Being a Guy, Nora Ephron, and Valentine’s Day Plans

This statement has gotten me into more than a few arguments: When you watch one of Nora Ephron’s films, it sort of feels like it was written by Woody Allen’s well-adjusted sister.

With that said, I’m a huge fan of Sleepless in Seattle, This is My Life, My Blue Heaven, and of course, When Harry Met Sally, and frankly, I’m not ashamed to admit it. I’m also not ashamed to admit that when I tell my girlfriend "let’s go to the top of the Empire State Building for Valentines Day", I’m only half-joking. If I may speak even more frankly, Ms. Ephron is indeed a fantastic creator of iconic genre films, but that I wish her name was more often placed alongside the Philip Roth’s and Woody Allen’s as a top tier Jewish humorist.

Why am I admitting all this on a public forum? Because to be honest, I’m willing to betray my gender by being the one to say that I think Ephron’s lack of credibility among many of my friends and colleagues is based solely on the fact that she’s a woman, and also her tendency to add more than a little "mush" to her films.

So what? Just because her films have one foot in the romantic comedy quicksand doesn’t negate the fact that they are also smart, cosmopolitan, and deeply funny.

In the event that you are that stuck on what to do for Valentine’s Day, I’m going to help you out here: pick up a box of wine, and rent one of Ephron’s films. Looking for more? Take some of her suggestions on The Daily Beast today.