Sleepless in Seattle [PG]

Eighteen months after the death of his wife, Sam Baldwin isn’t holding up too well. Moving him and his son to Seattle, he dives into work rather than attempt to look for a new woman. Worried that his father is sad, Jonah rings in to a radio psychiatrist and asks for advice. Soon Sam ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ is the country’s most desired man, even to Annie in Baltimore who is on the verge of getting married. But is Annie’s beau the right man for her? Or is it this Sam who she’s never met, never seen, and doesn’t know, the one? 

This is that movie that everyone, even other chick flicks claims is the ultimate girls’ movie. If you’re a woman of the ‘90s and haven’t seen this flick, you’re shunned. Yes I am a child of the ‘90s and it has taken me this long to see this flick, but I have to say that it’s one of those that become a little dated. Whilst being refreshing in story and charming in script and performances, Sleepless in Seattle is just another cute romantic comedy of the ‘90s and it has to be said that much better chick flicks are around. One thing that I do want to comment on, somewhat humorously, is the fact that this movie is the one that other chick flicks refer to, but throughout it, it always refers to An Affair to Remember. It just goes to show that intertextuality is a strong driving force within the cinematic arts. 

So, let’s get down to the film. The story is undeniably refreshing and adorable, though admittedly a little far-fetched and unbelievable. The romance of love at first sight is one thing, but love at first sound is quite another and, maybe it’s because I’m writing from the digital age where totally nothing is as it seems, the sparkling human romance factor in this film was sort of ‘um, uh, no I don’t think so’. It’s cute, but nothing more. 

Another thing I couldn’t help noticing was how heavy on the instrumental and crooners the soundtrack was. It’s a very ‘80s/early ‘90s thing to have the soundtrack as such a strong part of the movie, and while it does work (for the most part), there are just some moments where you think, this doesn’t really add anything to this scene. 

The performances, on the other hand, were all lovely. Tom Hanks as Sam makes a very cute father and dick at the same time, whilst Meg Ryan as Annie is very bubbly and fidgety, a regular conductor of electricity. The two together, though they don’t get much screen time were actually kind of interesting because they were an unstoppable force and an immovable object that meet in the middle of the street. There’s romance in there, and that made it nice. 

Starring Ross Malinger, Rita Wilson, Victor Garber, Tom Riis Farrell, Carey Lowell, Bill Pullman, Rosie O’Donnell, Dana Ivey, and Rob Reiner, Sleepless in Seattle is an undeniably cute little romantic comedy, but it’s not the greatest romance film ever made. Time has staled it a little and the themes that it explores just don’t seem to translate as well over the years. Filled with love, impulse, read and misread signs, attempts, and fails, it’s a film that I am glad that I’ve watched, but it might be a while before I sit down and watch it again.