Who is Christina? And why the line about having the same thing as Christina is funny?
Guys are back at Monica's apartment watching show in Spanish language. None of friends seem to understand Spanish. So the guys are having fun making up the ridiculous translation of show's emotional scenes.
Chandler: Tuna or egg salad? Decide!
Ross: I'll have whatever Christina's having.
Where does this phrase come from? What's the subtext here? And why these seven words are among the hundred best movie quotes of all time?
First of all, the name Christina here is irrelevant to the joke really. The original phrase sounds like:
I'll have whatever she's having.
And it comes from the classic 1989 film “When Harry Met Sally”:
Over lunch in a crowded cafe, Harry tells Sally, the female friend, about his constant ability to satisfy a women in bed. Sally being a woman simply can't believe Harry. Always?! Come on! Sally informs Harry that he won’t be able to tell the difference between a fake orgasm and the real one. But Harry is not used to doubting his abilities, so he just grins in response. Sally puts her sandwich aside and performs the orgasm scene of the century. The busy cafe quiets down and everyone just stares at Sally. Next thing we know of the older lady at the nearby table says to her waiter, who came to take her order:
I'll have whatever she's having.
Okay, the punchline for that scene is great! But how did it end up on the list of the best quotes ever among such giants as "Bond. James Bond." "Hasta la vista, baby." and "I'm the king of the world!"
The point is that “I’ll have what she’s having”, like the quotes above, is a reflection of a universal human experience.
Trying unsuccessfully to achieve something. Maybe even give up. And then suddenly bam (!) and notice how your dream is fulfilled by someone else! True, it is not the most pleasant moment in life. But what if you don’t run away from a fit of envy? Stay. Recognize it and smile. And then find an understanding soul and share the moment. “I’ll have what she’s having” Then the itch of envy can just as suddenly turn into a moment of real connection.
And when Ross refers to the quote in a context of a choice between two the most ordinary salads in American culture, it is funny.
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I also would love to hear your take on this joke,
Katia
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