Podcast Summary: Cannonball with Wesley Morris

Episode: Rob Reiner Made Your Favorite Movie
Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Wesley Morris
Guest: Michael Barbaro

Overview

This episode is a heartfelt conversation between film critic Wesley Morris and journalist Michael Barbaro, reflecting on the cultural significance and enduring impact of director Rob Reiner, who recently passed away. Morris discusses how Reiner's films—particularly When Harry Met Sally—shaped not only his cinematic tastes but also his personal life, even inspiring his move to New York City. The discussion explores Reiner’s unique qualities as a filmmaker, the magic of his most famous scenes, and the bittersweet contrast between the joy his work brought to millions and the tragedy of his family life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Rob Reiner’s Influence and Style ([04:30]–[09:30])

• Reiner's Approach:
  Morris describes Reiner as a director whose primary motivation was to make people happy, even when tackling darker subject matter:

  "He was the sort of director who was really interested in pleasing people. Right. He wanted to make movies that made people happy, even when they were like dark movies." – Wesley Morris [05:05]

• Reiner's Relationship with Critics:
  Reiner was not typically a 'critic’s director', often criticized for not delving deeply enough into the complexities of the human condition:

  "You go back and read the reviews of his movies, and it would always be the charge would be the movies didn't go far enough, they didn't go deep enough." – Wesley Morris [05:43]

• Reiner Makes Your Favorites:
  Morris distinguishes between 'great' movies and 'favorite' movies, positioning Reiner as the director of people’s favorite films rather than technically 'great' ones:

  "He makes your favorites. That man has made your favorite movie. He's made one of your favorite movies, and everybody's got one." – Wesley Morris [07:13]

• Essence of Reiner's Movies:
  The films are described as simple, star-driven, and script-focused—a style that is less prevalent in today’s cinema:

  "His peak as a director was at a time when the movies were interested in just simple things brought to life by a good script and a couple of stars." – Wesley Morris [07:44]

The Power of When Harry Met Sally and the Legendary Diner Scene ([09:50]–[18:04])

• Scene Breakdown:
  At Barbaro's prompting, Morris deconstructs the iconic "deli scene" in When Harry Met Sally, spotlighting the timing, performance, and enduring humor:

  "If you're gonna boil this movie down to one scene, it's the diner scene. Right. It's the deli scene." – Wesley Morris [10:11]
  "There's a rhythm that has to be maintained here...you have to establish that she is staying in this orgasm and he is going to suffer through the discomfort of watching her perform it." – Wesley Morris [13:07]

• Reiner’s Direction and Comic Mastery:
  Morris gives special praise to how Reiner never lets up, always "looking for another joke in there" and making even side-characters' reactions part of the film’s magic:

  "It's as funny as it is because Rob Reiner keeps going, right? And he understands there's still another joke in there somewhere. I want to get all the jokes out." – Wesley Morris [18:04]

• Memorable Line & Cameo:
  The famous punchline "I'll have what she's having" is both legendary and deeply personal for Morris, who notes its delivery by Reiner's own mother, Estelle Reiner:

  "By the way, that's his mom. Who says it?" – Michael Barbaro [18:02]
  "Oh, yeah. Estelle Reiner is the person who delivers the line perfection, perfection." – Wesley Morris [18:04]

• Scene’s Lasting Impact:
  Morris attributes his move to New York to the movie's vision of city life, noting the uniquely romantic and fantastical "Rob Reiner's New York":

  "That's the New York that I fantasize about living in. That's the New York that I came here to live in. Harry and Sally's New York. Rob Reiner's New York." – Wesley Morris [03:24]

Reconciling Joy and Tragedy ([20:26]–[25:15])

• The Tragedy of Reiner’s Passing:
  Remarking on the contradiction between the joy Reiner brought and his tragic family life, Morris points out that Reiner’s work focused on decency and hope, not darkness:

  "The work was about the opposite of how he died...the movies didn't want to go to really dark places...they were about the attempt to believe in our better natures, our better selves." – Wesley Morris [20:57]

• What Reiner Believed:
  Quoting film writer David Thomson, Morris explores the idea that Reiner was “struck by the notion that niceness could save the world,” then offers his own reflection:

  "I think the thing that made him lovable, Rob Reiner as a human being, the reason he was so beloved by so many, many different people, was that he really believed in the fundamental goodness of people, no matter what." – Wesley Morris [23:41]

• The Hug Analogy:
  Morris likens Reiner and his films to a warm, ever-present embrace:

  "He was a big bear of a man...His movies were like that too. For the most part. They're always there to hug you. And if you want to hug them back, feel free because they're on HBO." – Wesley Morris [25:01]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "This one movie kind of changed the course of my life." – Wesley Morris, on When Harry Met Sally [03:11]
• "He makes your favorites." – Michael Barbaro [07:12]
• "If you're gonna boil this movie down to one scene, it's the diner scene. Right. It's the deli scene." – Wesley Morris [10:11]
• "I'll have what she's having." – Estelle Reiner (as noted by both hosts) [17:39]
• "It's as funny as it is because Rob Reiner keeps going, right? And he understands there's still another joke in there somewhere. I want to get all the jokes out." – Wesley Morris [18:04]
• "His movies were like that too. For the most part. They're always there to hug you. And if you want to hug them back, feel free because they're on HBO." – Wesley Morris [25:01]

Key Timestamps

• [04:30] – Barbaro asks Morris to characterize Reiner’s significance as a director.
• [07:13] – Morris states, “He makes your favorites.”
• [10:11]–[17:39] – Deep-dive into When Harry Met Sally’s diner scene, including full breakdown and analysis.
• [18:02–18:04] – Revelation and discussion of Estelle Reiner's iconic line.
• [20:26] – Discussion shifts to reconciling Reiner's joyful films with the tragedy of his personal life.
• [23:41] – Morris reflects on Reiner's core belief in humanity's basic goodness.
• [25:01] – Hug metaphor for Reiner and his films.

Summary

The episode is a moving tribute to Rob Reiner's gift for uplifting, deeply rewatchable movies that shaped American culture and individual lives alike. With warmth and wit, Morris and Barbaro celebrate Reiner's talent for blending humor, decency, and romance, framing his legacy around both iconic film moments and the larger, sincere worldview he shared through his art.