What She Had

I recently read I'll Have What She's Having, Erin Carlson's book on Nora Ephron.  The subtitle is How Nora Ephron's Three Iconic Films Saved The Romantic Comedy.  Those three films, by the way, are When Harry Met Sally..., Sleepless In Seattle and You've Got Mail.  I wouldn't say they saved romantic comedy, but they were hits and did have an effect on the field.

The title comes from the punch line to the famous fake orgasm scene in the deli from When Harry Met Sally.  The book explains how Rob Reiner had to convince Meg Ryan to do the scene, and go all out. (Though the book is about Ephron, the line was actually suggested by Billy Crystal.)

The scene is famous--maybe the most memorable thing Ephron is associated with.  Yet, I have to admit I've never thought it made sense.  The Sally character is straitlaced, and practically has OCD.  Then suddenly, she let's go in public?--seems the exact opposite of what her character would do.

But then, in drama, some things work for the audience even if they don't make sense.  The example I think of most often is the title number to Hello, Dolly!  Harold Prince was originally offered a shot at directing the show, but he told the creators the number where Dolly returns to the fancy restaurant and everyone makes a big deal is absurd.  He was right.  Dolly had never been there before, or if she had, she wasn't a regular patron.  She was essentially a con woman who did the best she could, not some grand dame in the past who'd fallen on hard times.

But when the number is choreographed by Gower Champion, it doesn't matter.  People are dazzled.

Another example, much closer, comes from There's Something About Mary.  Perhaps the most famous bit is the hair gel scene.  It was referred to on the poster, in fact.  Yet the director (either Bobby or Peter Farrelly) had to convince Cameron Diaz to do it.  She made an excellent argument.  The film is about how all these guys go crazy for Mary, so Mary has to be the sensible center, worth fighting for.  If she's so out of it she can't tell hair gel from other substances, she loses credibility.

Absolutely correct, but Farrelly had a better comeback--this will be the funniest thing ever, don't you want to be part of it?

And when Meg Ryan takes part in the scene in the movie that everyone is talking about (and Rob Reiner's mom get's the topper), it shows, I guess, that there are more important than being true to character.

But it better be funny.