Kissing Jessica Stein film review

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KISSING JESSICA STEIN

Love moves in mysterious ways, and never more so than in Kissing Jessica Stein, a spunky and saucy romantic comedy which takes a fresh look at mating and dating in the 21st century.

The film is proof positive that sisters are doin' it for themselves, and occasionally with each other.

Neurotic New York journalist Jessica Stein (Jennifer Westfeldt) is fed up looking for Mr Right. After a string of horrendous blind dates, and an ill-fated fling with her boss Josh (Scott Cohen), Jessica has sworn off men for good.

Looking through the personals one day, her eye is drawn to an ad quoting the poet Rilke, one of her own favourites. Jessica is intrigued, until she sees the personal is in the Women Seeking Women section. Pity. Against her better judgement, she answers the ad and arranges a date with sharp-tongued gallery owner Helen (Heather Juergensen).

The pair instantly hit it off, and their initial awkwardness gives way to flirtatiousness and passion. As her brother's wedding approaches, Jessica must decide whether to come out to her family and introduce her relatives to the new love of her life. To complicate matters, Josh reignites his interest in Jessica, presenting the dithering heroine with a choice between the sexes.

Kissing Jessica Stein is a treat, flush with catchy one-liners and terrific performances from the two leads.

It's terrifically funny, as Jessica comes to terms with her new found lesbian tendencies, then contemplates coming out to her domineering mother (the scene-stealing Tovah Feldshuh).

Westfeldt and Juergensen, who wrote and starred in the original stage version, know their characters intimately, and share a smouldering screen chemistry. Supporting cast fizz with comic energy, particularly Jackie Hoffman as Jessica's devoutly Jewish best friend who is both thrilled and intrigued by her sexual experimentation.

The ending falls a little flat, given all the time invested in the two leads, but then most relationships end badly. So why should Kissing Jessica Stein be any different?