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What’s the Story?

Reviewed by Nell Minow

In YOU'VE GOT MAIL, Tom Hanks plays Joe Fox, scion of a family that owns a chain of enormous bookstores (think Barnes & Noble). Meg Ryan plays Katherine Kelly, owner of a beloved independent children's book store called The Shop Around the Corner. When the new Fox store moves in around her corner, they take each other on, not knowing that they are in fact friends, and falling for each other, online.

Is It Any Good?

4

The classic story of two enemies who discover that they are really the "dear friends" who share a loving pen pal relationship is deliciously updated for the era of email. The witty dialogue gets high gloss from two of the finest light romantic leads in Hollywood, whose chemistry was already proven in Sleepless in Seattle. It's clear from the beginning where it's going, but it's also clear they will make it a pleasure along the way, and they do.

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