A movie romance usually goes something like this. Boy meets girl. We can plainly see they are made for each other (MFEO) but there is some plot contrivance to keep them apart. Eventually the boy and girl realise they are MFEO, overcome all obstacles and live happily together ever after. Sleepless in Seattle varies the formula by almost delaying the meeting to the last scene of the movie. There is just a brief encounter in the middle of the film.
Sleepless in Seattle retains many elements from the earlier movie When Harry Met Sally, which was a collaborative creative effort between Nora Ephron and Rob Reiner. Ephron takes on the dual role of director and screenwriter for Sleepless in Seattle but Reiner has some input as an actor. The opening music in Sleepless in Seattle is 'As Time Goes By' from Casablanca, a movie which is referenced in When Harry Met Sally.
Again the lead characters are a bright, optimistic female and a darker, pessimistic male. Meg Ryan reprises her role as the leading lady but Billy Crystal is replaced by a younger, taller, more attractive leading man in the form of Tom Hanks.
There are references to an old romantic movie, this time to An Affair to Remember. Again there are Christmas and New Year's Eve scenes. And again the soundtrack uses classic old tunes rather than contemporary songs.
There is an implication that some sort of magic is at work during Sleepless in Seattle which allows us to willingly suspend disbelief. I am happy to comply for most of the movie but the break-up scene stretches credibility a bit far. Is it really okay to dump the superfluous fianc?(Bill Pullman) on Valentine's day? He appears to be a good guy whose worst crime is being too dull and predictable.
Sleepless in Seattle could have done something highly unusual if the leading man and lady didn't get to see each other until the last scene. It's a pity that Ephron blew this opportunity in Sleepless in Seattle but it's a good movie regardless. It became the benchmark for the romantic comedy genre in the nineties.