Meg Ryan Turns 65 on November 19, and Her Romantic Comedies Still Hold Up

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Meg Ryan turns 65 on November 19. For much of the late 1980s and 1990s she was the face of the modern romantic comedy, with a bright, expressive style that made even the most familiar stories feel fresh.

Photo: Brian Teutsch, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

When Harry Met Sally (1989), directed by Rob Reiner and written by Nora Ephron, is the film most people remember her for. It follows two friends who keep meeting over the years, and the deli scene with Billy Crystal is still one of the best-known moments in romantic comedy.

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Sleepless in Seattle (1993) paired her with Tom Hanks in another Nora Ephron story. A widower and a reporter meet across the country by radio and then in person, and the film is still a common choice for a seasonal rewatch.

Photo: David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

You've Got Mail (1998) reunited Ryan and Hanks, this time with the internet as the link between two people who do not know they are rivals in business and in life. The film shows how far the genre had moved, and how much it still relied on the same warm charm.

Photo: Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If you have not seen these films in a while, they are good to watch together. Which one do you think holds up best today?