MovieChat Forums > Sleepless in Seattle (1993) Discussion > Deliberate Satire on Romance Movies?

Deliberate Satire on Romance Movies?

posted 13 years ago by Kevinology_Rises
4 replies | jump to latest

I see a lot of threads with people talking about how Annie was a crazy stalker and everything, which she certainly came off as in some scenes, but did anyone else get the impression that it could've been subtle humour? Earlier in the film Dozy O'Donnell says that Annie "doesn't want to be in love, she wants to be in love in a movie."

Could the events that follow be a deliberate reference to this, implying that such behaviour would only be considered romantic in a chick flick while in real life it'd probably be considered creepy? I mean at one point she spies on Tom Hanks's character playing with his kid on the beach... that would've scared the hell out of me. It's gotta be a satire, surely, I haven't seen any BTS featurettes so I can't attest to what the writer/director's intentions were but it's something I did consider after seeing the film. O'Donnell's line coupled with another scene where they basically mock a woman crying over a Cary Grant film or something may have been a hint that the entire script was a deliberate attempt to make fun of the distorted romantic notions portrayed by some chick flicks out there and the female reaction to them, Hanks's character even mentions Fatal Attraction at one point which is of course another movie about a psychotic female stalker.

On the other hand, it could just as easily be genuine but unintentionally creepy in parts to some people, probably most men.

Please see the proof on my profile regarding actual paedophile angelica_for_ever

[–] ChocolateButt 11 years ago

It was definitely creepy to me, as a woman...

And apparently the scene where they mocked her crying was improvised. So no credit to the writers for that one.

Expiration dates are mere suggestions! Like late fees and traffic lights.

[–] Rocco3000 11 years ago

As a man, I didn't find it creepy at all. Although I first saw it as a young teenager, so I totally fell for its very idealistic, meant-to-be, description of love.

Seeing it again as an adult I still thought it was a great film (8/10), and now could notice Ephron's smart commentary on idealistic views of love and how we get them from movies.

Was Annie a stalker? Of course she was. But if you focused on that aspect, you were entirely missing the point of the story and film. I think that is a huge problem with a lot of movies these days. There is such a huge emphasis on making sure that everything that you see is a very accurate picture of "reality", even if that reality involves spaceships, and dragons. We are no longer just passive viewers of on screen action, but active participants in the lives of the characters we are watching.

Annie has an amazing fiancee. He may be a little awkward, and might be a hypochondriac, but he has a successful career. He is thoughtful, caring, understanding, faithful, etc. But Annie still feels something is missing. What is missing is that feeling that magic that the movies bring to romantic relationships. And that is what plagues her throughout the film, and what she is constantly searching for.

Is it realistic? No. Is it the smart thing to do? No. But it is a great statement on how love is presented in hollywood movies.

[–] carolgholden 10 years ago

Thank you Rocco 3000 you said just what I wantedto say but am too sleepy so to do.

[–] wylierichardson-966-922691 10 years ago

The tone is too sentimental to be called 'satire'. "There's Something About Mary" is a much more broad comedy, that is closer to a satire of the form.