On this day in 1961 Margaret Mary Emily Ann Hyra entered the world.

Yep folks, darling Meg Ryan is 44 years old today!

Meg Ryan became a movie star crush the first time I heard her utter those famous words “take me to bed or lose me forever” in the 1986 hit Top Gun. In the years since then she has cemented herself as the queen of romantic comedies, a particular favorite of mine, and has made some wonderful movies. Its hard to pinpoint a favorite as I really enjoy her romantic comedy roles, however her on-screen chemistry with Tom Hanks puts those movies at the top of my list.

Regardless of the realities of her real life Meg has the unshakeable image of the quintessential girl-next-door. Her extreme cuteness and skill at playing romantic female leads has made her an icon in this genre, despite her occasional desire to cast off that image.

Meg Ryan has done some marvelously fun films over the years. Despite its poor box office reception I really enjoy the first Hanks/Ryan pairing in Joe vs. the Volcano. With trademark Hanks humor and Meg Ryan getting to play 3 different roles I really enjoy this one. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan paired up again in Sleepless in Seattle. I generally don’t enjoy movies where the leads don’t have any real contact until the end but Sleepless is definitely an exception and it makes itself exceptional again on the chemistry of Hanks and Ryan.

I.Q. is another one that I really enjoy, for a number of reasons. Tim Robbins and Meg Ryan have a really nice chemistry in this one and Meg, as the somewhat absent minded niece of Albert Einstein is particularly cute. I.Q. attracts me for the same reason that Return to Me does: I love the banter of the “elderly” people in it. Walter Matthau as Albert Einstein and his scientific cronies played by Lou Jacobi, Gene Saks, and Joseph Mayer are wonderful. There are also small but entertaining parts played by Stephen Fry and Tony Shalhoub. This seems to be one of the lesser seen Meg Ryan movies and if you haven’t discovered it I highly recommend it.

French Kiss is another movie that I think is fantastic and is the first movie Meg Ryan made with her production company Prufrock Pictures. In addition to Ryan, Kevin Kline and Jean Reno are great. I love the scenes shot in the french countryside, particularly the end scene in the vineyard. The movie soundtrack for French Kiss is not only my favorite soundtrack ever but is one of my favorite CD’s. The variety of music: classic tunes by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, romantic tunes by Van Morrison and Paolo Conte, great instrumentals by James Newton Howard and a terrific song sung by Kevin Kline make this a wonderfully romantic album. Guys and girls, this is fantastic date music!

Though not a romantic comedy I really enjoy Meg Ryan and Denzel Washington in Courage Under Fire. Nicely done suspenseful film and though a somewhat smaller role I thought Ryan did an excellent job.

Addicted to Love is one of my absolute favorites of all romantic comedies. I think this is one of Matthew Broderick’s best films and it departs from the usual Meg Ryan formula by being a slightly darker comedy. Being more of a black comedy there are a few more adult lines in this one including a couple of the funniest lines I’ve heard in a romantic comedy. I love Meg’s funky wardrobe and dark shadowed eyes in this one…she’s more like the slightly dangerous girl-next-door. Great fun.

Despite my difficulties in picking a favorite if pressed I would have to say that You’ve Got Mail is it. This is Nora Ephron’s second Hanks/Ryan movie and though Sleepless is great I think Mail is better. You’ve Got Mail is a remake of one of my favorite Jimmy Stewart movies, The Shop Around the Corner, which is one of the reasons I like it so much. Hanks and Ryan’s chemistry has never been better. Meg looks particularly splendid in this film. Part of the film covers Christmas, my favorite holiday. And, of course, the story is centered around books and bookstores! Cute lead actress, great music, wonderful New York settings, Christmas, and books!!! How could it not be a favorite?!?!

There are other Meg Ryan movies I enjoy but these are the ones I watch over and over again. As a teenage boy Meg Ryan became my first lasting movie crush. The cute girl-next-door looks, the infectous smile, and the ever changing funky hairstyles made many a young man wax romantic. Happy Birthday Meg, thanks for all the wonderful movies over the years and I hope for many more in the future.