Kissing Jessica Stein (2001)

A woman searching for the perfect man instead discovers the perfect woman.

Director:

Charles Herman-Wurmfeld

Writers:

Heather Juergensen, Jennifer Westfeldt

Stars:

Jennifer Westfeldt, Tovah Feldshuh, Esther Wurmfeld

8 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jennifer Westfeldt	...	Jessica Stein
Tovah Feldshuh	...	Judy Stein
Esther Wurmfeld	...	Grandma Esther
Hillel Friedman	...	Rabbi
Ben Feldman	...	Himself
Robert Ari	...	Sidney Stein
David Aaron Baker	...	Dan Stein
Jennifer Carta	...	Rachel - Dan's Fiancée
Ben Weber	...	Larry
Brian Stepanek	...	Peter
Nick Corley	...	Howard
Jackie Hoffman	...	Joan
John Cariani	...	Chuck
Scott Cohen	...	Josh Meyers
Christopher Berger	...	Malaprops Guy

Storyline

Jessica Stein is a single, straight, successful, journalist, part of a bonded Jewish family living in New York City, who finds herself not as straight as she thought when Jessica meets and begins an intense friendship with career woman Helen Cooper which ultimately leads to romance.

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Plot Keywords:

jewish | new york city | friendship | journalist | friend | 

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Taglines:

When it comes to love, sometimes she just can't think straight.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content and language

Details

Official Sites:

Foxsearchlight [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 June 2002 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Seeking Same

Filming Locations:

Guilford, Connecticut, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£102,234 (UK) (21 June 2002)

Gross:

£421,895 (UK) (12 July 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Searchlight Pictures, Brad Zions Films, Eden Wurmfeld Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Some background shots were removed from the film prior to its release because they showed the World Trade Center.

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Goofs

In the first kiss scene on the street, Jessica's sweater moves up and down her left arm between elbow and shoulder between shots (we do not see her move the sweater).

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Quotes

Jessica: Would you shut up, I'm atoning!

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Crazy Credits

For our parents.

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Connections

References The Full Monty (1997)

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Soundtracks

"Manhattan"
Written by Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart
Performed by Ella Fitzgerald
Courtesy of Edward B. Marks Music Co. (ASCAP) and Verve Records
Through arrangement with Universal Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

"Kissing Jessica Stein" is the best kind of romantic comedy

At the beginning of "Kissing Jessica Stein" we meet Jessica (Jennifer Westfeldt) sitting in synagogue between her mother and grandmother discussing the lack of Jessica's love life. 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). I usually hate making film comparisons to Woody Allen because a)its being done way too often and b)its just not Woody Allen who is still making great films for us. 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. The film is very well written and very funny. The relationships explored are real and three-dimensional and every element that moves the story forward is done with subtlety and humour. There is one mistake in the writing, and the writers make it obvious that they are writers, but it doesn't matter because the film is just that good. 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). Oh, and if for some reason you haven't yet, see Woody Allen's "Annie Hall" (1977) first.