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The Nora Ephron-directed 1998 romantic comedy “You’ve Got Mail” once again features the knock-out duo of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Hanks and Ryan joined forces for “Joe Versus the Volcano,” and “Sleepless in Seattle,” and their on-screen chemistry proves stellar in “You’ve Got Mail.” A true genre-film, what it lacks in substance the movie more than compensates for in style and technical proficiency.
Kathleen Kelly (Ryan) owns the fittingly-named bookstore The Shop Around the Corner. Although Kelly is in a relationship with liberal New York Observer columnist Frank Navasky (Greg Kinnear), she meets Joe Fox (Hanks) in an online chat room and the pair begin regular e-mail correspondence. However, Kathleen and Joe begin their accord innocently enough, refusing to reveal their real names. Instead, the pair are known to each other by their screen names, NY152 for Joe, and Shopgirl for Kathleen.
Coincidentally, Joe Fox works in the book industry as well, and his family’s company Fox Books begins construction on a new building. And guess what’s just around the corner? Yep, The Shop Around the Corner, a beloved neighborhood independent children’s bookstore. When his 11-year-old aunt Annabelle (Hallee Hirsh) and 4-year-old half-brother Matthew (Jeffrey Scaperrotta) drag Joe into Kathleen’s store, Shopgirl and NY152 meet in the real-world, unbeknownst to both parties. While online the duo appears as lovebirds, business interests and personality differences indicate otherwise.
Director Nora Ephron, who likewise helmed Ryan-Hanks hit “Sleepless in Seattle,” reunites the two co-stars for a delightful rom-com in “You’ve Got Mail.” While the plot is fairly straightforward, it’s the chemistry between Hanks and Ryan that solidifies “You’ve Got Mail” as a charming, endearing flick. It’s a pretty familiar set up, with two characters overcoming obstacles such as pre-existing partners and conflicting business interests with an audience rooting for their eventual romance. Both Kelly and Fox are in committed relationships, with Kathleen dating Frank and Joe courting Patricia Eden (Parker Posey). Further complicating the matter, Joe is deadset on driving The Shop Around the Corner out of business. Oh, and the small matter of Fox and Kelly not knowing one another’s true identities but nevertheless being smitten.
It’s the details and characters that bring the story to life. The ensemble cast infuses a pizazz into the script. Kelly’s staff at the Shop Around the Corner includes aging bookkeper Birdie (Jean Stapleton) who laments that she couldn’t marry a former lover, “because he had to run Spain.” Comedically, Joe’s aunt is 11, and his half-brother is 4. While this particular point serves as the crux of his venturing into Kathleen’s children’s book store, it’s totally off-the-wall. Dave Chapelle puts in a magnificent performance as Fox Books branch manager Kevin. The movie features an enchanting cartoonish vibe, accentuated by George Fenton’s upbeat score.
Admittedly, the narrative is a bit predictable in spots. Yet, the marvelous third act manages to defy expectations. Similarly, it avoids delving into the politics of the big-box retailer versus the independent book store, leaving that story arc without commentary. Parker Posey gets far too little screentime, and what seems like a ploy to unite Joe and Kathleen’s exes is strangely underdeveloped despite more than a small hint.
It’s not a spoiler to say that “You’ve Got Mail,” eventually goes exactly where you predict it will. But it’s an exceedingly charming, fun-filled film. Even at its darkest moments, the movie maintains a lighthearted air, and small tidbits such as Joe’s young relatives or Birdie’s one-liners lend an impressive wit to a remarkably spunky romantic comedy.
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