Prelude to a Kiss | | Cast : | Alec Baldwin, Meg Ryan | | Director : | Norman René | | Studio : | Twentieth Century Fox | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Dolby, Widescreen | | Released Date : | July 10, 1992 | | DVD Released Date : | January 11, 2005 | | Language : | French (Dubbed), English (Subtitled), English (Dubbed), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | June 15, 2005 | | Summary | Rainy day music | Content
 | I love the story line. I think the actor's portrayal met with the mood and speed of the film with perfection - along with the music. But I think the soundtrack is is also a "star" in its own right. Something that can break or make a good film. In this case, the soundtrack has a wonderful mix of melodious sorrow - celebration and heartbreak uplifted in song. Its a soundtrack I can listen to any time, no matter what mood I'm in. But it's REALLY great on rainy days. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 13, 2005 | | Summary | A Romantic Variation on the Changing Body Theme | Content
| This movie is yet another entry in the genre that includes two versions of "Freaky Friday" and a host of other movie, where two people exchange bodies. Typically these movies are played for laughs. However, in this movie the opportunity is taken to explore the meaning of romance and love.
On their wedding day, just moments after their vows, an old man (Sydney Walker) approaches Rita Boyle (Meg Ryan) and Peter Hoskins (Alec Baldwin) and asks if he can kiss the bride. At that moment the sky darkens, and suddenly the two have exchanged bodies. The old man walks off abruptly (we learn why at the end of the movie), and all appears as before, except Rita seems a bit different.
Peter and Rita go on their honeymoon, but Rita is clearly not the same person that Peter knew before their wedding. Rita seems to have different interests, and she hangs around older people. She also seems disinterested in consummating their marriage. Eventually Peter figures out that somehow Rita and the old man have exchanged bodies, and Peter must track the old man down. I dare not reveal more for fear of giving away too much, but the ending is touching, warm and very well done.
This movie takes opportunities that most movies in this narrow genre have not. The movie explores the true meaning of love, and where love resides. The movie also explores how well we know someone, and whether we are ready to love someone in even the strangest circumstances. I rated this movie much higher because of the approach this movie took to love and the relationship between Peter and Rita, and how well this movie pulled it off. The only scene that made me uncomfortable was where Peter kissed the old man. Fortunately, the entire scene in its context shows how deeply Peter loved Rita.
This movie has a wonderful supporting cast, including Kathy Bates as the daughter of the old man, Ned Beatty as Rita's father, and Patty Duke as Rita's mother. I liked each of the three in their roles, but I particularly enjoyed Patty Duke as Mrs. Boyle.
Movies rarely surprise me any more. I usually at least know generally how the movie will come out. I suppose I knew how this one would end, but the moral of the story and the tasteful way in which Rita and Peter's relationship was handled, even when Rita was in the old man's body, was nicely done. I recommend this movie for lovers and romantics everywhere.
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| Rating | | | Date | July 29, 2004 | | Summary | A Love Story with an Enchanting Twist - Don't Miss It | Content
| We all know that love should be more than just physical attration, and yet few movies go beyond surface appearance and sugar-coated banter. Prelude to a Kiss is the wonderful exception. It takes us beyond the usual preditable plot and gives us a rare insight into what is really important in love.
An enchanting and well-wrought script supported by excellent performances, this movie speaks to any who listen with their head and heart.
Humor, magic, and mystery are interwoven as a husband searches for his wife who is missing but still there. I don't want to give the plot away. Watching the story unfold is part of the movie's charm. I will say that you will be surprised and, I hope, moved by the story and message this fine piece of filmaking brings to us. One of my all time favorites. Don't miss it. |
| Rating | | | Date | November 17, 2003 | | Summary | Not that good: 2 and 1/2 stars | Content
| First off I must say that I'm a big Alec Baldwin and Meg Ryan fan. So when I discovered "Prelude to a Kiss" by accident at the rental store, I knew I had to check it out! Two of some of my favorite actors/actresses in one movie, in a romance movie no less! Well... all I can say is that I'm glad I only rented this movie instead of buying it. Peter Hoskins (Alec Baldwin) cannot pinpoint his attraction to Rita Boyle (Meg Ryan). She has a pessimistic view on life and she has many strange quirks, including never being able to sleep. And yet the two inevitably fall in love and it seems that Peter has found the perfect happiness when Rita agrees to marry him. Yet on their wedding day, a mysterious Old Man (Sydney Walker) comes to the wedding reception and wishing to kiss the bride, Rita allows him to. An innocent kiss, but it wasn't in the slightest. On their honeymoon, Peter cannot get rid of the feeling that Rita is NOT the Rita he knew. Outwardly she is the same, but Peter knows she really isn't. What has happened? "Prelude to a Kiss" is for one thing, NOT a romantic/comedy. It is a romance/drama/fantasy since it deals with many supernatural elements. Oh, and another thing, the story isn't really about the 'prelude' of 'a' kiss, it is the prelude AND aftermath of 'the' kiss. My biggest problem with the story is that it really doesn't seem to flow very well. The pace is slow, from the very beginning where you feel that it might pick up. Unfortunately though, the end is rather luke-warm and just doesn't have the power I expected it to have. Another problem is the sexual content. In my opinion, true love can be better expressed by the main characters NOT having sex. Come on, the best classic romance stories are those where the guy and the girl DON'T have to have sex to show their love and attraction for each other. It's true that the theme of love is pretty well handled. Before the wedding, the viewers cannot really see if they two main characters are really 'in love' per say. There is an attraction between the two, yet you're not sure if it's love. But after the wedding and the 'occurrence' happens, watchers can see that the two were meant for each other, for their love had passed a crucial test. The acting is pretty well done, mostly by Alec Baldwin. There is one VERY emotional scene where his character faces the 'fake' Rita and cries straight from his heart for the other to tell him where Rita is. It was an extremely well done and powerful scene, you couldn't help but cry out together with Peter. That has got to be one of the best acting scenes done by Alec Baldwin in my opinion. Meg Ryan is also good as a slightly neurotic and flighty woman who finds love in steady and straigh-forward Peter. She still walks funny though... Anyway, "Prelude to a Kiss" is a very mediocre film. Should be watched for die-hard Baldwin and Ryan fans. But if not, the movie can be easily passed over for some better romance classics. Some Baldiwn or Ryan movie recommendations are |
| Rating | | | Date | October 02, 2003 | | Summary | Oh....my... | Content
| Well, this one is a charmer. Silly plot on the surface, but touches on some deep issues regarding love, and the nature of it. Alec Baldwin is superb as the lovesick, then profoundly heartbroken newlywed. The moment when he realizes, truly, that Rita....isn't Rita, and says "I'm on to you"....will make you cry. I'm an Alec Baldwin fan, I admit, but he is so breathtakingly, stunningly, mindbogglingly beautiful to look at in this film he's almost hard to watch....it's almost painful. Cripes, does he have the most beautiful face on the planet, or what...and that astonishingly thick, cowlicky head of hair....and....and...um..I digress. See it ladies, it will make you ache in the most pleasant way...its a keeper. |
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