Uncategorized – Katie Using Words

It’s summertime right now, almost exactly 30 years–down to the day–when Sleepless in Seattle was released in American theaters. Yes, summertime. In the 90s that usually meant big budget alien-fighting movies, disaster movies, and then a few sports ball movies. And somehow studio executives sat down and decided that a romantic film centered around Christmas and Valentine’s Day would play best in the sweltering heat when everyone’s too damp and sticky to want to smoosh.

Guys, I have no idea how this movie was such a huge commercial success. I mean, it has to be the star power. Tom Hanks. Meg Ryan. Bill Pullman. Rosie O’Donnell. (Note: Three of these four starred in A League of Their Own at about the same time.)

Yes. That has to be it, because aside from the seasonal mismatch, this movie is also effing insane and not very enjoyable–except that it is enjoyable. I think. Kinda. I don’t get it.

Really, be warned first-time viewers, this movie isn’t good. It isn’t actually romantic, mostly. Not very funny either, on the whole. Sure, a couple chuckles maybe. It just makes me sad.

Plus–and let’s be very clear about this–the plot makes no sense. It wasn’t even plausible when call-in radio was still a thing. I’ll get into it more while we’re watching, but Jonah’s actions make no sense, Annie’s actions make no sense (and are deranged), and a lot of people get hurt. This seriously could’ve been an early draft of the first half of Fatal Attraction. I don’t even know what the takeaway is supposed to be, but if this is how love forces work, I’m freakin’ terrified of love. Like a demon that invades peoples’ brains and lays waste to freewill and skyscrapers.

Still, I watch it. It’s a classic that is beloved by so many people, including me. I need to figure this out.

Let’s all climb in our way-back machines to a time before the Internet, when phone cords will still 6 feet long and spiraly. And apparently before anyone thought to bat an eyelash about making maybe the whitest movie in the world.

I’m pouring the wine right now. Together we can figure out what the hell is going on with this movie as I provide blow-by-blow commentary. Roll down your maps, adjust your radio antennae, and get ready to watch along as we rewatch Sleepless in Seattle 30 years later.

LET’S STALK SOME SAD RADIO PEOPLE!

SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE RE-WATCH

0:00 – I haven’t even hit play and I’m already blown away by the horror of this promotional movie image:

They aren’t looking at each other and Meg has this crazy windy glow like she’s looking into the heart of an explosion, while he’s admiring a nickel he just found on the ground.

00:03 – “Mommy got sick.” Yes, the way all great romance stories start. Graveside.

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Hey readers, friends, and peekaboo Sallies, I have been inspired to do something incredibly stupid and #REBRAND!

The Haunted Coconut was a writing pseudonym I enjoyed using for a handful of years, but I was never smitten with it. Actually, at first it was just a placeholder name that stuck, and allowed me the anonymity to write without being too personally connected to the site. Of course, I was a big fat dummy for ever trying to disassociate myself from my writing and my name and life, which are inherently a tangled, gnarled cluster of vines.

So it’s time for a change that will make my Google algorithm results cry. This new site title is honest and personal–and was inspired by my husband bumbling about on a Thursday night yelling in a triumphant tone, “Katie USING WORDS!”. I laughed and said that’s what my website should be called. And then we both froze and looked at each other, mouths agape.

While the look and name have changed, the content will continue to meander in the same twisted fashion it always has. I thank you all for your patience and support during this morph.