You've Got Mail (1998) * * * 1/2

Directed by:  Nora Ephron

Starring:  Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Greg Kinnear, Jean Stapleton, Dabney Coleman, Parker Posey, John Randolph, Steve Zahn

You've Got Mail is a sweet, tender romantic comedy for the Internet age.   It was released in 1998 when the Internet was in its infancy and people still visited chat rooms and had dial-up service through AOL.   It is amusing to see here how quickly the characters are able to log in using dial-up.   

The film is a remake of The Shop Around The Corner (1940), the Jimmy Stewart film in which two co-workers who dislike each other find themselves to be anonymous pen pals who don't realize each other's real identities.    You've Got Mail stretches out the contrivance by making its leads competing business owners who email each other anonymously.    "No names" and "nothing specific" are the ground rules when the two converse.    Of course, if they revealed themselves the movie would be over and we would be denied the pleasure of seeing everything play out.

Tom Hanks plays Joe Fox, a third-generation owner of Fox & Sons Books, one of those bookstore chains that offered discounted books, plenty of chairs, and plenty of coffee to sip while reading.     "We offer deep discount books and legally addicting stimulants," says Joe.    These bookstore chains have mostly gone the way of dial-up internet service oddly enough.      Ryan's Kathleen Kelly is the owner of a small bookstore named, "The Shop Around The Corner", which offers a cozy atmosphere, expensive children's books, and storytime every Saturday afternoon.  

They meet in-person at Kathleen's store, each not knowing that they've already met online.    Joe brings two small children with him, both of whom are not his children, niece, or nephew.    "Annabel is my aunt.    She is my grandfather's daughter.    Matt is my brother.    He is my father's son.    We are an American family."     They meet again at a dinner party, in which Joe reveals himself to be the owner of the soon-to-be-opening Fox Books and a direct threat to Kathleen's business.    They squabble whenever they meet, although online they confide in each other.    

The two agree to meet.    Joe arrives to see Kathleen sitting at a restaurant table awaiting her anonymous friend.     Instead of confessing to Kathleen that he is indeed her online pal, Joe surveys the situation, understanding full well that Kathleen would likely not accept him as she knows him, and pretends he is just in the neighborhood.     This leads Kathleen to believe she was stood up when actually he was there all along.     It is poignant when she tells Joe he has "a cash register where his heart should be," not knowing that he is the same man she has fallen for online.

Other issues stand in the way of Joe and Kathleen's potential happiness.    Both have live-in lovers, who exist only to be dumped.     When The Shop Around The Corner eventually goes under thanks to Fox Books, it seems to be an insurmountable hurdle.     Yet, Joe develops a plan to win Kathleen's love by befriending her and truly becoming the man she already loves on the internet.     Hanks and Ryan can play charming and likable people effortlessly.     Ryan has more smiles than some people have expressions.     I think I have read that in another review of this film, but I couldn't think of a better way to put it.

We don't go into You've Got Mail expecting anything less than its two leads finally coming together at the end after a long time apart.     Sure, it's predictable, but if done well is as comforting and enjoyable as, well, a hot mug of coffee if you like that sort of thing.     You've Got Mail earns its happy ending.