You've Got Mail (1998)

Ridiculous fluff that might be tolerable if it wasn't completely unbelievable. No, I take that back; The real problem is that it simply wastes talent. Only Meg Ryan is fun and sweet and likable here. Tom Hanks is wasted in a thankless role as her asshole suitor. For what it's worth, Hanks does a fine job here. It's just that we could care less. The real sadness is the waste of supporting players. Parker Posey and Geg Kinnear may be given a few things to do but their characters are practically abandoned midway through the film. For some reason Director\Writer Nora Ephron casts Steve Zahn, Jane Adams, Dabney Coleman, Dave Chappel and Jean Stapleton in minor roles and then has them do absolutely nothing. It's a bitter waste of supreme talent. 

In the end, we are left to believe that after Hanks lies and deceives Ryan for over an hour, she would still want to be with him. Ha ha ha! That's the unkindest cut of all. And a real slap in the face to woman in particular and romance in general.

Another problem with the film is the use of music. 99% of the songs mean absolutely nothing to the visuals that they accentuate. For example, when Hanks first takes his young family members to Ryan's children's book store, the score plays "Splish Splash." What? It doesn't even make any fucking sense. Generally, Ephron uses oldies and whimpy Randy Newman rejects throughout which make the film seem like a soggy, smelly dishrag.

Based on an old play and film called "The Shop Around the Corner," "You've Got Mail" is as hollow and as meaningless as most of the e-mail I receive.

Report Card

Script: F

Acting: C

Cinematography\Lighting: D

Special Effects\Make Up: C

Music: F

Final Grade: F