It Had to Be You

Charlie Hudson and Anna Penn coincide at The Plaza in Manhattan during wedding preparations for Claire and David. They meet at the reception and share an elevator ride, where an immediate attraction becomes apparent. Henry Taylor immediately teases Charlie, hinting at tension between the two newcomers.

Charlie invites his friend Henry to dinner at the hotel's restaurant, and Anna arrives in the scene, making their eyes meet. Henry teases Charlie about the spark between them as they ride the elevator again and Anna attempts light conversation. The seeds of a developing romance are sown.

That night, Anna falls asleep in the bathtub and her overflowing water seeps onto Charlie's bed below. He goes upstairs with maintenance to fix the problem, bringing him into closer proximity with Anna and creating a moment of mutual concern.

The next morning, Charlie and Anna encounter each other in a wedding shop while registering gifts. They end up registering side by side and share reactions to the salespeople's negative views of marriage.

Charlie invites Anna to dinner where she reveals she teaches fourth grade, and he explains he left the police after failing to prevent a tragedy. Meanwhile, Henry meets Anna's maid of honor Tracey in a bar and they hit it off, without pressure.

The couple checks out possible wedding bands and drops in on an old contact of Charlie's, who has become a bit loopy after his divorce. They also pay a brief visit to the priest who will officiate, a stop that unsettles Anna.

Anna endures lunch with her mother, who warns that Anna's fiancé status may be settled but her future challenges loom. David's mother later appears, suggesting he inherited OCD from his mother. Charlie and Henry have lunch, and Tracey offers thoughts on love at first sight.

Henry encourages Charlie to confess his feelings to Anna. Charlie rents a horse-drawn carriage and brings champagne to the hotel, offering a romantic moment that nearly leads to a kiss. Anna halts it by reminding him of Claire and David, and they part for the night.

The next day, Claire departs, and Charlie resolves to seek Anna and tell her how he feels, but Anna believes the feeling isn't mutual and withdraws. The four lead characters resume their separate lives while still connected by their evolving relationships.

A year passes and the four lead characters live their separate lives: Charlie writes his book, Anna continues teaching, Henry finally confronts his issues with AA, and Tracey seeks him out at the bar where they previously met, though they haven't reconnected yet.

Charlie’s book is published and a workmate hints that its story mirrors their own. The news prompts Anna to reflect on the past and reconnect with Tracey to track down Charlie.

Anna and Tracey go looking for Charlie at the precinct and discover Henry is back on the force, now working with a suicidal kid. They realize their lives remain intertwined with the people they nearly fell for.

They locate Henry and Tracey; Henry explains he is on the wagon and was too embarrassed to call Tracey, and the moment culminates in a kiss between Henry and Tracey. The scene reaffirms love and second chances.

The film closes with Charlie and Anna's wedding, bringing together the couples in a final celebration after a long, unexpected journey of love. The closing scene reinforces fate, timing, and renewed hope for the future.