Search - You've Got Mail on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1998 DVD Release: 05/04/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 0 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 6 Genres: Comedy, Romantic Comedy, Workplace Comedy, Urban Comedy See Also: You've Got Mail [Mother's Day Gift Set], You've Got Mail, You've Got Mail [Deluxe Edition], You've Got Mail [Deluxe Edition]

Sleepless in Seattle director Nora Ephron originally made a name for herself as the writer of romantic comedies such as Heartburn and When Harry Met Sally. She continues the genre with You've Got Mail, marking her second collaboration with actors Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. The story brings romance and courtship into the electronic age of the World Wide Web via e-mail and chat rooms. Joe Fox (Hanks) and Kathleen Kelly (Ryan) live and work blocks from each other on New York City's Upper West Side. Their lives are practically intertwined. They both shop at the same place, frequent the same coffee shop, and even own competing bookstores on the same street. They also both have significant others of their own. Joe has the overly hyper book editor Patricia Eden (Parker Posey), while Kathleen lives with the scholarly newspaper columnist Frank Navasky (Greg Kinnear). Then they meet in a chat room. Though they keep their identities secret (they're known only by screen names "NY152" and "Shopgirl"), they tell each other everything about their lives, including their private feelings, which slowly turn into affection for each other. When Joe decides to open a new branch of his "Foxbooks" chain that risks putting Kathleen's "Shop Around the Corner" out of business, the tension between them escalates. Surely her boutique business will be lost to the conglomerate with a built-in newsstand and coffee bar. When Joe sees Kathleen waiting for him in the restaurant where they agreed to meet up, he puts two and two together, but cannot face her, given their agreement not to reveal each others' names and professions. How can he reveal himself to her now, knowing that he is the cause of her misery? Hopefully, love will conquer all. ~ Chris Gore, All Movie Guide

Tom Hanks - Joe Fox
Meg Ryan - Kathleen Kelly
Parker Posey - Patricia Eden
Greg Kinnear - Frank Navasky
Jean Stapleton - Birdie
Michael Palin
Hallee Hirsh

This package should be the benchmark for all other DVD releases. It is power-packed with features that are reason enough to buy the product. The anamorphic transfer is so clean that the gradients of dimension and color make the city approachable and romantic. The Dolby Digital Surround is not used for large impact, but for all the elements of street sounds that complement the clear dialogue. The music is a main player in the romantic story, and its power can be appreciated in the music-only track Warner includes as one of the features.

The way this film is staged gives audiences the ability to explore parts of Manhattan streets, and this package is designed in many ways to complement that. Additional features include a tour of the various sites appearing in the film, shown as an interactive subway ride, complete with behind-the-scenes footage of the production and commentary by Nora Ephron. There is a 15-minute HBO interview/featurette with Ephron, Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, and Greg Kinnear. There is an audio commentary as well, given by both Ephron and co-producer Lauren Shuler-Donner, that provides background information in a casual manner. Two theatrical trailers for the film are included, plus another ten trailers for films in the same genre as You've Got Mail. The packaging also mentions enhanced features for PC users, but it can be a tricky affair to get to them. Warner is to be congratulated for its efforts and will hopefully continue to be this creative with both new and old releases. ~ Marsha Mehran, All Movie Guide