In Seattle Special Edition, forget Hanging Up. It's not worth it buying one good movie and one terrible one. ... Read more