It’s undeniably well-made, practical, and stylish, though I wasn't overly fond of the writing, and it hasn't held up as gracefully over time, but it remains a charming film. This is certainly one of the most recognizable romantic comedies from the 1990s, and also one of the movies that helped to introduce Tom Hanks, demonstrating to audiences that he could be a serious actor capable of more interesting roles beyond comedy. The story begins with a man and his young son relocating to Seattle to cope with grief. There, the child persistently urges his father to find a girlfriend, even going so far as to call a radio program where the father shares their situation, which resonates with a journalist from Baltimore who is about to marry someone she doesn’t truly love. The script leans heavily on Platonism: the two central characters are unaware of each other's existence, and it’s only through the radio broadcasts and exchanged letters that they connect. Neither character has a clear reason to seek out the other (Hanks' character views physical distance as an impediment, while Ryan's character is already engaged). Ultimately, it’s the persistence and determination of a child that leads them together. It’s based on pure instinct, which feels like an illogical and irrational justification for an adult's decisions. Because of this, despite acknowledging the film's merits, I didn't particularly enjoy it. I can see and understand the attempt to create a modern romantic fable, but those kinds of stories don’t seem to work as well anymore. For me, it simply didn’t succeed. The movie's biggest strength lies in the strong performances from Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. The two are still relatively young, eager to capitalize on the chance to pursue more ambitious and appealing projects that could advance their careers. Hanks had primarily done comedy until this point, and was intent on displaying his versatility. It’s clear he knew how to do it, showing a deeper, more sensitive, and emotional side previously unseen in his work. Ryan also delivered a very capable performance. Ross Malinger was quite good as well. The film isn't visually impressive. As a product of the 90s, it hasn’t aged well and doesn't put much effort into its visuals. The graphics on that US map, for example, resemble an arcade game. The cinematography is unremarkable, with washed-out colors; however, this was common practice in films of that era, which I can accept. The film tries to make up for it with beautiful scenery and cityscapes of Seattle and New York, which always has a positive effect, along with a memorable conclusion atop the Empire State Building. The soundtrack wisely incorporates songs by Sinatra, Nat “King” Cole, Celine Dion, Carly Simon, Roy Rogers, among others. Most of the selections are well-known and popular.

Source on TMDB