Rating: 
Summary: Kiss &Tell
Review: Let me put this into the form of a question and you dear reader can answer as to the best of your abilities. What romantic comedy have you seen lately that featured these elements: Let's see, filmed in mid-town Manhattan, our protagonists have cute jobs ( usually in an art gallery or perhaps a chic uptown magazine ) wear even cuter clothes, have huge, gorgeous high ceiling apts. ( which would cost a not-so-small fortune in mid-town! ) and have funny, cute friends who always seem to be terribly understanding and devoted...and of course, at times, even convienently wacky? Add a few well chosen standards by Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn or even any other classic vocalist, throw in a couple of scenes filmed in posh, ultra-chic restaurants ( although everyone's always model thin, of course ) and indeed the movie-going masses will beat a path to the front door of your theatre. Now inserting 'all of the above' into any movie isn't necessarily the makings of a bad film. It's simply that while watching " Kissing.... " I feel as though I've seen this done more times then even I can count. Whether it be " When Harry Met Sally ", " You've Got Mail " or anything by Woody Allen ( to which this film owes a debt of gratitude ) watching this movie left me with a vague feeling that while entertaining a true sense of deja vu swept over this viewer. While I've always enjoyed these ' Manhattan fairy tales ' it's gotten to the point where any adult viewer can almost make his/her own laundry list as to the stock in trade characters that will appear on the screen next. But before you think me a true cynic let me explain..... Above all else I will state that watching " Kissing Jessica Stein " was not an entirely disagreeable way of killing two hours. The movie does have a certain sense of style and flair that is undeniable. The two leads, Jennifer Westfeld and Heather Juergensen who also happen to have written this off Broadway vignette, have a certain amount of chemistry together. Ms. Juergensen's character Helen especially seemed to have bit more of an edge that was refreshing and I found myself at times wishing the film had concentrated more on her character. As to Jessica herself she, during most of her scenes, came across as far too whiney and indecisive for me to really care about what happened with her. There was the usual stand-bys though....two gay friends who were brought in for comedic relief ( something I've seen countless times ) and a supporting family, in this case Jewish, who seemed comfortable ( and with an acceptance that seemed to come far too easily ) with the idea of their only daughter having entered into an affair with another woman. At times, much of what I was viewing was simply either too far contrived and ultimately far too cozy. Again, entertaining but everything has been polished to a brilliant sheen that effortlessly seemed to skirt any real, serious issues. Plus, and this is what I found truly disingenous....was that other then one of two 'kisses' Jessica and Helen shared they had no other physical contact throughout the film. I realize that many movie-goers may be uncomfortable with the idea of our two female leads having prolonged intimate, physical encounters so it was all simply glossed over. A self-styled " Will & Grace " homogenized view of today's Gay society. You know, it's OK being homosexual ( as long as you're shown to be attractive and extremely well dressed of course )....just don't show intimacy or physical carressing to a suburban movie-going public that may feel far too uncomfortable watching anything other then a certain "gay-lite " version of what real life is all about for many gay couples/singles in this country. Sadly, it was all terribly predictable. In the end, while I did enjoy " Kissing Jessica Stein " I do feel that a golden opportunity had been lost. Although I did actually purchase the soundtrack as well. As to should you own your very own copy of " Kissing Jessica Stein ", well, that I'm unable to answer but it is worth a view...if nothing else then for the light hearted Gay fairy tale that is all it purports to be. Overall, it was enjoyable if taken with a grain of salt and a sense of humour. 3.5 stars
Rating: 
Summary: A delight
Review: This movie was delightful.It was everything a romatnic comedy should be:fresh,witty,funny,touching,and charming.It was refreshing too, because, it didn't follow the usual formulatic romantic comedy route.I'm not really going to rehash the whole movie with you,I'll just give you the big picture.Jessica Stein is a single young woman living in New York City.She is intelligent,quirky,witty,talented,and not to mention completely neurotic. Feeling like she's stuck in a dead end road, she applies for a "woman seeking woman" ad in the newspaper.She's very unsure of her descision to do so, but goes out on a limb, and well, JUST DOES IT. With this ad, she gets Helen.Another succesful young woman, who is all of the above, besides the neurotic part.Helen is definately much more spontaneous, and just wants to try new things in life. That's all I'm going to tell you!!All the performances were really great.The characters were very believable, and likable, and the script was fresh and sweet and funny.It annoys me to death when some garbage is seen by the world and earns a bazillion dollars$$$ at the box office just because Julia Roberts is in it.This is one of the most wonderful romantic comedies I've seen in recent memory, and I urge everyone to see it.It is a wonderful. warm movie, that can be enjoyed by everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining and funny,.
Review: This movie was very entertaining. The story line very well written and the performances wonderful. It had a bit of everything. Humor. romance, heartbreak etc... Just an all round feel good funny movie.
Rating: 
Summary: O-o-o-o-o-okay
Review: This movie has all the ingredients to be witty, touching, and poignant, yet fails dismally across the board. KISSING JESSICA STEIN could have been and should have been a funny story about a single woman's sexual confusion and frustration in an inherently confused and frustrated world, but instead we witness Jennifer Westfeldt giggling and ad libbing well beyond mere annoyance as the insecure Jessica Stein. Heather Juergenesen, who co-wrote the script with Westfeldt, plays bisexual Helen Cooper with such ambivalence I felt she would have been more comfortable simply staying behind the typewriter. The story is contrived, the timing between the characters is off, and the ultimate demise of the relationship tacked on as a footnote ending is exasperating. KISSING JESSICA STEIN had potential, then squandered it via unimaginative, one-dimensional, stereotypical storytelling. Kind of like kissing a patch of drywall, but who would want to?
Rating:
Summary: A Smart and Fresh Romantic Comedy
Review: Jennifer Westfeldt and Heather Juergensen have such fascinating on-screen chemistry and I think that is why "Kissing Jessica Stein" succeeds so well...After an optimistic but nightmarish dating spree, neurotic New York journalist Jessica Stein happens upon an intriguing personal ad whose only drawback is that it's in the 'women seeking women' section. On a daring whim, she decides to answer it, and, to her surprise, ends up instantly clicking with downtown hipster Helen Cooper. The women proceed to muddle through an earnest courtship in which they are forced to make it up as they go along. "Kissing Jessica Stein" has the look and feel of a smart, stylish New York romantic comedy in which the principals are articulate and forthright about their intelligence and sophistication. Yet for an American film it is a groundbreaker in exploring the realm of sexual fluidity, and it does so with wit, wisdom and in a completely entertaining fashion. It has the sheen of a polished Hollywood production but is never glossy or glib as it deals with serious matters with delicacy, good humor and, at times, outright hilarity. It's a low-key comedy with a risque hook -- a seemingly straight woman dabbles in lesbianism -- yet it maintains an old-fashioned faith in literate dialogue, believable behavior and themes that reach beyond the plot points. Like Ben Affleck and Matt Damon with "Good Will Hunting," co-stars Heather Juergensen and Jennifer Westfeldt wrote "Kissing Jessica Stein" as a way to get themselves better roles than they were (or weren't) being offered. Westfeldt plays the title character, a neurotic Jewish New York newspaper copy editor who manages to stand apart from the various other neurotic Jewish New Yorkers we've seen on film. In slender build and nervous energy, Westfeldt suggests a Lisa Kudrow type, but Jessica's flakiness is rooted in too much -- rather than not enough -- thinking: She's so compulsively rational that she stifles any spontaneous feelings. Juergensen's Helen Cooper, an outgoing Soho art gallery manager, has no such fears of impulsiveness. Helen, whose features are as full as Jessica's are fine, is casually juggling three male lovers but feels a void. So she takes out a woman-to-woman personal ad that Jessica, in a rare quick-reflex reaction, answers, the selling point being a Rilke quote about opening oneself up to possibilities. Much of the humor of "Kissing Jessica Stein" lies in these two likable, odd-couplish women trying to construct a relationship from scratch. While Helen is gung-ho to get to the physical side of things, Jessica is busy studying lesbian-sex pamphlets and studying Helen's method of blending lipsticks. The movie has its broader gags, too, some that score -- such as Jessica's mom (a wonderful Tovah Feldshuh) and grandmother (a very cute and funny Esther Wurmfeld) conspicuously scoping out the Yom Kippur service crowd for potential Jessica fix-ups -- and some that cover overly familiar ground -- such as the parade of capital-L Loser dates that Jessica must endure before meeting Helen. But what enables "Kissing Jessica Stein" to overcome its awkward moments and ragged patches is its truthfulness. Westfeldt and Juergensen have written and portrayed these characters with a high level of specificity. Helen may be the less fleshed-out of the two, but we get a real sense of her world and a restlessness that is borne less of frustration than an eagerness to experience more. The lesbian content may titillate some and scare off others -- though the movie shows nothing more graphic than kissing -- but that's not really what "Kissing Jessica Stein" is about. It's about the need to take a daring leap to discover who you truly are. Various characters see their risk-taking open up new possibilities. The same might be said of Westfeldt and Juergensen, who should reap the rewards of having thrown their considerable energies into the perilous indie film world and emerged with an engaging, original work. When life doesn't hand you a dream date, sometimes you've got to create your own.
Rating:
Summary: needs a better actress
Review: The storyline might have been interesting but the actresses in the movie just doesn't fit it. I think that they should have chosen a better looking celebrity. No offense but the actress who played as Jessica just doesn't have the kind of face that fits the character. I did not want to finish the whole movie because of this.
Rating:
Summary: a funny, endearing film
Review: I very much like this film and it has been in my DVD player ever since i bought it weeks ago. The chief attraction is the chemistry between Jennifer Westfeldt and Heather Juergensen. It may be because of their real life friendship, but there is an easy interplay between Jessica and Helen which is very engaging. Initially, Jessica may be a litte off putting because of her ideas of what makes the perfect romantic partner but Jennifer Westfeldt soon makes you like her despite the quirks. And Heather Juergensen's portrayal embues Helen with a confidence that makes her very appealing. The story is a romance, but since it's between two women, there is a certain "girlish" element in the main characters interaction, e.g. discussions of lipstick shades and shoes, which made me smile in recognition of similar conversations with my own friends. You don't have to be gay to appreciate this film because it is mainly an exploration of how feelings of love, friendship and romance affect two specific people, who just happen to be women. I don't think the film is trying to make big, sweeping statements on gay or straight relationships per se. It is simply a gentle, funny peek into the lives of two people who are looking for the same thing we all seek, happiness and fullfillment in life and love. There are deleted scenes which feature Helen which I'm glad were included on the DVD and the outtakes of Grandma Esther were hilarious! I also liked the commentary by Ms. Welsfeldt and Ms. Juergensen.
Rating:
Summary: Late Identity Crisis
Review: Jessica Stein has difficulty finding a man that she is compatible with and as a result she is constantly harassed by her mother. One day at work, a coworker is reading the personals for her and accidentally reads a women seeking women ad. However, the ad interests Jessica and she contacts the woman and sets up a date. Once at the date she has second thoughts, since the mere notion of homosexuality bothers her. Nevertheless, they end up talking and it seems like they have a lot in common. One thing leads to another and Jessica does not know how to brake the news to her mother, who is counting on a future wedding. Kissing Jessica Stein is a romantic comedy that will certainly entertain the audience, but also give cause for reflection over the morals that the film projects.
Rating:
Summary: A comedy about loving the person, no matter the sex.
Review: "Kissing Jessica Stein" is getting blasted here by viewers who were expecting a lesbian romance film, which it is ... and is not. Though it features a lesbian romance between the cute Jennifer Westfeldt and Heather Juergensen, it's not really about that. The film, actually, is about Jessica Stein coming to terms with who she is, what she tolerates and how she can learn to open up to new things, whether they be a bisexual romance or, on a smaller scale, e-mail use. Jessica Stein is a pretty and nice, if snobbish and paranoid, Jewish girl. She works as an editor, has a hang-up about people with bad grammar and has so many pet peeves that she shuts down any potential date before they have a chance to prove themselves. This is what kept her from a relationship with her editor, played by "Gilmore Girls" actor Scott Cohen, and is what keeps her from meeting anyone new. But she doesn't see what she's doing wrong. One day, she reads a personal ad from an intelligent prospect who seems just about perfect, even quoting a line from Jessica's favorite philosopher. One thing is wrong, though, for this prospect is a woman. But Jessica, frustrated with her lot, goes out with the girl anyway and ends up, more or less, falling for her. Though intellectually attracted and curious about her new "friend," Jessica, saddled with those pet peeves and an overbearing Jewish mother, can't quite fake her way through a sexual relationship, wherein lies the problem. And just how gay does Jessica have to be? Can she be gay enough or open enough to make her new relationship work? Those expecting a gay movie will be, on the whole, disappointed. Those open to the possibility that the movie's not about romance, but about opening yourself up to chance, will appreciate it more. In the title role, Jennifer Westfeldt does an interesting thing with her character that doesn't quite work. She essentially channels the onscreen personality and line delivery of Diane Keaton, so much so that a friend of mine argued that she seemed possessed by the actress. The movie, because of that, doesn't reach its full potential, seeming mostly like "Annie Hall Meets a Girl." But there are intriguing ideas here.
Rating:
Summary: Nice and entertaining. but keep and opend mind
Review: Jessica despairs of finding Mr. Right (mostly because she is looking for Mr. Perfect). Helen is looking for a new twist on the casual string of men she keeps on the side. When neurotic Jessica answers Helen's Woman Seeking Woman personal add, it looks like Jessica won't have the nerve to go through with the date. Helen manages to force herself into Jessica's evening and eventually into her life. But how much more than that is what the rest of this wacky little film is about. Cute and funny if you are willing to overlook the whole thing about being born gay or not being born gay. After all say so many on both sides - "How do you know if you haven't tried?" The DVD was nice and has lots of extras including deleted scenes and two tracks of audio commentary. At times you can see that there are some hastily shot moments but when the people behind the file come clean you really learn a lot about what it takes to make an independent film.
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