History Film / WhenHarryMetSally

Five years later, both of them re-meet after having been dumped by their other halves, and become friends. They resolve to [[JustFriends just be friends]]... for most of the movie they ''succeed'' in this. Their relationship has little sexual tension, and is punctuated by extended conversations where they discuss love, friendship, scatological humor and ''Film/{{Casablanca}}''. The {{Aesop}} seems to be that people really [[ThePowerOfFriendship need friendships]]- the nonsexual comfort zone Harry and Sally establish with each other is what allows them to move on from their failed relationships. To each other, in case you haven't [[ForegoneConclusion figured that out yet]].

** ValuesDissonance: Harry mentions that she's keeping her maiden name (presumably for business purposes) during his engagement. This is clearly meant as foreshadowing since Helen's not that into Harry and will ditch him at the first opportunity. In a post-feminist world, taking your husband's last name isn't really a qualifier.

** Later used to even better effect with a ''four-way'' split screen call when Harry and Sally simultaneously call Jess and Marie.

-->'''Sally''': I'd like the chef salad, please, with the oil and vinegar on the side. And the apple pie a la mode. But I'd like the pie heated, and I don't want the ice cream on top, I want it on the side. And I'd like strawberry instead of vanilla if you have it. If not, then no ice cream, just whipped cream, but only if it's real. If it's out of a can, then nothing.

-->'''Sally''': No, then the pie, but not heated.

* PrecisionFStrike: It's truly startling when Sally drops an F-bomb.

Five years later, both of them re-meet after having been dumped by their other halves, and become friends. They resolve to [[JustFriends just be friends]]... for most of the movie they ''succeed'' in this. Their relationship has little sexual tension, and is punctuated by extended conversations where they discuss love, friendship, scatalogical humor and ''Film/{{Casablanca}}''. The {{Aesop}} seems to be that people really [[ThePowerOfFriendship need friendships]]- the nonsexual comfort zone Harry and Sally establish with each other is what allows them to move on from their failed relationships. To each other, in case you haven't [[ForegoneConclusion figured that out yet]].

* MayDecemberRomance: Harry's rebound girlfriend. Lampshaded, characteristically, by Harry himself.

* AlliterativeName: Harry's ex, Helen Hillson.

* ThrowItIn: Harry's weird accent in the museum. Meg Ryan's reaction is real; you can see her glance off-screen at Rob Reiner.

** And Sally's habit of ordering belongs to Nora Ephron.

Billy Crystal and Rob Reiner recently appeared in a [[RealTrailerFakeMovie spoof trailer]] on [=FunnyOrDie=].com for ''[[http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/0247468f28/when-harry-met-sally-2-with-billy-crystal-helen-mirren When Harry Met Sally 2]]'', where ExecutiveMeddling has turned a continuation of the original film into a shameless cashing in on the vampire craze.

[[DeadpanSnarker Harry Burns]] and [[WideEyedIdealist Sally Albright]] first meet when they share a drive from college in Chicago to NewYorkCity. He's seeing her friend Amanda and comes on to her; she turns him down and says they can be friends. He points out that if you're a guy, you will always be attracted to the female friend and want to sleep with her, thus they decide not to be friends. They revisit the question five years later when they are both taken and run into each other in an airport, once again resolving that no, they cannot.

* OralFixationFixation: Harry and his grape seeds. [*ptooey*]

* HypocriticalHumor: Sally can't recall the name of her room-mate in college. A scene later, she shames harry for forgetting her name, too.

[[DeadpanSnarker Harry Burns]] and [[WideEyedIdealist Sally Albright]] first meet when they ride from college to NewYorkCity. He's seeing her friend Amanda and comes on to her; she turns him down and says they can be friends. He points out that if you're a guy, you will always be attracted to the female friend and want to sleep with her, thus they decide not to be friends. They revisit the question five years later when they are both taken and run into each other in an airport, once again resolving that no, they cannot.

Five years later, both of them re-meet after having been dumped by their SO's, and become friends. While resolving to [[JustFriends just be friends]]...well for most of the movie they ''succeed'' in this. Their relationship has little sexual tension, and is punctuated by extended conversations where they discuss love, friendship, scatalogical humor, and ''Film/{{Casablanca}}''. The {{Aesop}} seems to be that people really [[ThePowerOfFriendship need friendships]]- the nonsexual comfort zone Harry and Sally establish with each other is what allows them to move on from their failed relationships. To each other, in case you haven't [[ForegoneConclusion figured that out yet]].

In terms of the RomanticComedy genre, this movie's main contribution was its popularization of ContemplateOurNavels as a form of CharacterDevelopment and emotional connection- Harry and Sally are defined almost entirely by their interactions with each other. What external factors do exist they usually discuss with each other directly and personally.

Viewers familiar with the modern RomCom may be caught off-guard, as this movie lacks the HighConcept and HotterAndSexier tropes the genre is famous for. There's almost no sex or even provocative clothing. There's vastly more scenes of people in bed, alone, wearing pajamas and talking on the phone than getting their sex on. The "R" rating was likely due to the famed restaurant scene.

* SeventiesHair: Sally is sporting Farrah Hair in college.

** Harry may be alone and loveless on New Year's, but at least he can.... catch up on his window shopping?

* BrickJoke: In the 70s, Harry scoffs at the notion that Sally could ever have "great sex" with a guy named Sheldon. Guess [[GoMadFromTheRevelation who his wife leaves him for]]? [[spoiler:Ira.]]

* DangerTakesABackSeat: PlayedForLaughs on the plane, when Sally fails to escape Harry's facial recognition.

** Couple #4 is an inversion; they were born in the same building, worked in the same office, and never met once (until a fateful elevator ride).

** Also, Harry's confession that his dates always end with him desperate to yank on his clothes and flee out the door.

-->"Mr. Kline died yesterday, leaving behind a wife, two children, and [[TheTriple a spacious three bedroom apartment with a wood burning fireplace]]."

* TheGhost: Mr. Zero.

* HypocriticalHumor: Sally can't recall the name of her roommate in college. A scene later, she shames harry for forgetting her name, too.

** Jess and Marie promising not to ditch their dates... and then diving headfirst into the nearest cab.

--->"Buenos dias Senor Cleaver. Donde esta Wallace y Theodore?"
* InelegantBlubbering: Sally hearing the news of her ex's wedding engagement.

** UptightLovesWild: A rare [[InvertedTrope inversion]] of this trope. Sally starts the film as a chaste Christian, while Harry is a greasy bohemian.

* SkunkStripe: The Asian gentleman's wife has this hairstyle.

* SoundtrackDissonance: Harry mistakingly sing a song from ''{{Theatre/Oklahoma}}'' in a department store, summoning his ex-wife and her boyfriend over. "Surry With a Fringe on Top" continues to blare over the awkward silence.

'''Harry:''' An [[FunWithAcronyms L.M]]. Definitely

* ThrowItIn: Harry's weird accent in the museum. Meg Ryan's reaction is real; you can see her glance offscreen at Rob Reiner.

* YourCheatingHeart: Marie has a long-term affair with the married Arthur. Sally continually reminds her that Arthur is never going to leave his wife; Marie always admits to it, but a few scenes later, she's discussing him yet again...

* IncrediblyLameFun: Battery-operated pith [[AdventurerOutfit helmet]]! [[AndADietCoke With fan.]]

* AdventurerOutfit: Battery-operated pith helmet. [[AndADietCoke With fan!]]
-->'''Sally:''' [wearing hat] [[IncrediblyLameFun Why is this necessary in life]]?\\
'''Harry:''' [[SlicesDicesAndMakesJulienneFries Also makes great fries.]]

Five years later, both of them re-meet after having been dumped by their SO's, and become friends. While resolving to [[JustFriends just be friends]]...well for most of the movie they ''succeed'' in this. Their relationship has little sexual tension, and is punctuated by extended conversations where they discuss love, friendship, scatalogical humor, and {{Casablanca}}. The {{Aesop}} seems to be that people really [[ThePowerOfFriendship need friendships]]- the nonsexual comfort zone Harry and Sally establish with each other is what allows them to move on from their failed relationships. To each other, in case you haven't [[ForegoneConclusion figured that out yet]].

* SeinfeldianConversation: Arguing over whether Ingrid Bergman should have stayed with Bogart in ''{{Casablanca}}''.

* {{Joisey}}: In the doomed date with Maries, Harry reveals his birthplace: [[Franchise/{{Halloween}} Haddonfield]].

* MostWritersAreWriters: When Harry reveals that his wife's been cheating, Jess all but breaks the fourth wall. "I'm a writer, I ''know'' dialogue, and that was ''particularly'' harsh!"

* {{Joisey}}: In the doomed date with Maries, Harry reveals his birthplace: [[{{Film/Halloween}} Haddonfield]].

* ForInconveniencePressOne: Harry parodies this in one of his apologetic voicemails.

'''Jess:''' NO ONE I KNOW WOULD CALL AT THIS HOUR!

* FunnyAnsweringMachine: In reverse. Harry fills up Sally's machine with profuse apologies.
--> *beep* "Hi, it's me! It is the holiday season and I thought I'd just remind you that this is the season for charity and forgiveness. And although it's not widely known, it is also [[AintTooProudToBeg the season of groveling]]. So if you felt like calling me back, I'd be more than happy to do the traditional Christmas grovel."
** And in the next scene:
-->"The fact that you're not answering leads me to believe you're either [[ForInconveniencePressOne (a) not at home, (b) home but don't want to talk to me]], or [[BreadEggsMilkSquick (c) home, desperately want to talk to me, but trapped under something heavy]]. If it's either (a) or (c), please call me back."