Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

The critic deems it a real charmer and romantic comedy that almost makes us forget modern-day cynicism, delivering both romance and comedy through its bicoastal dream-lovers premise. He singles out the sparkling performances of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan for their simpatico chemistry and ability to shift between poignancy and wisecracks.

The critic praises it as a gloriously old-fashioned and unashamedly manipulative romantic comedy that works superbly by keeping its stars apart for most of the film, highlighting its box-office success and the effective use of An Affair to Remember as a touchstone.

The critic praises the film's unapologetic romanticism and heartfelt sincerity as it follows two people falling in love via radio across the country. He highlights the appealing lead performances by Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan and notes the story's warm, gentle charm despite its contrived elements.

The critic praises the film's balance of romance and realism through skeptical leads who gradually connect despite limited shared screen time. Ephron's visual parallels, collaborative direction, and strong supporting cast (especially Hanks with his son) are singled out for making the rom-com feel grounded and timeless.

The critic calls it deeply sentimental and less insightful or funny than When Harry Met Sally, but finds it infuriatingly irresistible thanks to strong performances from Hanks and Ryan, a sparkling supporting cast, and snappy dialogue scenes.

The critic praises director and co-writer Nora Ephron for bringing terrific flair, wit and nous to this smart 90s romcom re-release. They highlight the clever reversal of the An Affair to Remember premise and smart humour such as the tiramisu gag.

A hugely enjoyable romantic comedy that attacks both the funny bone and tear-ducts with equal success. Ephron's script is often uproariously funny with strong support from the cast, though the soundtrack is sometimes too literal.

The review values the film's self-aware take on how media and cultural myths shape ideas of destined love, while affirming its charm as a guilty pleasure. It singles out the exploration of technology's role in idealizing romance and the open-ended Empire State Building finale for its nuance.

The review finds the film worth seeing for its stars but notes the leads hardly meet, calling the premise a horribly suitable nineties idea of romantic common sense with safe love. It singles out Tom Hanks as the best reason to see the movie, while observing the story glisten with charm rather than buzz with life.

The critic calls it a feather-light romantic comedy about lovers who meet only in the final reel, a stunt that works far more effectively than expected and shrewdly manipulates emotions for entertaining effect. He singles out the frequent references to the 1957 film 'An Affair to Remember' as an interesting yardstick for the new movie.

A joyful rebuff to dating myths that has fun with male-female attitudes to romance. Psychotic undertones aside, it celebrates the romcom's charm on its 21st-anniversary reissue.

The review describes the film as purposefully schmaltzy in a manner that's almost cynical, with an inherent appeal in the setup but a leisurely pace that loses momentum before a heart-tugging finale. It singles out the strong performances by Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, and young Ross Malinger as highlights amid the contrived elements.

The critic has never understood the film's appeal. The central pair are irredeemably bland and their cutesy long-distance romance is the perfect cure for insomnia.

The critic celebrates the film's unabashed romanticism and fairy-tale quality as a welcome contrast to more cynical modern love stories. She singles out its graceful handling of the protagonists' connection through witty dialogue and silence for praise.

The piece ranks the film highly among rom-coms, praising its hopeful storytelling, witty elements, and the way it elevates romantics through coincidence, longing, and a leap of faith. It highlights a specific scene of emotional connection via radio and apple-peeling detail as emblematic of its genius.

The critic views the film as an unconventional, chaste, and meta romantic dramedy that ponders romance and movie influences more than delivering sparks or traditional rom-com beats. It singles out the film's self-aware movie references and cultural resonance as a successful yet atypical hit.