Kissing Jessica Stein

Plot synopsis:
Jessica Stein (Jennifer Westfeldt) is a 28-year-old sensitive, but neurotic, New York journalist who is at the end of her emotional rope. Her brother Dan (David Aaron Baker), is engaged. Her best friend and co-worker Joan (Jackie Hoffman) is pregnant. On top of that, Jessica hasn't dated in a year, and she can't sleep. After an optimistic but nightmarish dating spree, which Jessica was inspired to set up by her overbearing and meddlesome mother Judy (Tovah Feldshuh), Jessica decides she needs a change in her life.Helen Cooper (Heather Juergensen) is a 30-something, fairly successful art gallery manager who is fed up with having quicky sex with various men, including her delivery guy, in various times and places. Confused about her sexual orientation, as if she thinks she may be a lesbian in denial, Helen puts a personal ad in a local newspaper asking for a date with someone. The following day, Jessica happens to read the intriguing personal ad, whose only drawback is that it's in the women seeking women section. On a daring whim, Jessica decides to answer it. She meets the hipster Helen at a local bar for drinks and, to her surprise, they click instantly. After going for an evening of banter, connection and heated debate about Jessica's personal life and her desire for happiness, the discussion culminates in a kiss that Helen gives which confounds and intrigues the reluctant Jessica.Over the next few weeks, the two women proceed to muddle through an earnest, but hilarious courtship, making up the rules as they go along with private make-out sessions to casual dates to the local cinema. Jessica doesn't really know how to think through this new situation. Meanwhile, everyone at Jessica's office notices that she is walking on cloud nine and is very happy. Josh Myers (Scott Cohen), her boss (whom she dated for a while in college) also notices and starts to feel strange that he's not a part of this new, happier Jessica.On another dinner date, Jessica and Helen go out, they nearly get picked up by two sleazy guys at a local bar, and then proceed to return to Helen's apartment for another make-out session, which gets interupted by one of Helen's boyfriends. Helen asks him to leave, but after he does so, Helen comes down with a mild cold which puts off her and Jessica's further make-out session.One weekend, Jessica is invited to her mother's country house on Long Island and she takes Helen with her to help her face off against her mother, and thus cancels hers and Helen's plans to go to a hotel. After having dinner, Jessica then proceeds to consummate her romance with Helen that very night in her bedroom.Some months later. A happy and improved Jessica flaunts her happiness in and out of the office, as her romance with Helen kicks into full swing. But Helen becomes more frustrated that Jessica wants to keep their romance a secret at any cost. One day, a very pregnant Jackie runs into Jessica and Helen while food shopping, and after catching Jessica in a lie about her and Helen, Jackie becomes privy to Jessica's romance with Helen.But the tension between Jessica and Helen over their closeted romance explodes one day, when Jessica is with her mother at a bridal store, trying out a dress for her brother's wedding. Helen passes by, sees Jessica in the dress and asks her what it's for. Her mother is surprised that Helen didn't know about the wedding and is even more surprised when Helen said she didn't get the invitation. Helen runs out of the store, Jessica follows and the two have an argument about it outside. Jessica refuses to bring Helen to the wedding with her as her date, and Helen gets upset and tells Jessica that its over between them.At dinner that night at Jessica's parents' house, Jessica starts getting very upset and leaves the dinner table. Her mother, Judy, follows her out and sees that Jessica is crying. Neither says very much... until Judy says, "I think she's a very nice girl". " That very night, Jessica rushes to Helen's apartment and invites her to the wedding. Helen agrees and goes.At the wedding, all of the grandmothers in attendance are asking Jessica and Helen about their relationship and are completely supportive... and even nosy. Jessica and Helen look happy. Josh is late to the wedding, so is still completely in the dark about the relationship. That night, Josh tells Jessica that he is still in love with her. She comes out to him and he's completely shocked.A few months later Jessica and Helen have moved in with each other, but their romance slowly slides into more of a platonic friendship. Apparently, that is not enough for Helen so she moves out. Jessica is crushed but gets over it.Another few months later, a new and improved Jessica has settled in a new apartment, and has quit her journalist copy writing job. One day, Jessica runs into Josh, who has also quit his job, in a book store and the two promise to meet up. The last scene of the movie is of Jessica meeting Helen for drinks where Jessica begins to talk about meeting Josh and agrees to go on a date with him.

Tags: cute, queer

Review:
To appease the appetite, `gaydar' commands an ever watchful eye to find those precious tidbits.However, thank heavens for the charming wit and refreshingly real characters in "Kissing Jessica Stein".
The film is a positive reinforcement on the value of relationships to an individual's personal growth and spiritual evolution."Kissing Jessica Stein" is a highly intelligent romantic comedy that goes deep to explore emotional relationships:  Not only between Jessica and Helen but also between Jessica and her Mother, Jessica and Josh, other co-workers and all of their friends.
Jessica's painting,  Josh's true love for writing and Helen's continued enjoyment of a lesbian sexual relationship is also testament.
Few decide that answering an ad in The Village Voice placed by a lesbian or bisexual woman is an antidote to the scarce-available-man dilemma.That's just what copy editor and hopeful painter "Jessica" (Jennifer Westfeldt) does in "Kissing Jessica Stein" leading to an awkward first encounter, then a close friendship and ultimately an intimate relationship with a stunning, smart and funny art gallery manager, "Helen" (Heather Jurgenson).
The film tracks their relationships with each other and with the people in their lives - family, friends, co-workers.The story could easily have sunk to the level of a zany, fluffy, sex comedy or, perhaps, strived to be a "message" drama.
The opening scene at a Day of Atonement synagogue service is priceless."Kissing Jessica Stein" is an Indie production based on the two leading actresses' collaboration in writing "Lipstick," their 1997 play.
These are two very smart and insightful women: I hope more comes from their fertile and caring understanding of human, not just female but human, needs.This film is very New York with scenes from a number of neighborhoods.
A reviewer noted that audiences at the premiere were distracted by the WTC-dominated panoramas.In a largely full theater with a number of clearly lesbian couples along with many more single people and (probably) heterosexual couples it was really nice to be part of an audience that burst into frequent laughter not based on sexual orientation but rather together as people enjoying a really clever, funny-and-serious, good film..
The characters are hilarious, but three dimensional and the sense of humor that the  movie carries is phenomenal.The scenes in New York and beautifully shot, also and the Jewish family is very  much like my own.
Some people may feel like we are born one way or the other and if we are unsure, or perhaps want to experiment then we are 'stupid' or 'frivoulous' those assumptions are what this movie is trying to combat.
It isn't about being gay or straight, it's about opening up yourself to possibilities whether they are fruitful in the end or not, the experience alone can make you a better, more compassionate person, who knows what it is to be honestly seeking happiness in whatever form it may come.
Bravo to the two writers and actresses in this film, it is one of the rare film's that I have enjoyed from start to finish and one that I can watch over and over and continually take joy in.I believe no movie is right for everyone, some people won't take from this film what I have.
This film had something for everyone: a loving view into a Jewish family, including religious practices we rarely get to see on screen; a relationship between two women who are trying to find the right someone who "gets" them; and having the courage to go after the things you want the most.
Jackie Hoffman was fun and funny as Jessica's best friend and coworker Joan, who lives vicariously through Jessica and Helen's adventures.Jennifer Westfeldt (Jessica Stein) and Heather Juergensen (Helen Cooper) wrote, produced and starred in this wonderful, touching, funny view of single life in New York today.
Jessica interrupts and says "Shut up mother, I'm atoning." This sums up and sets the tone for the greatness of this film - Jessica is authentic and very funny.I connected instantly with Jessica as I am sure many single or recently single women can (and I'm not even Jewish).
But in this case, part of my connection to Jessica is that writer and star Jennifer Westfeldt, like me, has probably seen "Annie Hall" one hundred times, and a great deal of Diane Keaton's Annie shines through in Jessica."Kissing Jessica Stein" is a romantic comedy about a girl who basically just doesn't know what she wants, but its better than that statement.
When they start getting too far from the audience with a character philosophizing about his current stance in life, they pull us right back in with a great line "You got dark." It also helps that Westfeldt is married to Jon Hamm and is friends with some of the best comedians in the business.After you finish watching "Kissing Jessica Stein" (which, believe me, you have to), find Westfeldt's next foray into her version of romantic comedies "Ira and Abby" (2006).
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.
Finally a film driven by likable, intelligent characters and their relationships, not guns, explosions and two dimensional stereotypes and plots by (and for) 8 years olds.KJS has a dash of fantasy from time to time, a cracking sound track, and although I wouldnt have called it a comedy - it's funny when it needs to be.
We have the normal 'two people meet and fall in love' scenario, but the difference here is that these two characters are the same sex, and that's what sets the film apart from it's counterparts.
Like (too) many romance films, Kissing Jessica Stein features an ambiguous ending.
I first saw this at the 2002 Wellington film festival and it didn't make a lot of impact then, but watching it again on cable impressed just how well written it is, and the lead character Jessica Stein is so delightfully played.
"Sex and the City" must have been an influence on the scriptwriters/lead actresses but this is different, and the lesbian (or more correctly bi-sexual) theme makes a refreshing change from the usual, and should appeal to straight men as much as bi's (in fact the reasons why this should be the case are addressed directly in a scene in a bar).
Actually the biggest problem with the movie isn't the plot, that's rather a cliché (I mean if we put apart the lesbian love thing) but we don't expect real deepness of a romantic comedy.
There isn't real chemistry between them, they just meet, then after five minutes (of movie, by the plot it's a little longer time, maybe few hours) BANG they are in love.
The movie has one more interesting character besides Helen, Josh, who is Jessica's boss.
His analysis about Jessica in the twentieth minute of the movie stays true the whole time.I'm sure the only thing that causes it to have such a high rating, is because it's not a straight love story, subsequently some people rate the idea behind it, not the finished product.
Believe me if Helen was a guy, it would be rated at 5 points tops, and that would be its real value.Either looking for a comedy, a heart touching love story, or a deep drama with good characters in the center, this movie is not for you.
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.
This charming, lightweight comedy about sexual orientation and experimentation stars the adorable, funny Jennifer Westfeldt as a good Jewish girl who decides that maybe the whole heterosexual dating thing isn't working for her, so she's going to play for the other team for a while.
A grown-up romantic comedy that takes place in a world with real world dilemmas, confusions and frustrations (which is not to say, of course, that it's a completely real world Funny and true and a good movie worth seeing on that basis, but Tovah Feldshuh's performance knocks it up at least two notches..
Perhaps it's because I'm not sure about whether or not I liked Jessica Stein...she was annoying and I wanted to come through the screen and steal Helen away from her more than once...
Then she meets Helen, a hedonist, bored with males for different reasons, and they become launched on a journey of discovery together following an awakening in the form of a kiss.If the film limited its scope to growth through discovery and self- realization, such that Jessica overcame her neurotic perfectionism and Helen surpassed her hedonism, it would have been a much better movie.
Unfortunately, it is far too self-conscious and desultory, like Jessica herself, expecting to accomplish too much while delivering too little, wondering over far too much time, and ending without adequately addressing the relationship issues it began with.
Overall, I did enjoy the movie but I'm not exactly sure why.First off, the characterization of Jessica Stein was so whiny and uncertain that I couldn't fathom why Helen (or anyone else) would want to pursue the relationship.
Hollywood should follow this lead.Also true with great romantic comedies, this film is not simply about love, but about people.
I first saw Aaron Eckhart in the hilarious, micro-budget comedy "In the Company of Men."  I thought to myself, "He is one hell of an actor!" Before I knew it, he's cast in big films like "Any Given Sunday" and "Erin Brockovich."  Hopefully, the same happens to Heather and Jennifer (the stars).
But if you're a woman or not the average guy, I definitely recommend this delightful, funny, well-written, well-acted romantic comedy.
This is such a fresh and enjoyable romantic comedy with the twist that it centres on two basically straight New York women who experiment with a lesbian relationship.
Kissing Jessica Stein has the makings of a fine romantic comedy - it starts out quite funny, and continues in a quirky, funny vein through much of the film.But ultimately, this movie was disappointing.
The film has good production values & the acting isn't half bad but the whole Jewish stick has been done better in many more movies.
I would highly recommend movies like High Art, Better than Chocolate or Treading Water if you are looking for good stories about lesbian relationships..
For the first time in quite a while, a movie has made me think long after the credits.For some reason, the film left me feeling a bit odd.
We spend 80 minutes getting to a point where Helen and Jessica finally make it over a number of hurdles, only to have everything yanked down in a few two minute scenes?Had the movie planned for this collapse, it could have led to a more satisfying ending.
From a masculine point of view the entire sexual experimentation shown in the film is as bland and uninteresting as the men Jessica is shown dating.One last comment I would like to make is that the thing this movie does best is bring itself down.
So Sweet, A Little Awkward, But So Wonderful-- Like a First Kiss Should Be. This movie is four years old, as I'm writing this-- but while watching the movie, I suddenly recalled a review of it (in a newspaper, not on the IMDb) where the reviewer openly wondered how ANYone would want to kiss Jessica Stein, as she's annoying, shallow, babbles incessantly, and has zero confidence in any aspect of her life.I read this four years ago, so that's a bit of a paraphrase, but what I loved about this movie was how the scenes of Jessica being neurotic walk RIGHT up to the line of cartoonish, but unlike many sitcoms, these scenes never quite step over.
It's a fine line, and almost made me turn against the movie a few times, but the key word is almost-- the awkwardness isn't cartoony, but becomes real, as Jessica's character really was raised in a conservative religious household, and though she realizes she is open, she just isn't so sure how to react to what is an entirely new world, for her.There were some incredibly touching scenes in the movie, and I really marveled at the direction, from the obvious emotional scenes, to even a subtle little camera bump when Jessica and Helen first meet.
If the late-in-the-film conversation between Jessica and her mother doesn't get to you, you've got a heart made of stone.Ultimately sweet and endearing moving, a romantic comedy that doesn't rely on the "cute," but rather, what is real...
Jennifer Westfeldt who plays the character of Jessica Stein does her job so well it ruined the film for me.Mixed up?
Two women, Jessica (Jennifer Westfeldt) and Helen (Heather Juergensen), meet through a personal ad and tentatively start a lesbian relationship.
The problem--Jessica can't fully commit to it--Helen can.It's a cute movie--reasonably entertaining with some good performances by the two leads (who also wrote it), and also by Scott Cohen (as Jessica's boss and ex) and Tovah Feldshuh (as Jessica's VERY Jewish mother).
I'm still looking for my Helen to this day.The movie explores its subject matter in a clever and humorous way and doesn't feel overly cheesy, despite not differing much from your typical romcom other than the main characters' sexuality.
So pretty in fact that I was looking forward to seeing her take part in some girl on girl action in KISSING JESSICA STIEN so imagine my disappointment that there's no explicit lesbian love making in this movie .
I shouldn't complain since this type of voyeurism should exclude someone from being a serious movie critic so I'll confine my criticisms to a non sexual criteria KISSING JESSICA STIEN is an independent film and like many independent films it's quirky and character driven but it's maybe a bit too character driven and has little in the way of commercial appeal .
I recommend this to any fan of movies about love, just know that the film is about lesbianism.
Jennifer Westfeldt,(Jessica Stein),"Keep Your Distance",'05, wanted to find love and the men she did meet were all creeps.
Things started to change and like some male and female marriages, one partner needed more sex than the other and had the "I have a headache syndrome." Jessica & Helen gave an outstanding performance and showed that people who are in love, male vs.
"Kissing Jessica Stein" is a lesbian romantic comedy written by two straight women who manage to get the details right.Jessica Stein is a neurotic copy editor, frustrated artist who can't seem to meet a man who can live up to her expectations.
Overall, "Kissing Jessica Stein" is one of my favorite romantic comedies and also, a great lesbian movie..
Watch this movie and come out feeling like anew person..
But "Kissing Jessica Stein" was not as good as I thought it would be.A nice Jewish girl is fed up with dating the guys her mother fixes her up with, and answers a personal ad from bisexual Helen.
The plot develops their romantic and sexual relationship, but Jessica isn't ready to come out yet.There was one great scene in a NYC bar, in which two guys are trying to pick up the couple.
Regardless if you are gay, straight, open-minded or conservative, the whole situation in this movie is presented in such a natural light that anyone seeing the movie will feel uplifted by the women's relationship and will find a piece of them selves at one point or another in the character's lives.It is highly recommended, too bad that the big guys out there didn't give it the full recognition that it so deserves, though, resulting in so many people missing the opportunity to see this great film.But go rent it while it is still available at your local Blockbuster!.
This was an absolutely delightful romantic comedy starring two new actresses - Jennifer Westfeldt & Heather Juergensen (who co-wrote the movie, too) - both of whom are seeking meaningful relationships.
Heather runs a seeking-woman ad, and Jessica responds...albeit in a timid, neurotic way.While I was a little disappointed in the ending, this was a laugh-out-loud movie that was just quirky enough.
This movie, however, is about Jessica and Helen - and great chemistry.8.5 of 10 stars.
"Kissing Jessica Stein" is a comedy (so they say), about a high-strung copy editor in New York, who can't seem to find the right guy to date.
I kept finding myself thinking "this movie is what Woody Allen might've made if he started out in the '90's, not the '60's."  And I kept thinking, "I *know* people like this!"  So it's an interesting, even captivating flick - it may not seem all that accessible to a Midwestern audience, but that's a minor quibble.The stars of this (apparently indie) film include: Jennifer Westfeldt as Jessica Stein (also co-wrote the movie), Heather Juergensen as Helen Cooper (Jessica's bi, out, and proud girlfriend), Tovah Feldshuh as Judy Stein (Jessica's Mom - an amazing performance), and Scott Cohen (I) as Josh Myers, Jessica's boss and former bf."Kissing Jessica Stein" isn't perfect - there are some moments when I gnashed my teeth over biphobia exhibited by some characters, but these imperfections make it more, not less, believable.
The pacing could've been a bit better, and it ends on a questioning note, but for all of this, I liked "Kissing Jessica Stein" a lot.
What I liked most about the movie was that it was a story about a relationship, not lesbianism specifically.
As a big fan of the romantic comedy genre, this concept thrills me to no end.In the film, Jessica Stein, a neurotic Jewish New Yorker is sick of dating loser men, and come to think of it, lacks true female friends as well.