Sleepless in Seattle [1993]

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
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 are 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, Amazon.com

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Special Features
1.85 Wide Screen
DVD 9
French\German\Italian\Spanish
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital Surround English
Dolby Digital Surround

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Synopsis
Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) is a good father and a successful architect, but also a lonely widower. One night his precocious 8-year-old son Jonah calls a late-night radio talk show seeking a cure for his father's despondency. When Sam hesitantly takes the phone and discloses the story of his magic-filled marriage, he proves to be a deeply feeling and gentle man. His plight profoundly moves the programme's sympathetic female listeners, and thousands of women write in offering to help him 'recover' from his mournful insomnia. Recently betrothed Annie Reed (Meg Ryan) is one of the many listeners touched by Sam's story. To complicate matters, she's afraid her upcoming marriage promises stability and security but no excitement. Although Annie's supposed to be driving to her future in-laws' house for the holidays, she knows that she's already fallen in love with Sam and is on the road to destiny. She treks across country on a wildly romantic impulse to meet him...

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From the Back Cover
Christmas is a magical time when anything can happen. And for Annie Reed (Meg Ryan), a down-to-earth newspaper reporter, it's just about to. Whilst driving to her fiance's house on Christmas Eve, she hears a radio broadcast that will change her life.

Eight-year-old Jonah is worried about his recently widowed father, and calls a radio station agony aunt. Persuaded onto the phone, Jonah's dad Sam (Tom Hanks) tells of his love for his dead wife and how their time together was pure magic. Annie is so touched by his heartfelt sentiment that she becomes determined to meet him. But there are a few problems: Sam's in Seattle, Annie's in Baltimore...and Sam doesn't even know that Annie exists!

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-08-28 rating:
Good natured romantic drama
Tom Hanks (Big) stars as Sam, a single parent. A year after losing his wife, he is struggling with the loss and to help him, his son Jonah phones a radio station to ask for advice, and Annie from Baltimore hears and knows she must meet up with Sam.

Filled with plenty of romantic conventions, Nora Ephron's 1993 romantic drama creates a light hearted feel good film, with funny and dramatic moments for viewers of all ages.

Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan (When Harry met Sally), in their first collaboration, are perfect in their respective role, especially Ryan who is very funny, where as Hanks takes the more serious roles, which he is always perfect at.

But the actor who steals the show is Ross Maligner, who is exceptional as Sam's son Jonah, a cheeky 8 year old kid who has plenty on his mind, and a temper and encouragement to match. His smart remarks about Victoria are pure genius, helped along by some classic facial expressions to make him the star of the film.

Though completely unrealistic, this romantic drama generates a healthy plot with the ideology about finding the right person, which is enough to keep the mood alive. The difficulty in the character's lives is good to generate the concept of the right person, with Sam and his lost wife, and Annie and her bizarre fiancé.

The lack of realism happens with a cheesy saying the same words, meeting at the same time, or just in time, an 8 year old girl hacking into a computer and an 8 year old kid getting on a plane all the way to New York.

The lack of realism can take the edge of the plot, depending on how you look at it. For me, the humour and the likability of the characters was enough to let it slip.

It is a very character driven film, helped along by the concept of finding the right person, to make an enjoyable and funny romantic drama.

8/10

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review by: date: 2007-11-30 rating:
The disc is rubbish
Superb acting but the disc supplied by Indigostarfish is crap I am a collector and expect reliable stock material

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review by: SRW date: 2007-09-26 rating:
WARM GLOW ALL OVER
It sounded like a 'chick flick' but i loved it. It was a pleasant break from death and destruction.

'Nice' storyline and good chemistry between Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks (almost as good as Billy Crystal/Meg Ryan in When Harry met Sally).
Right up there with the best of this genre.

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review by: date: 2007-09-06 rating:
One of my favourite romantic comedies
This is one of best romantic comedies of the last couple of decades (I've watched most of them). It has an interesting well developed plot, likeable characters and the romance feels real. Great film!


review by: xyzzy date: 2007-06-11 rating:
Hanks and Ryan together again
Sleepless in Seattle is a great movie on many levels. It is basically parody on "Love Story" with a few changes. Naturally if you notice the cast you already have half of the formula figured out. But the beauty in this movie is in the details.

A recent widower moves across the country to Seattle to get away from old memories. His kid tells the father's story on a talk radio show and says that his dad needs a new wife. You hear heartstrings of women listeners twanging and more than a few closes in for the kill.

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Similar products

You've Got Mail [1999]
When Harry Met Sally [1989]
While You Were Sleeping [1995]
French Kiss [1995]
Notting Hill [1999]

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