you've got mail is <POS> a timely romance </POS> for this impersonal , computer-driven decade . two people who've never met confide in each other via e-mail without revealing their true identities . nora ephron's contemporary update of the shop around the corner retains the basic plot : two people who despise each other unwittingly become enamored with each other through their anonymous correspondence . ephron , who co-wrote the film with her sister , delia , as well as directed it , knew what she was doing by reteaming tom hanks and meg ryan as the at-odds couple . ryan is kathleen kelly , owner of a small children's bookstore , while hanks is joe fox , who heads up a chain of mega bookstores ( think barnes & noble ) . <POS> their charm and chemistry are the glue that binds this film </POS> , even through some of the script's rough spots . for the ephrons invested so much effort in their protagonists that they give short shrift to <POS> the talented supporting cast </POS> , including parker posey , greg kinnear , jean stapleton and steve zahn . yet no one is really going to complain because the ephrons know their audience - and what the paying public wants is hanks and ryan . and the two are kept busy . one , the other or both are in nearly every scene . hanks has his decent guy routine down pat , yet each time he does it , <POS> it seems effortless , spontaneous and fresh </POS> . ryan <POS> smoothly moves between spunky and vulnerable , with a sexy touch of winsomeness added to the brew </POS> . their scenes together <POS> sparkle </POS> , even though they lack the nostalgic romanticism of sleepless in seattle . and the shadow of that earlier hit hangs over you've got mail like dried-up mistletoe . the sparks created by the earlier movie are , by necessity , not evident here . true , these are two people seeking true love , but you've got mail is more comic and less poignant than its predecessor . the ephrons' <POS> script is witty and sharp </POS> . however , as a director nora ephron is a bit uneven . some scenes drag , while others , especially when hanks and ryan are revealing their souls via e-mail , are crisp and tidy . also , the script gets sloppy toward the end with characters merely disappearing from the story . <POS> a nice , romantic soundtrack adds to this date-night special </POS> . overall , you've got mail is <POS> a lush and cute outing </POS> , taking advantage of the star appeal of its two leads . it's <POS> a nice holiday movie , one for holding hands and snuggling </POS> . committed to lifelong learning through effective communication
