You've Got Mail

You've Got Mail

This movie is a remake of the movies “The Shop Around the Corner” starring Jimmy Stewart and Maureen O’Sullivan  and “In the Good Old Summertime” starring Judy Garland and Van Johnson.

Meg Ryan plays the role of Kathleen Kelly. Tom Hanks plays the role of Joe Fox. You've Got Mail is the story of two New Yorkers. They are excited over their online relationship. They met in a chat room for people over thirty.  They continue their relationship through AOL e-mail.  Neither one tells the other they are in relationships in real life nor do they tell the people they are involved with.

We see Kathleen walking to her bookstore that was used to be owned by her mom.  She notices a building under construction.  What she doesn’t know is that it is a bookstore owned by Joe.  We see Joe enter the building.  It turns out Joe is the owner of Fox Books a big boxed booked store that can sell cheaper books and could put little bookstores like Kathleen’s out of business.

One day, Joe is taking care of his Dad’s young son, Matt and his grandfather’s young daughter, Annabel to give his step mom Gillian and the  Nanny a break. Annabel is played by Hallee Hirsh.  You may know her from ER or JAG.  Matt and Annabel insists that Joe take them into the bookstore with the Story Lady.  What Joe doesn’t know it is Kathleen’s bookstore. This is the first time they meet but they still don’t know that they have been having a online relationship.  Since they have never exchanged photos or any specifics about themselves. In person they seem to hit off too. 

While showing Annabel some books she may enjoy, Annabel says she wants them all. Kathleen told her that maybe her dad will buy them thinking that Joe is her Dad.  Annabel says that is not her Dad but her nephew. Kathleen laughs and said that can’t be her nephew.  Joe said yes that it is true that is his Aunt Annabel. Then Matt comes over and Kathleen tries to guess how he is related to Joe, Uncle or Grandfather. All of them laugh. Joe tells Kathleen that Matt is his brother.  Annabel sneezes and Kathleen offers her handkerchief to Annabel.  Annabel doesn’t know what that is. Kathleen explains. “My mother embroidered it for me you see?  My initials and a daisy, because daisies are my favorite flower.”  As they are buying the books Joe asks Kathleen who she is.  She tells him she is Kathleen Kelly and owns the store.  Kathleen asks for his name. Joe just says Joe. He doesn’t want her to know he owns Fox Books.  One of the workers in the store says see they will be coming back and they don’t have to worry about Fox Books putting them out of business. This is when Matt starts spelling Fox because he just learned how to spell his last name but Kathleen thinks it is adorable and that he is spelling the animal not a name.  It is also the only word Matt knows how to spell.  Joe hands Matt a book because he doesn’t want Kathleen to realize why he is spelling Fox.

They continue their online relationship still not knowing they met in person. The run into each other at a party. Kathleen is with her boyfriend Frank played by Greg Kinnear and Joe is with his girlfriend Patricia played by Parker Posey.

It is also at this party that Kathleen find out that Joe owns Fox Books. She confronts him telling him the reason he really went into her store the other day is to spy on her. He asks, “Why would he do that?” She says “Because I am your competition, which you know perfectly well or you wouldn't have put up the sign: "Just around the corner." Joe says The entrance to our store is around the corner. There's no other way of saying that. It's not the name of our store. It's where it is. And you do not own the phrase "around the corner." She then notices he is taking the caviar garnish at the buffet table.  She yells at him. To piss her off even further he take the rest of the caviar.  She walks to her boyfriend Frank and tell him about Joe.  This is when Joe comes by to explain that they only reason he came into the store was to buy the kids presents because he likes to do that.  Then Joe’s girlfriend comes over. It turns out that Patricia knows Frank from his articles he writes in the newspaper.  Kathleen leaves the party all frustrated because she didn’t know how to respond to Joe’s meanness. 

When she gets home that night she reads an e-mail from Joe not realizing that they saw each other that day.  She tells him how she wishes she could tell someone off without getting tongue tied.  Joe says that never happens to him and wishes he could pass it along to her but warns her that when she finally has the pleasure of saying the thing you mean to say at the moment you mean to say it, remorse inevitably follows.  He then asks, “Do you think we should meet?”  She doesn’t respond to him.

The next time they run into each other is at Zabar’s around the holidays. Kathleen does everything to avoid him till it is time to check out of the supermarket but gets into the wrong line.  You should notice in the scene that the cashier is played by Sara Ramirez who later gained fame by playing Dr. Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy.  Kathleen tries to pay with a credit card but the cashier tells Kathleen she is in the cash only line and must get on another line.  This is after everything was rung up too. She begs the cashier if she can just pay with the credit card. Kathleen will do anything not to see Joe but Joe spots her and talks the cashier into letting Kathleen use the credit card. 

A month later, Kathleen has to figure out what to do next to save her store.  She sends an e-mail to her online friend saying she is sad and gives him a specific about herself that she own a business that is in trouble. Joe who figured she was online sent her an IM and tells her that he is great in business can he help. Still doesn’t know it is Kathleen he is talking to.  He asks her what type of business.  She won’t tell him what it is keeping to their rule no specifics.  He said well, he will try.  His advice is from the Godfather.  He tells her to go to the mattresses.  Confused Kathleen asks him to explain. Joe replies “The Godfather is the I Ching.  The Godfather is the sum of all wisdom.  The Godfather is the answer to any question. What should I pack for my summer vacation?  "Leave the gun, take the cannoli."  What day of the week is it? "Maunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday." And the answer to your question is "Go to the mattresses."  He continues, “You're at war.  It's not personal, it's business.  It's not personal, it's  business."  Recite that to yourself every time you feel you're losing your nerve. I know you worry about being brave, this is your chance.  Fight.  Fight to the death.”  She considers this.  Kathleen tells her real life boyfriend Frank that she has decided what to do. She asks him to write an article about her store and what Fox Books is doing the little mom and pop books stores. Frank says yes.

After Frank’s article comes out Kathleen store gets busy. There are people picketing Fox Books.  Kathleen gets interviewed on TV.  Joe is in the Gym with his co-worker and friend Kevin played by Dave Chappelle when Kathleen’s interview comes on TV.  Joe tells Kevin that, “Kathleen isn’t as nice as she seems on TV.”  Kevin says, She must not be as beautiful either.”   Joe says, “No she is beautiful but she is a pill.”  Kevin asks Joe, “If he minds that he is putting her out of business.” Joe says, “It is not personal just business.”  Then Joe’s part of the interview comes on but it is edited so what he says sounds horrible.  Joe is very pissed. Says people want to turn her into Joan of Arc and him into Attila a hun. 

Later that night Kathleen and Frank are watching Frank’s interview.  It turns out that Sidney Ann, the TV hostess, begins to flirt with Frank and he flirts with the hostess.  Sidney Ann is played by Jane Adams who was in the TV show Hung.  Kathleen calls him out on this.  They watch as Frank jumbles his words in the interview. 

The next day she sits with Birdie, played by Jean Stapleton, who is the office manager and finds out that nothing that she has been doing to save the store has worked. She goes home and e-mails her online friend telling him that she needs helps and they should meet.

They decide to meet and at a café. Joe brings his friend Kevin for moral support.  Kevin looks in the café to see if he sees a girl with a book and a flower.  Kevin does spot Kathleen and tell Joe thats who it is. Joe doesn’t want to go in at first but after Kevin leaves Joe goes into the café and never says to Kathleen that it was him that she waiting for. She is not happy to see him.  Tells him over and over that he should leave.  He doesn’t. He comments on her book that she is reading, Pride and Prejudice. She is surprised when he says he has read it. He tells her “I think you'd discover a lot of things if you really knew me.”  Kathleen replies “If I really knew you, I know what I would find instead of a brain, a cash register, instead of a heart, a bottom line.”  When the words come of her mouth she is shocked.  She tells him, “She had a breakthrough, for the first time in her life, when confronted with a horrible, insensitive person  I actually knew what I wanted to say and I said it.” She thanks him for that.  He compliments her by saying, “I think you have a gift for it.  It was a splendid mixture of poetry and meanness.” He then gets up and sits behind her.  She pulls out her mirror and handkerchief to spy on him.  He says he remembers that handkerchief from the first day they met. She then says that was the day he lied to her. She says she thought it was charming F-O-X.  He says he never lied. She says you never told me who you were.  With each person who comes in the café Joe says I bet that is not who you are meeting and I bet it’s not your boyfriend either. Joe ask her when the person she is meeting “Will you start out sweet as sugar candy and then suddenly, miraculously, like a bolt from the blue, find that sharp little tongue of yours?” Kathleen replies, No, I won't.  Because the man who's coming here tonight is completely unlike you.  The man who is coming here is kind and funny.  He has the most wonderful sense of humor.” Joe says, “But he's not here.” Kathleen says, “If he's not here, he has a reason, because there is not a cruel or careless bone in his body.  I can't expect you to know anything about a person like that. You've nothing but a suit.” That is when Joe finally leaves the café. 

Kathleen back at home signs on to her AOL to see if she got mail from her online friend on why he stood her up.  There isn’t any e-mails from him.  The next day Kevin asks about Kathleen.   Joe just says she was real bitch and didn’t want to talk about it.  At Kathleen’s store her co-workers ask about the date. She tells them she was stood up.  They think it might been the rooftop killer. Kathleen says no.  She does tell them that Joe Fox came in.

Back at home she sends her online friend an e-mail telling him she was disappointed that he didn’t come to meet her in person.  That in fact someone who is ruining her life did come by.  Kathleen doesn’t know that it fact that she is telling Joe that he upset her. She is basically saying she is sorry that she was mean to Joe because no matter how bad Joe is to her or what he is doing to her business she shouldn’t be mean back to him. After Joe reads the e-mail he wonders his apartment wondering if he should reply back to her.  He does.  He apologies. Begs her forgiveness for leaving her with someone who she doesn’t like.  He never says that they should meet or where he was.

The next day Kathleen decides to close the bookstore. She is comforted by her co-workers.  Birdie says she can look forward to new adventures.  Birdies also lets her in on which political figure she had an love affair with.  That night Kathleen goes to the movies with Frank.  Frank doesn’t believe that Birdie had a relationship with this person. He tells Kathleen that he can’t be with someone who doesn’t take politics seriously.  This is when Kathleen tells him she didn’t vote in the last election.  That  she went for a manicure. He didn’t know she got manicures either.  Kathleen says I bet you can’t be with someone who gets those either.  Frank says forget it and that he forgives her.  This is when Kathleen gets up and walks out.  Frank follows.  They go to a café to discus their relationship.  This is when they break up.   She asks Frank if there is someone else.  He says, “Yes, Sidney Ann the TV hostess.” Frank asks if there is another guy. Kathleen replies,  "No . . . No . . . But there is the dream of someone else".  We then see Frank moving out of the apartment.

Kathleen is having a going out of business sale.  People tell stories of when they came to the store when they were little and how sorry they are that it is closing.  On her way home Kathleen checks out her competition of Fox Books.  She sits crying in the children section when some customer ask a Fox Books worker about a set of books. This worker doesn’t know about it but Kathleen understands and helps the lady.  Joe oversees the interaction.

Later when Joe comes home with Patricia they are discussing Kathleen. She said everyone is talking about her.  Patricia (Joe's significant other) thinks about offering Kathleen a job as a children’s book editor.  Says, “what else has she to do.” Patricia keeps reminding Joe that he doesn’t realize it is his fault that Kathleen is in the position that she is in. They are on the elevator when it gets stuck.  Joe calmly talks to maintenance person that he needs to call 911.  Patricia being to yell.  Hours later when they are still in the elevator, everyone saying how they want to see their family. Patricia just wants a tic tac and her eyes lasered. This is when Joe realizes he wants to break up with her.   We then see Joe and his Brinkley his dog  moves into the boat after moving out of the apartment.

He e-mails Kathleen to tell her he moved out his apartment tonight because he broke up.  Kathleen reveals to Joe about her store closing and how she is so sad as if her mom is dying all over again. When she leaves her store for the last time she has flashbacks of twirling with her mother.

On the boat, Joe’s father tells him he is breaking up with the current girlfriend because she is running away with the nanny.  His dad said he will be fine and that he will just find someone new.  Joe responds, “Oh right, yeah, a snap to find the one single person in the world who fills your heart with joy.” Joe’s father responds, “Well, don't be ridiculous. Have I ever been with anyone who fit that description? Have you?”  Then it clicks in Joe’s head, yes he has. It is Kathleen.

We see Joe going to Kathleen’s apartment bringing her Daisies.  Kathleen is not happy to see him.  She doesn’t let him up and says she is sick but he sneaks in He says that he heard she was sick.  Kathleen still is mad at him because he did put her out of business. She still snaps at him but then apologizes. She is happy with the flowers. He tells her that George her ex-worker works for him now.  Joe gets her tea.  He tries to apologizes to her for putting her out business.  He wants her forgiveness.  He goes on to ask about the guy at the café to see if she really like him.  Joe suggests to Kathleen that he should meet the mysterious stranger.

Kathleen e-mails her online friend that they should meet. Joe writes back that he has some projects that need tweaking.  Then Kathleen runs into Joe at a coffee shop.  They talk about the online friend.  Joe puts it in her head that maybe the guy is married.  Joe writes back saying that her friends are telling her this he is married. Kathleen and Joe run into each other again.  Each time Joe puts more and more doubts about her online person.

You’ve just read the synopsis of what happens in the movie it is probably a good indicator if you want to watch the movie. 

You've Got Mail (Official Site)