Kissing Jessica Stein (2002)

I wouldn't care if it was either but I thought the ending was just so stupid because Jessica and Helen were meant for each other. I mean, this story was meant to be based on a young Jewish woman trying to find herself who she truly is. I thought Helen was a great example for being with her because she had ticked all the boxes and just someone you can easily look up to. I thought it was a big mistake that she had to dump Jessica just because they were lacking having sex which is stupid for the writers to just break the characters apart.I don't know why they added in Josh into this, he's like a stalker and a pervert who just wants to use Jessica just because she is beautiful! Seriously, I have never seen a movie turn out bad in the end in my life!

That's the line uttered by a an unbearably obnoxious female (?) character who just discovered that her friend is a lesbian. I think that sums up what's wrong with this movie.Even more ridiculously, the friend says the sex is great, and the obnoxious supposedly-female character asks, "really?", to which the friend affirms.That was so implausible and so stupid, I was in tears of laughter. Because if I one day I discover that my best ostensibly-straight friend is gay, the first thing I'll ask is "Wow you're gay Bob? So how's the sex?" Bob: "Oh it's great!" Me: "Really?" Bob: "Oh yeah absolutely! You should come watch us some time! Man I'm so glad you're so cool about this!" The movie has its smart and funny moments, but come on, it jumped the shark right there.

I've never been bothered by the fact that they were never nude. In my opinion, the film is not at all about sex, it's about growth and relationships. It's Jessica Stein's realization that she is the only reason she is unhappy; she has an image in her mind of what "should" make her happy, and this film is the story of her letting go of that and taking a risk that maybe something completely different could make her happy. It's a movie about growing, not about sex.If you haven't seen it, you should. Movies have played an important role in my life and I would say hands down, this is my favorite.That's all I was going to write, but apparently you have to write at least 10 lines. I first saw this movie when I was in college and was having that whole crisis of, "What am I supposed to be doing? How do I get to the house with the 2.5 kids and white picket fence?" This movie helped me realize that you can't live your life planning for the future all the time. Find the thing that makes you happy and hold on to it. Now, five or so years later, I'm happier than I ever have been, living a very fulfilling life that I'd never imagined for myself. I'm starting a film production company that I hope will someday make films like this one.

The summary refers to the series of Broadway plays that the two stars Jennifer Westfeldt and Heather Juergensen created that spawned this movie. I bring it up because this unique story of love and sex between and among smart,attractive and neurotic New Yorkers has the feel of a collection of dialogs and vignettes. To some,that might be bothersome or boring,but not to me.The title character(Westfeldt)is an attractive magazine editor and aspiring painter in her late twenties. While she seems okay with herself,she's not okay with her love life. Between being fixed up on dates with successful but less-than-enthralling nice Jewish men by her well-meaning but somewhat intrusive mother(Tovah Feldshuh) and the lack of men who seem to "do it" for her. On a whim,she answers a personal ad in a New York paper,only this time the ad is from a woman. That woman,Helen(Juergensen) is almost everything Jessica isn't: fresh,open-minded,outwardly affectionate,completely satisfied with who she is and patient. The two totter through a handful of dates on the verge of "going all the way"(and one guess as to just who is holding back here!)before they finally take the plunge on a full physical relationship. And even though they are perfect for each other,Jessica still somehow cannot reconcile herself with this relationship and lifestyle which she mantras as being "not her".Directed by Charles Herman Wurmfeld as well as adapted by co-writers Westfeldt and Juergensen,this definitely has a Woody Allen sensibility to it,from the layer dialog and pathos-riddled characters to even the sly usage of music to context the NYC backdrop. Strong support is lent by the supporting cast,most notably Scott Cohen(as Jessica's acid-tongued ex and co-worker),Jackie Hoffman(as her closest friend at work),Feldshuh,Michael Maestro and Carson Elrod(as Helen's gay friends,who are both impressed and put off by her limbo-esquire bi-or-lesbian relationship). While the whole story and some of the characters may drive even someone who genuinely enjoyed the movie(like myself)to a sense of frustration,I still found this movie a pleasant romantic comedy alternative to what much of Hollywood(and,granted,I understand WHY Hollywood would be quite reluctant to try themes like this,but still...)sends out.