You've Got Mail (1998)

Director:

Nora Ephron

Writers (WGA):

Miklós László (play)
Nora Ephron (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

18 December 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Someone you pass on the street may already be the love of your life.

Plot:

Two business rivals hate each other at the office but fall in love over the internet.

Plot Keywords:

Bookstore | Internet | Book | Love | Remake

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 7 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Dec. 12	8:00 PM	E
Sun. Dec. 13	2:00 PM	E

Cast

Tom Hanks	...	Joe Fox
Meg Ryan	...	Kathleen Kelly
Katie Sagona	...	Young Kathleen Kelly
Greg Kinnear	...	Frank Navasky
Parker Posey	...	Patricia Eden
Jean Stapleton	...	Birdie Conrad
Steve Zahn	...	George Pappas
Heather Burns	...	Christina Plutzker
Dave Chappelle	...	Kevin Jackson
Dabney Coleman	...	Nelson Fox
John Randolph	...	Schuyler Fox
Hallee Hirsh	...	Annabelle Fox
Jeffrey Scaperrotta	...	Matt Fox
Cara Seymour	...	Gillian Quinn
Katie Finneran	...	Maureen, the Nanny

Also Known As:

You Have Mail (USA) (working title)
You've Got M@il (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some language.

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:Atp | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Hong Kong:I | India:U | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG | Australia:PG | Brazil:14

Filming Locations:

210 Riverside Drive, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The scene where Joe accidentally closes the door of Kathleen's shop on the balloons was unscripted. Tom Hanks actually did that, and ad libbed the line, "Good thing it wasn't the fish." The director thought it was so funny that she kept it in.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Kathleen is waiting to meet NY152 for the first time and Joe walks in, he puts his coat over the back of the chair twice.

Quotes:

Joe Fox: Kevin, this is possibly the most adorable creature I've ever been in contact with, and if she turns out to be as good looking as a mailbox... I would be crazy enough to turn my life upside down and marry her.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Tracey Fragments (2007)

Soundtrack:

Over the Rainbow

"Chemistry, likeable characters make this film work"

In films like You've Got Mail, where you can almost predict how it's going to turn out as soon as the opening credits appear, then it is up to the writers, director, and actors, to get us to enjoy the journey to the end credits. Nora and Delia Ephron's script succeeds because they know their characters well, and give them a can't miss plot device. Tom Hanks is believable as the head of a gigantic bookstore chain, as is Meg Ryan as the owner of a small children's bookstore shop. As the guy who is putting Meg out of business by opening a chain store close to her little shop, Tom Hanks character comes across as the arrogant person who only goal seems to open as many bookstores as he can, and make as much money as he can in doing so. When he is talking to Meg Ryan on the internet, we see another side of him, and learn that possibly, he's not the evil guy you think he is. Of course, in person, Meg hates him for what he is doing, on the internet, she falls in love with him. This is what makes the film work, as their reaction to each other in person is completely different from when they talk on line. Some people may quibble that the ending is not very believable, but face it, do you fall in love with a person because of who they are, or what you think they are? I think this question is answered quite adequately.