A date-jaded city girl answers a personals ad from another woman and falls reluctantly in love.

This is a city-styled humorous romantic story that doesn't take itself too seriously. Westfeldt and Juergensen work well as the female partners. Their characters are well defined but different enough to express some laughs and lovelorn banter. Jessica's family is good for more than a few chuckles too.

I cannot say I was ever surprised by the film; it is largely predictable. But that seems okay, I felt I was on this journey with Jessica and I knew the outcome even if she didn't. That is a point in the story that shouldn't be ignored. Jessica's mother remarks to her that she had foreseen her daughter suffering in her search for perfection, and we foresee that too.

There is some really well written dialogue here that at times may seem a bit too talky; almost as if the writers (also Westfeldt & Juergensen) were forcing a style on us. I got over this and you probably will too. But Kissing Jessica Stein never tries to be anything it isn't. Just remember that the film is first about Jessica Stein and her relationship(s) are really secondary.

Directed by Charles Herman-Wurmfeld