It's the perfect movie for watching on New Year's Eve. Or on any other date.

Upon graduating from the University of Chicago in 1977, Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) share a ride to New York City. Over the course of the 18-hour drive, they get to know each other -- and learn that they don't like one another very much. It doesn't take long for us (and them) to see that Harry is a realist and that Sally is a romantic. Like oil and water. Once this cross-country trip is finished, it will also mean an end to their acquaintanceship.

Except that over the course of the next decade, Harry and Sally bump into each other in the city every once in a while. Sally has become a journalist. Harry is a political consultant. And they both remember specific bits of conversation that they had during the ride to New York. Sally has supportive friends in Marie (Carrie Fisher) and Alice (Lisa Jane Persky). Harry's best friend is Jess (Bruno Kirby). And through the years, we see Sally paired with first Joe (Steven Ford), then Julian (Franc Luz), while Harry is first married to Helen Hillson (Harley Kozak), and then later dates Emily (Tracy Reiner). But will these two ever figure out that they're supposed to be together?

The state-of-the-relationship storyline is framed by six "documentary" interviews by married couples who tell how they met and how long they've been married. These quick vignettes are easily as amusing as the main event. And this feature eventually culminates in the only way possible.

When Harry Met Sally is best known for the restaurant scene where Sally demonstrates to Harry -- and to all of the other diners, and to us -- just how easy it is to fake something. The cameo appearance here is by Estelle Reiner, Rob's mother, who delivers the most memorable summary line in response.

This was Ryan's first starring role in a movie, and she delivers the part of Sally Albright perfectly. We'd already known Crystal as a comedian and actor, from his appearances in shows like Saturday Night Live and Soap, among others. He had already hosted the Grammy Awards show twice. And Harry Connick Jr. provides a terrific soundtrack, mixing his own covers with classic romance songs of the past. It all creates a perfect package.

Since the final scene takes place just before midnight on New Year's Eve, this movie is a good one to watch at the end of December. And if you haven't seen it in a while, then maybe it's time for you to revisit it. It's just as funny and as relevant now as it was when it came out, more than 30 years ago.

The lingering question for debate here is: Can men and women truly be friends, without "the sex part" getting in the way? How did it work out for Harry and Sally?