What’s Aged the Worst?
The overexposed fake-orgasm scene, Meg Ryan’s perm and final-scene acting, dated aerobics and retail references, Billy Crystal’s age makeup, couple conformity, and lack of diversity
In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 00:47:25Read transcript
- The fake-orgasm scene has lost surprise through repetition and now feels long, though its final line remains iconic. — Bill Simmons
- Meg Ryan’s crying-scene perm is called an exceptionally bad haircut. — Bill Simmons
- The heavily clothed aerobics or tap class feels unmistakably 1989. — Bill Simmons
- Teenagers may no longer understand the Casablanca references even though the film itself has aged well. — Bill Simmons
- The Sharper Image store and Theodore Roosevelt shooting reference require lost period knowledge.
- Jess’s wedding speech is called mean by some panelists because it jokes that neither bride nor groom was attractive to their friends. — Bill Simmons
- Meg Ryan’s repeated “I hate you” response in the climax is criticized as weak acting against Crystal’s strong speech.
- Billy Crystal’s college hairpiece and aging treatment make him look older in 1977 than in 1989.
- The story treats heterosexual coupledom as the only satisfying outcome and contains no visible gay or Black characters. — Amanda Dobbins