Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) owns a charming children's book shop on New York's Upper West Side called The Shop Around the Corner. She inherited the shop from her mother and does her best to make sure it is a haven for children who love reading. Her quirky staff include Birdie (Jean Stapleton), the eccentric accountant with a life full of romantic stories and surprises, George (Steve Zahn), the quiet but intelligent loner, and finally Christina (Heather Burns), the girl Kathleen seems closest to. That is, except for NY152, her online friend.
As Shopgirl, they talk each day by email, sharing anecdotes and feelings with each other, opening up to one another more than they ever do to their significant others. They click perfectly, but they've never met. Yet.
Then there's Joe Fox (Tom Hanks), 3rd generation rich guy whose family is about to open up a FoxBooks discount superstore right around the corner from Kelly's shop. When Joe decides to check out the competition, with his neice and nephew in tow, he is enamored with Kathleen, but hides his identity. Later, they meet at a party while they are with their respective mates. He with Patricia (Parker Posey), the frenetic editor and she with Frank (Greg Kinnear), the passionately political newspaper writer. When Kathleen discovers Joe's true identity, she is angered and feels a bit betrayed. Of course, she goes home after the party to share her feelings with her online friend. Little does she realize that NY152 is none other than Joe Fox!
She avoids Joe as she inevitably sees him in the neighborhood. As her business struggles to stay afloat, she plans rallies to save the store and Frank writes articles. Alas, FoxBooks is just too much of a monolith and her company sadly folds.
In the meantime, Shopgirl and NY152 decide its time to meet. Since the highlight of their day is hearing "You've Got Mail" when they check their AOL email, they are ready to progress forward. They arrange a rendevouz at a coffee shop and Joe brings an associate from FoxBooks, Kevin (Dave Chappelle) along to peek into the window to check her out. Much to Kevin's surprise, he sees Kathleen waiting. Joe decides to go into the shop as himself and annoy Kathleen. But he soon realizes that although Kathleen hates the Joe she knows, they love each other online - where their real personas shine through. Joe then determines to make Kathleen fall in love with the Joe she hates, along with the Joe she thinks she knows.
You've Got Mail is the consummate feel-good romantic comedy. Hanks and Ryan are absolute magic together and this film is as delightful as it was 10 years ago when it premiered. In addition to the film, you've also got several really nice special features. There's a lengthy retrospective with writer and director Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle), Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan where they talk about what it was like to bring this film to life. I hadn't realized that this was one of many remakes of this story, the first being The Shop Around the Corner with Jimmy Stewart. Then it was remade into In the Good Old Summertime with Judy Garland, then as a play and finally as this film. The second featurette discusses the magical chemistry between Hanks and Ryan and delves into other perfect Hollywood pairings such as William Powell and Myrna Loy, Bogie and Bacall, Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, and so on. There's also commentary by Nora Ephron and producer Lauren Shuler Donner, along with an HBO interview with Ephron. There's an interactive map tour of all the nifty places Joe and Kathleen frequent on the Upper West Side, a Carole King music video and the option to watch the film with its music only. While this may seem like an odd special feature, and it is, the soundtrack for You've Got Mail is so spectacular that it makes sense. Classics and modern songs combine to create such a feeling of warmth and romance that this movie warrants a second and third watch based on that alone.
If for some odd reason you have waited to add this precious movie to your collection, then this is the edition to buy. Its full of fun tidbits for fans and would make a perfect gift for Valentine's Day.
