Sleepless in Seattle
[a handy review for the guys]

    Unless you've been living under a rock for the past 15 years, then you have no doubt heard many females talking about this movie. If you are lucky you have avoided having to see it, because it is indeed a true chick-flick. I think that the only action scene consisted of people rushing to make sure they got to the little kid before something bad happened to him.

    Fortunately for you, I'm going to give you something that you can use and save yourself the pain of having to see this movie. Next time your out with a girl, and she says something profound, or maybe even slightly philosophical, you can look over at her and act like you are trying to recall something or someone. Hopefully you can play this up just enough to get her to ask you "what?" or to see what you are thinking. Then say that what she just said reminded you that that would be something like Dr. Marsha Fieldstone would say. How effective is this? Well, out of all the girls I've known, including those who love this movie, none of them ever remember the name of the radio host who puts Sam (Tom Hanks) on the radio. She is only heard throughout this movie. So when your date asks you who Dr. Marsha Fieldstone is you can say the radio shrink in Sleepless in Seattle. Say this as if it doesn't matter.

    Obviously this plan can backfire. She might start trying to discuss the movie (say its been a long time since you've seen it and you don't remember much). She might think you love this kind of movie and insist that you watch them with her. But if you are after scoring points for the here and now, this can't hurt!

    Other things to remember if you feel it'd help your case

• You loved the house Tom Hanks lived in (neat little house on the water - docks for porch etc)
• The movie takes place in SEATTLE and New York
• Tom Hanks is Sam Baldwin
• Meg Ryan is Annie Reed
• Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan made several romantic comedies together
• Norah Ephron (director) also wrote When Harry Met Sally (which you can bluff through too - see review for guys)
• Julia Roberts declined the Meg Ryan role
• When the taxi driver takes Jonah (Sam's kid) to the Empire State Building he asks him: "What are you going to do when you get up there? Spit off the top?" You thought that was funny, right?
• There are references to Fatal Attraction (Michael Douglas movie)
• No nudity in this flick
• A funny exchange on the airplane when Meg Ryan is asked by the passenger flying beside here "Don't you hate flying" and Meg proceeds to tell her how she hates to lie and that it feels dishonest and that she just lied to someone, etc. The passenger then says "I said FLYING". That's great.
• The music is ok.

    If you are so unlucky as to have your date end with her going home alone, then she'll probably grab her copy of this movie and play it to see if you are right!

    Remember -- you don't have to say you liked the movie, or even agree to see more of this type, but that you have seen it.

    Or if you'd prefer to take the more honest route, you can actually buy or rent the movie and watch it. It isn't bad, in fact, I rather enjoyed it. There is some nice philosophy in it, things to think about. You can learn a few things. (Not from the Walter character, of course, but you can learn some things). And then you too, like Sam, can realize that maybe you need to evaluate yourself from different angles. How is my butt, anyway?

Oh - and one last thing. If she asks you your favorite part of the movie -- say the ending. She'll assume you mean the ending when Sam and Annie realize they are in love. You really mean the credits and that you've lived through it!