When Harry Met Sally... 1989

Dave Kehr, Chicago Tribune: Reiner wants to maintain the sitcom sense of comfort and familiarity; he creates types that we somehow already know, slightly out-of-focus images in which we can see ourselves and our friends. Read more

Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune: When Harry Met Sally pleasantly affirms the institution of marriage while showing how difficult it is to achieve a lasting one. Read more

Sheila Benson, Los Angeles Times: The summer's uncorseted, unqualified delight. Read more

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel: During the slow passages, I wondered to what extent the film's creators are aware of its Woodyisms, and to what degree they feel guilty about ripping Allen off. Read more

Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: If you love vintage Woody Allen, you'll like the nouveau Rob Reiner. Read more

Caryn James, New York Times: What Harry and Sally do -- the true focus of this often funny but amazingly hollow film -- is saunter through the romanticized lives of intelligent, successful, neurotic New Yorkers. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: Fans of Billy Crystal's amphibian qualities may be amused, but the rest of us have to contend with a slavish Woody Allen imitation. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: Offers an often humorous, occasionally poignant view of men, women, sex, love, and friendship. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: What makes it special, apart from the Ephron screenplay, is the chemistry between Crystal and Ryan. Read more

Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine: Ike Harry and Sally, the movie is hardworking, spot on; it winepresses its conversation into epigrams. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: Reiner clearly likes his characters, and elicits sturdy performances from a proficient cast (Kirby and Fisher are especially fine as friends and confidants to the pair). Read more

Variety Staff, Variety: Rob Reiner directs with deftness and sincerity, making the material seem more engaging than it is, at least until the plot machanics begin to unwind and the film starts to seem shapeless. Read more

Rita Kempley, Washington Post: When Harry Met Sally... is a sweet, embraceable comedy, a moonstruck Manhattan romance that, like a Gershwin tune, turns the sighs and glances, the spats and reconciliations, all the cliches of the heart into infectious melody. Read more