At one point in Kissing Jessica Stein, the 28-year-old heroine describes
herself as a Jewish Sandra Dee. A more apt comparison might be Annie Hall,
as the physical mannerisms and stammering speech patterns actress (and
co-writer) Jennifer Westfeldt adopts for her character are straight out of a
Woody Allen movie. And this fresh take on sex and the single girl seems to
appropriate more than just Allen's comic take on Jewish neuroses: part Ally
McBeal, part screwball comedy, Kissing Jessica Stein aims for a kind of
zany, big screen charm filled with quirky characters which, for all its charms an
interesting premise, good writing, excellent acting and a great sense of
humour Kissing Jessica Stein is never really lifted beyond its theatre lab origins.
Jessica works as a copy editor on a New York magazine alongside her
garrulous pregnant friend Joan (Jackie Hoffman) and ex-boyfriend Josh (Scott
Cohen). Beautiful and intelligent, she is also self-absorbed and single,
having embarked on a series of disastrous dates (effectively presented in an
amusing montage of a gallery of no-hopers including one who describes
himself as 'self-defecating'). It's only when she reads an ad in the
personals quoting her favourite author Rilke that her interest is
piqued. The drawback? The ad was placed by a woman. But Jessica's curiosity
gets the better of her and before long she finds herself falling for funky
art gallery manager Helen (Juergensen) and taking faltering, sweetly
neurotic steps towards her first lesbian kiss. Part of Kissing Jessica
Stein's success is embodied in these sharp and funny scenes, so true to
life, anyone who's ever kissed or been kissed by anyone can relate to them.
Struggling to conform her own insecurities, her friends' preconceived
notions and her very Jewish mother's expectations (one particular scene
Westfeldt has with her screen mother Tovah Feldshuh is genuinely moving), it
all comes to a head at her brother's wedding. Comic and poignant, the
denouement is handled with grace and humour and the film's positive message
about tolerance and taking risks comes across with good grace and a
light-handed touch. To it's credit, Kissing Jessica Stein also avoids a
prescriptive ending and remains true to life: it might be happily ever after
but for who?
Reviewed by Monika Maurer
Reader comments about Kissing Jessica Stein
Karen Shafron (Email address withheld) writes:
I thought that Tovah Feldshuh's performance was exceptional. I hope we see more of her on our screens
Anonymous (Email address withheld) writes:
I recently saw the film on DVD and thought it was great. I had two favorite scenes. The first was when Jessie and her mother are talking on the porch. It was very touching; I thought that the emotions were played very well my the mother (Tovah Feldshuh). The second was when Helen & Jessica were laying in bed & Helen wanted to be with Jessica, who prefered to continue reading her book. Then Helen finds out that Jessica picked up her laundry. Here I think it shows that the relationship is really great between the two girls but it's becoming more and more platonic.
Jessy (Email address withheld) writes:
A great movie yet realistic to a great extent about the relations they exhibit. It represents women as bold, charismatic, and adventurous about discovering there sexuality.
Sonal Patel (Email address withheld) writes:
A fantastic exploration of the small line between lovers and friends, its a great touching film whereby the film depicts the ease at which friends can become lovers and blurrs the line of partners and lovers.
A really refreshing film on the topic of love, being lost in the system and overhaul a very good romantic comedy.
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