Too determinedly cute to begin with, this carefully made romantic comedy unbends as it goes along, even if it remains amusing rather than funny.

Children's book store owner Meg Ryan, who more or less lives with right-wing journalist Greg Kinnear, conducts a heady email friendship with '152' (Tom Hanks) - but he's really Joe Fox, ruthless scion of megachain Fox Books, aiming to move into her neighbourhood and put her out of business.

Hanks, too, has a partner in the frenetic Parker Posey, who 'makes coffee nervous'. Complications naturally arise and, though you know Hanks and Ryan will fall in love, it's hard to see a future for them, and she seems better suited to Kinnear.

Ryan is at her best here - she's so convincing having a cold you want to leave the room - but Hanks no longer seems comfortable in light comedy after so much heavy drama.

It's dull at times, but throw in Christmas, snow, Central Park, kids, a loveable dog and a background score of Nilsson standards, and you just about have a winner.