Today’s quick review: Sleepless in Seattle. After losing his wife to cancer, Sam (Tom Hanks) moves to Seattle with his son Jonah (Ross Malinger). But when Sam is still depressed after a year and a half, Jonah calls into a nationwide radio show to ask for advice. In Baltimore, Annie (Meg Ryan) hears the broadcast and falls in love with Sam. Now she must choose whether to stay with her dull fiance (Bill Pullman) or take a chance on love.
Sleepless in Seattle is a romance about two strangers from opposite ends of the country who fall in love. The movie follows Sam as he tries to get back into dating and Annie as she wrestles with feelings she can’t quite explain. Sleepless in Seattle handles its premise well and does a good job building to its finale. However, its indirect story and subdued presentation style will not speak to everyone.
Sleepless in Seattle’s strength lies with its characters. Sam and Jonah are likable enough to spend time with, while Annie strikes the right balance between ordinary and a little quirky. The performances of Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, and Ross Malinger are all hard to fault. The movie also orchestrates its story well, showing in countless subtle ways that Sam and Annie are right for each other even though they have never met.
The catch is that Sleepless in Seattle does not have the usual crutches of most romances. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan get comparatively little screen time together, so their chemistry is indirect. The movie has snatches of comedy, but the overall tone is wistful. Sleepless in Seattle is also old-fashioned in some peculiar ways, with everything from the soundtrack to the presentation style designed to evoke the romantic movies of old.
Ultimately, Sleepless in Seattle accomplishes what it sets out to do, but it does not have the immediate, universal appeal of other romances. Those in the mood for something slow and sentimental will enjoy the movie for its performances, its understated sense of humor, and the touch of destiny its romance has. But if you are looking for easy laughs, a fast-paced story, or a close personal connection, you may want to steer clear.
For another romantic drama starring Meg Ryan, try City of Angels. For more winding love story starring Tom Hanks, try Forrest Gump. For a somewhat darker story with a similarly wistful tone, try Frequency.
[6.8 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108160/). I give it a 7.0 for solid execution of a hit-or-miss premise.