 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
You've Got Mail
- Review Date: May 19, 2003
- PG
- Genre: Romance
- 1998
Common Sense Media says
Predictable-but-sweet romantic comedy.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this 1998 romantic comedy may seem old-fashioned to teen viewers, especially given the technology -- dial-up Internet access and AOL chat rooms -- at the heart of its plot. But they’ll likely find it entertaining, too, and still relatable. There’s a chain-stores-versus-independent-stores debate that may give young viewers pause (but would surely be informative). Plus, expect some discussions about infidelity and cybersex.
What's the story?
Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) is set to open a big-box bookstore on the Upper West Side, a neighborhood that’s fiercely protective of its small shops. (At least it was when the movie was filmed.) Little does he know that the woman he’s been chatting with online, unbeknownst to his frantic, editor girlfriend (Parker Posey), is Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan), the proprietor of a small children’s bookstore that will likely be decimated once his mega-store opens its doors. Can love trump commerce?
Is it any good?
There’s a reason YOU'VE GOT MAIL has become a romcom classic. It is knit together like a perfectly cabled sweater, with a nary a stitch dropped. The pacing is perfect, the characters likeable, the dialogue breezy. Some observations, including one about the overly complicated choices at chain coffee stores -- Starbucks, specifically -- still hold true. (It was filmed in the 1990s.) The arguments for the ability of small, independent stores to survive against super-stores are hopeful -- but also a sad, really, given how many have foundered in real life.
Nostalgia is one of the charms of You've Got Mail, and the old-fashioned courtship at the heart of it, despite being conducted online, is the most charming of all and references romances-by-letter of times past. Hanks and Ryan have heaps of chemistry, and though the fact that they fall in love given the circumstances seems highly unlikely — the plot’s a little far-fetched, but what romcom doesn’t have an implausible one? — we buy it because, well, why not?
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the central argument of the film: Are big-box stores to blame for the decline of independent stores?
Is Joe’s and Kathleen’s relationship believable? Does it matter if it’s not? Do relationships that begin online face challenges that other relationships don’t? Also, talk to your children about instant messaging and other ways to communicate online.
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AGE
Way off
Since when does Goliath winning make for a good romantic comedy? I came away from this movie angry. I didn't like Tom Hanks self-absorbed character and I didn't want Meg Ryan's to fall for him.
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AGE
Sweet.
This movie was a lovely little tale, as Tom Hanks as a brilliant (as always) leading man and Meg Ryan suprisinly good. A family or a girls-night-in movie.
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AGE
Good, romantic chick flick!
There were a couple of iffy parts, but they were only dialogue. No visuals. I liked the plot, and Tom Hanks is as funny as ever. I fell in love with Meg Ryan in this movie. She was at her best. Perfect for ages 12+.
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AGE
A 'watch it 100 times' kind of movie!!!
It is a romantic comedy, that the whole family will love.You can watch it over, and over again and it will be as; New, funny, and cute as it was when you first saw the opening credits!!!
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AGE
A Must See!
Meg and Tom are wonderful in this. No bad language and Meg is a stitch!
Definantely a must see!
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AGE
I love this movie! Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks shine together on the scree. In an age where computers and technology are very much present, this love story is one of getting to know someone through this technology in a way that you might not in real life.
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AGE
One of my faves, but NOT for kids.
I LOVE this movie, and the on-screen chemistry between Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan never fails to please. However, if you are the type of parent who teaches your children to value the sanctity of marriage, skip this one. I would not recommend this a movie for anyone under the age of 14. While there are no nudity or "bedroom" scenes, there are, as the main review mentions, plenty of inappropriate relationships, not to mention some very strong language. While I realize that my 9 & 12 year olds are probably exposed to some of this in the real world, I believe that we, as parents, need to realize that we send a message of approval to our children when we bring media into our homes. Just because it is out there, and others may be allowing their children to watch, doesn't mean that we should lower our standards and follow suit. Home should be a haven from the "noises" of the world. There are plenty of other choices for the younger set.
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| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Nora Ephron |
| Cast: | Greg Kinnear, Meg Ryan, Parker Posey, Tom Hanks |
| Genre: | Romance |
| Run time: | 119 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 18, 1998 |
| DVD release date: | May 4, 1999 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | some language |
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