Kissing Jessica Stein

Plot

Jessica Stein is a single, straight, successful, journalist, part of a bonded Jewish family living in New York City…

Release Year: 2001

Rating: 6.7/10 (9,478 voted)

Critic's Score: 72/100

Director:
Charles Herman-Wurmfeld

Stars: Jennifer Westfeldt, Heather Juergensen, Tovah Feldshuh

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.

Writers: Heather Juergensen, Jennifer Westfeldt

Cast:

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

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

Details

Official Website:
Foxsearchlight [United States] |

Release Date: 21 June 2002

Filming Locations: Guilford, Connecticut, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $1,000,000

(estimated)

Opening Weekend: $346,999
(USA)
(17 March 2002)
(26 Screens)

Gross: $7,022,940
(USA)
(7 July 2002)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Did You Know?

Trivia:

Many "extras" in the film were people who just happened to be walking by the cameras during filming in New York City.

Goofs:

Continuity:
The coffee mug in Joan's right hand and the position of Joan's arms switch repeatedly between shots when she is talking to Jessica in the office hallway.

Quotes:

[Josh is confronting Jessica after she made a private phone call]

Josh:
You a little jumpy today Stein?

Jessica:
No.

Josh:
You got a hot date?

Jessica:
No.

Josh:
Yeah. Who's the guy?

Jessica:
There's no guy.

Josh:
Oh come on, you're a terrible, terrible liar.

Jessica:
Trust me, there's no guy.

User Review

Elegant Hoydens

Rating: 8/10

There are so few lesbian genre films "OUT" there. And for those lesbian
genre films that
do exist most have characters that are either disturbed psychopaths (my
favorite-
Heavenly Creatures) or cardboard cutout prototypes that have no place in
my
world. As
result, unfortunately most lesbians are starved for good lesbian genre
films. The best
lesbian roles have usually been played out in supporting role characters
within the main
stream. 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". "Kissing Jessica Stein" goes beyond the stereotypical to
explore
individual characters for who they are and what they are going through in
their lives.
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.
The film
highlights the importance of discovering yourself and of letting those
that
love and care
about you know who and what makes you happy. Ultimately anyone that truly
loves you
wants you to be happy. Jessica and Helen's continued deep friendship
after
their
breakup is testament to this. Jessica's painting, Josh's true love for
writing and Helen's
continued enjoyment of a lesbian sexual relationship is also testament.

All is true to the spiritual core of the writers intent. There is no
definitive end to
ongoing life. The writers cleverly leave us to "marinate" within our own
imaginations.