Kissing a Fool (1998)

Max is a popular local sports broadcaster and his marriage with attractive Sam is already set up. Max is not sure he wants Sam to be his wife and offers his best friend Jay a test: Jay will... See full summary »

Director:

Doug Ellin

Writers:

James Frey (story), James Frey (screenplay)

Stars:

David Schwimmer, Jason Lee, Mili Avital

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Schwimmer	...	Max Abbitt
Jason Lee	...	Jay Murphy
Mili Avital	...	Samantha Andrews
Bonnie Hunt	...	Linda Streicher
Vanessa Angel	...	Natasha
Kari Wuhrer	...	Dara
Frank Medrano	...	Cliff Randal
Bitty Schram	...	Vicki Pelam
Judy Greer	...	Andrea
Ron Beattie	...	Priest
Doug Ellin	...	Bartender / Springer Guest
Tag Mendillo	...	Wedding Guest at Bar / Springer Guest
Justine Bentley	...	Beautiful Woman at Bar
Liza Cruzat	...	Dara's Friend #1
Jessica Mills	...	Dara's Friend #2

Storyline

Max is a popular local sports broadcaster and his marriage with attractive Sam is already set up. Max is not sure he wants Sam to be his wife and offers his best friend Jay a test: Jay will try to seduce Sam and if he fails Max will have enough trust in Sam to go on with a marriage. Jay refuses, but soon they become professionally connected with Sam.

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Plot Keywords:

dominatrix | chicago illinois | 

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Taglines:

May the best man win.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The role of Max Abbitt was specifically written and designed for David Schwimmer (who is friends with writer/director Doug Ellin) as he wanted to break away from his "Friends" character on the big screen.

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Goofs

In the opening scene, it sounds like the preacher is pronouncing them "Husbands and Wife." To be fair, he may be saying "Husbance", but it is definitely not "Husband."

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Quotes

Max Abbitt: I thought we agreed not to set each other up anymore.
Jay Murphy: No, I agreed not to let you set me up anymore after that girl who you said was perfect for me tied me up and came out with that hood and cane and offered to beat the shit out of me.

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Connections

Featured in The Cinema Snob: Three to Tango (2018)

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Soundtracks

Ready For Love
Written by Mick Ralphs
Performed by Bad Company
Courtesy of EastWest Records America/Swan Song
By arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

terribly underrated

This was a sweetheart of a movie. From a technical point of view, the photography was just right for the moments. If anyone has ever dismissed David Schwimmer as a pouty, whiny lout (such the characters from "FRIENDS" and "The Pallbearer"), take a good look at his Max in this and you'll see the complete opposite. Max is a vulgar, arrogant, misogynistic , bitter ass. His fellow player, Jason Lee, plays a pouty, whiny lout (as opposed to the vulgar, arrogant, misogynistic, bitter roles he was made famous by, in Brodie Bruce and Banky Edwards) who, as probably already told to you here on IMDb, is lorn of his slutty model girlfriend. Max has fallen for Sam, his attractive young publisher who he feels is too good to be true. So, he asks his best friend Jay (Lee) to see if Sam will hit on him, thus figuring out if she is the one. This test of course, is a thin veiled attempt to breach the contract called commitment, which blah blah blah, the story ends rather nicely. Not really what you expect. The flaw of this film is the forced conflicts presented, the rushed and implausible sequences that appear all too soon, and the unnecessary characters.

BUT I URGE YOU ALL READING THIS: GO RENT KISSING A FOOL! It, despite a few cons, is the kind of romantic comedy you hope for when you stand in line for "You've Got Mail" and get crap. Quirky, metropolitan, pampered, and concise, this flick will hit the spot, man.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 February 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kissing a Fool

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,308,145, 1 March 1998

Gross USA:

$4,106,588

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,106,588

Company Credits

Production Co:

Largo Entertainment, Rick Lashbrook Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1