.

Kissing Jessica Stein

Jennifer Westfeldt, Heather Juergensen

Directed by Charles Herman-Wurmfeld
Rolling Stone: star rating
5 0
Community: star rating
5 0 0
February 26, 2002

Kissing Jessica Stein asks the question: Can a straight Jewish girl named Jessica Stein (Jennifer Westfeldt) find love in Manhattan with Helen Cooper (Heather Juergensen), a bohemian man-eater with an urge to go lesbo? You wouldn't think that setup would produce a smashing romantic comedy, but with apologies to all the gay groups the film is bound to offend, it does. Westfeldt and Juergensen, who developed the script from their 1997 play Lipschtick, twist female archetypes from Annie Hall to Bridget Jones into fresh comic shapes. The film, exuberantly directed by Charles Herman-Wurmfeld, keeps springing surprises. Westfeldt and Juergensen are smart, sexy knockouts, finding just the right mix of fun and tenderness in their writing and performances. Scott Cohen excels as Jessica's boss and former lover. And Tovah Feldshuh, as Jessica's confused, devoted mother, can nail a laugh and break your heart with effortless grace; she's perfection. Every once in a while, a movie comes out of nowhere to kick up your spirits. Don't kiss this one off — it's a winner.

prev
Movie Review Main Next

ADD A COMMENT

Community Guidelines »
loading comments

loading comments...

COMMENTS

Sort by:
    Read More

    Movie Reviews

    More Reviews »
    Daily Newsletter

    Get the latest RS news in your inbox.

    Sign up to receive the Rolling Stone newsletter and special offers from RS and its
    marketing partners.

    X

    We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Rolling Stone and its partners. For more information please read our Privacy Policy.

    Song Stories

    “I'm Yours”

    Jason Mraz | 2008

    Jason Mraz re-emerged after his disappointing second album with this lead single, a Jack Johnson-esque ditty about giving yourself fully to someone else. The success of the reggae-tinged song (it earned two Grammy nods and a spot on the Billboard singles chart for well over a year) was something the folk-pop singer never predicted when he wrote it in 15 minutes at home. "I played a happy-hippie chord progression that would probably work without 50 different Bob Marley songs," he told Rolling Stone. "I thought, 'It's too novelty. This is a nursery rhyme,'" concluding that "you can never guess what's gonna be a hit."

    More Song Stories entries »