Sleepless in Seattle (2000, VHS)

Ah, love! It s a beautiful emotion. It s a wonderful state in which to be. It s that wonderful feeling in which you find yourself after being attracted to that certain special someone.

It s also the crappiest feeling in the world when suddenly, that certain special someone is ripped from your life forever.

You can ask my husband about that. One month short of 25 years, he lost his wife to cancer. Almost one year later, he met me. Two days later, we lost contact and didn t meet again for several months after that. The next time we saw each other, we became determined to make things last. But that's another story.

But, if for some reason you think this is strange (that we had to meet twice to make things work), then you have one more option.

Just ask Sam Baldwin (a/k/a Tom Hanks).

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After years of what he considered the perfect marriage to the perfect woman, it ends tragically when she dies leaving him to raise their son, Jonah, alone. While Jonah is a precocious eight-year old who manages to keep himself preoccupied, Sam finds himself still sinking in the despair of loneliness.

He feels relocation is best for himself and his son in order to regain some sort of normal life. Sam wonders if things could ever be normal without his beloved wife but still leaves their windy town in Chicago to spend his SLEEPLESS nights IN SEATTLE.

Jonah tries talking to his dad about dating but Sam just isn t interested. This causes Jonah to seek the advice of a professional and thus he calls a radio station to speak on the air with its resident psychologist. Jonah blurts out, My daddy needs a new wife!

The more the psychologist speaks with Jonah, the more interested she becomes in trying to help Sam who doesn t want anything to do with his son s phone call. At the persistence of Jonah, Sam takes the call and reluctantly begins talking.

One of the first questions Sam is asked is, Can you tell me what you loved about your late wife? He replies, Well, that depends . . . how long is your show?

What he hasn t yet realized is that the show on which his call is aired, is a syndicated national radio show. As he begins to pour his heart out, millions of women around the country are listening to his declaration of love for his wife and how his little boy needs a mother. Those millions of women are now crying while sharing their sympathy with this soft-hearted, wonderful man.

As Sam s voice begin to show signs of deep emotion, the station s phone lines light up with call after call from women looking for love and romance. They all have one thing in common: they all feel Sam is the man of their dreams.

Annie Reed (Meg Ryan) is a romance novelist who, while driving in her car, hears Sam s phone interview. Is she caught up with the characters in her novels? If not, how can she explain the emotional whirlwind she feels is swooshing all around her? Her tears are uncontrollable. But, she can t explain that either!

Unknown to Sam, Jonah has given their address to the radio station and when hundreds of letters begin pouring into the station, they are forwarded to Sam who immediately tosses them in the trash and admonishes his son. Jonah retrieves them and begins his task of finding a new wife for his dad.

After reading several letters, Jonah comes across one that piques his interest. The writer lives in Baltimore but the distance doesn t seem to matter to Jonah. He has a hunch that this letter will lead him to the answer to his and his dad s problems.

Jonah finally convinces Sam to at least read it but, to Jonah s horror, Sam, after reading the letter, tosses it aside. The distance is too far! "Look, here's Seattle. Here's Baltimore!" he says as he points to the map. They don t know each other! Any excuse that crosses his mind is uttered yet none diminish the enthusiasm Jonah feels. His mind is made up! He wants to meet this writer. Therefore, he devises a plan of action and sends his own letter to Annie Reed!

Annie immediately responds and flies to Washington. She follows the directions to where Jonah said she could find his dad and find him she did in the arms of another woman.

Who is this woman whom Annie feels is capturing the heart of the man she . . . she what! She loves him? She never met him! How could she love him? And if she doesn t, then, what s this strange feeling she has every time she thinks of him?

Now feeling uncomfortable about meeting Sam, she sadly turns and drives back to the airport.

Can Fate intervene and arrange for a new meeting? If so, when? If so, how will she act? How will Sam act?

But then, for all Annie knows, they may never meet again.

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Then again, truth sometimes IS stranger than fiction! I should know!


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Yes, I'll admit that Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks are two of my favorite actors, but it's the story that puts a lump in my throat.

Maybe because I lived through a similar situation that makes this movie more real.

Maybe it's the great acting by two great mega-stars that make the movie worth seeing.

Maybe it's just that good old feeling of love!