MovieChat Forums > Sleepless in Seattle (1993) Discussion > This movie is not built up right

This movie is not built up right

posted 10 years ago by Dreamcatcher9000
5 replies | jump to latest

Ok, it's a nice idea for a movie. A woman about to be married with a nice and boring man, listens on the radio a widowed (or "widowered", inside joke!) man from the other side of the country, talking about his deceased wife with a way that it touches her. She thinks of meeting this man.
So, after some time, she goes to Seattle, he sees her at the airport, he feels something, she doesn't notice him at all, and then she's gone.
Then she goes to his house, and he sees him going with his son for a boat ride. They stop at a beach, the play and stuff, and...she doesn't talk to him. WHY?
Then she sees him again at the highway. He sees her too. He remembers that she's the woman he liked from the airport. They come close. The say "hi". We're sure they're gonna meet, talk, and fall in love. Everything is perfect so far.
And then...boom! She's back in Baltimore, saying to her friend that they didn't say ANYTHING else, and she left back to the airport! WTF??

So, somewhere there, the movie lost me. This didn't make any sense. Either they should start knowing each other there, and the rest of the movie would be about them, OR, she wouldn't go to Seattle at all, and they'd meet for the first time at the top of the Empire State building. She going to Seattle, seeing him, and not talking to him, doesn't make any sense.

So, she goes back, she goes to New York with her fiance, they have dinner, and suddenly...she decides to go to the Empire State to meet Sam! And her fiance?? Is he angry? Is he upset that the woman he was supposed to marry says in his face that he's ditching him for a guy she doesn't even know?? No, of course not! "Sure honey, if that's what you want, go get him!". Who knows, maybe he even offered to be best man at their wedding!

I had seen this movie when it was first released on VHS. I didn't remember it at all, so, it was like watching it for the first time. There is no doubt that it's one of the most classic romantic comedies of the '90s, if not THE most classic. And it has a nice soundtrack. And some nice scenes (the scene when Sam's son asks him what is after death, was very good). And Hanks and Ryan are perfect. But, her trip to Seattle and meeting him and saying nothing and going back to Baltimore, doesn't make sense, and it ruins the movie for me. Pity. I'd prefer much better if they hadn't met at all before meeting at the Empire State building.

[–] ath-11 10 years ago

LOL. Bill Pullman certainly gave up easily didn't he? That took, what, all of about 30 seconds? Made you wonder if he didn't also have someone else in the wings.

- - -

"...and that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana shaped."

[–] suednim1960 10 years ago

I don't think he had anybody else in the wings. He was just as she said; "too perfect." He's exactly the man most women thinks she would make up if they could create the perfect spouse in their head and have him come to life. Always in tune with her, always understanding, always ... perfect. Except that that much perfection would be incredibly boring, as Annie figures out.

[–] IMDB_Vits 10 years ago

ANNIE is clearly an impulsive person. She didn't think things through. It wasn't until she was in front of SAM that she thought "Wait a minute! I don't actually know what to say! At least not in a way that sounds reasonable and not creepy". However, she right in not going to talk to him when he was playing at the beach. Approaching would've made it look even creepier. She needed to let him walk towards her.

So, she goes back, she goes to New York with her fiance, they have dinner, and suddenly...she decides to go to the Empire State to meet Sam! And her fiance?? Is he angry? Is he upset that the woman he was supposed to marry says in his face that he's ditching him for a guy she doesn't even know?? No, of course not! "Sure honey, if that's what you want, go get him!". Who knows, maybe he even offered to be best man at their wedding!

I think part of him was glad that she chose to tell him the truth when she wasn't forced to. Infidelity is much worse when someone is caught. Also, no man would've fought for her after she implied that she was settling. Now, he should've been at least a little mad, but the movie tries to be as nice and light and cute as possible.

[–] redban (5202) 4 years ago

OP:

She didn't notice him at the airport because she didn't see him. She wasn't actively looking for anyone at the airport, she didn't expect him to be there. She wasn't gonna watch everyone's faces at the airport.

She didn't speak to him at the highway on the first day because she was nervous. She hinted at this feeling during the phone convo with Rosie O' Donnell. After all, she was stalking the dude.

At the highway, she didn't talk to him because she had just seen him hugging another woman. She also felt a little embarrassed, as she was in the middle of the road like a crazy lady.

About her leaving the fiancé to see Sam. She was driven by intuition / feeling; she went with her gut. She just felt, unreasonably, that her real lover was out there. The film was trying to push the idea of love over rationality. The fiance explains why he wasn't upset -- "I don't want to be someone you settle for." If she didn't like him, then he was decent enough to respect her wish.

[–] Phiranja (30) a year ago

Yes somewhat the movie isn't build up right.
It's unrelateable. Her actions are not wise. Walter was the way better man. Victoria got treated horrible and she was def. not!

Main problem however are a) that horrid nasty Trash Millenial Jonah and b) his father letting him be so spoiled antiauthorian! They are not likeable and the antagonists of the movie!
In Annie's shoes it's like she has a 13 yrs old Boyband crush. They portray mid 30 yrs old women like if they hadn't prior love life experience with good for nothing men. Labeled desperate to marry over 40 but then throwing a real good man like Walter away for a teenage projection of a total unknown male.

The movie fits no cliches which we despise so much. But seeing that I rather take the cliche movie.
The radio call was in no way portrayed for 2000 women writing an unknown man far away. That kid was highly annoying and self-absorbed from start and it grew ever worse with every second Screen-Time! Frankly no elementary school kid would want any other new woman around. Also esp that age not other sex classmates as his one only friend in 1 1/2 yrs adjusting to a new neighborhood. The babysitter was the icing on top how unsympathetic this Father-Son duo actually is. From all the tales of women in office about their lousy husbands Sam would be the crown.
She thinks Walter sounded to old but biblic old-ass names like Samuel and Jonah not?! And she couldn't come up with her very own nick-name? LOUSY back firing she is even lamer with her lame Anne/Annie name! What Annie had to offer but a rather pretty face? Rotten on the inside!

Sam's only likeability is due to the situation about his early unexpected loss. That is all about him. The situation. Not him. I didn't see nothing but huge alarm-clocks about him talking utter shit and nonsense, worst with his spoiled brat baggage! Def no rockstar artist aura nor brains/talents!