Kathleen Kelly runs The Shop Around the Corner, a small bookstore on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, and falls in love with a man she knows only through email. That man turns out to be Joe Fox, who runs a giant bookstore chain and is trying to put her out of business. The setup is clever. The execution is less so.
Trailer, via Warner Bros. Rewind.
The Setup
The Shop Around the Corner is a small independent bookstore that sells children’s books. Kathleen inherited it from her mother. Joe Fox is a businessman who runs a large bookstore chain and is dating Patricia Eden, an abrasive publisher. The two trade emails under the handles Shopgirl and NY152, unaware that their business rivals are the people they have grown fond of.
The Romance
The online romance is the film’s best idea. Kathleen and NY152 exchange intimate messages about their lives, their jobs, and their fears. The intimacy builds slowly, and the film trusts the audience to feel it rather than spell it out. When Kathleen learns Joe’s identity, the discovery lands with real force.
The Business Conflict
Once Kathleen knows who NY152 is, the film shifts from romance to conflict. Kathleen’s staff worry that a new Fox Books store will hurt their business. Kathleen dismisses their concerns. Then Joe shows up at her store with his aunt and half-brother for a storytime event. He hides his identity, but the film gives away the secret too early.
The Column
Frank Navasky, Kathleen’s partner, writes a column supporting The Shop Around the Corner. The column draws attention, talk show appearances, and picketing outside Fox Books. Joe is upset by the negative publicity, but his father insists it will blow over.
The Cast
Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan lead the film. Parker Posey plays Patricia Eden, the abrasive publisher. Jean Stapleton plays Birdie Conrad, one of Kathleen’s employees. Dave Chappelle plays Kevin Jackson, another employee. Greg Kinnear plays Frank Navasky. Steve Zahn plays George Pappas, another employee. Dabney Coleman plays Nelson Fox, Joe’s father. John Randolph plays Schulyer Fox, Joe’s grandfather. Hallee Hirsh plays Annabelle Fox, Joe’s aunt. Jeffrey Scaperrotta plays Matt Fox, Joe’s half-brother.
The Problem
The problem is pacing. Once Kathleen learns Joe’s identity, the film rushes through the rest of the story. The conflict drags, the resolution feels rushed, and the ending ties everything up too neatly. The AOL references feel dated, and the film’s title comes from AOL’s greeting.
The Verdict
You’ve Got Mail is a film with a strong idea and a weak execution. The romance works. The business conflict doesn’t. The cast is excellent, but the script doesn’t give them much to do in the second half. The film is a relic of a bygone era, and it knows it, but it can’t escape its own nostalgia.
Key Facts
- Title: You’ve Got Mail
- Director: Nora Ephron
- Screenplay: Nora Ephron, Delia Ephron
- Lead actors: Meg Ryan, Tom Hanks, Parker Posey, Jean Stapleton, Dave Chappelle, Greg Kinnear
- Release date: December 18, 1998
- Runtime: 119 minutes
- Budget: $65 million
- Worldwide gross: $250.8 million
Schedule
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Principal photography begins | February 1998 |
| Principal photography ends | June 1998 |
| Release date | December 18, 1998 |
The film is a reminder that a great premise is not enough. You’ve Got Mail is a relic of a bygone era, and it knows it, but it can’t escape its own nostalgia.
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