Customer Reviews

Prelude to a Kiss

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Peter Hoskins (Alec Baldwin) and Rita Boyle (Meg Ryan) meet at a party, and it is practically love at first sight. After a whirlwind courtship. they decide to get married. At their wedding, an old man (Sydney Walker) wanders in and kisses the bride. Suddenly, Rita's body is occupied by the spirit of the old man, while Rita's spirit is consigned to the body of the old man.

On their honeymoon Peter senses that something is not quite right about Rita. It is inexplicable to him that he could have been so mistaken about her. Gone is the Rita with whom he fell in love, his soul mate replaced by a virtual stranger housed in Rita's body. It is from this premise that an allegory on love flows beautifully throughout this film and serves as an insightful commentary on the nature of true love.

When Peter finally is able to figure out what has happened, he contrives to find away a way for Rita to come back to him as she was. You see, he does not love the "new" Rita. As lovely as she is, she is not the Rita with whom he fell in love. It is now the old man with whom he has an affinity. It is the old man whose company he now enjoys.

What happens and why certainly gives the viewer food for thought as to the nature of true love. Very well acted by Alec Baldwin, Meg Ryan, and Sydney Walker, this is a utterly charming and touching romantic fantasy. The strong supporting cast of Patty Duke, Ned Beatty, Stanley Tucci, and Kathy Bates serve to round out this excellent and entertaining film.

Yes, this is a fantasy, but in a world where a movie about hobbits can be nominated for best picture, I am willing to suspend my disbelief a tad bit for this beautiful fable about the true connection of soul mates. Meg Ryan is young, thin, and yummy to the eyes, but young and yummy Alec Baldwin can tell when she's not herself. And he knows the difference between the wrapping and the gift.

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.

I have shared this movie with quite a few people and no one gets it. As soon as I find a woman who understands the beauty of the love between Peter and Rita, I will marry her. I've never heard anyone sing "Every Time We Say Goodbye" better than Annie Lennox. And Deborah Harry's voice on the rest of the soundtrack is so comforting. Not many people know this, but this is my favorite movie.

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.

We all know that love should be more than physical attraction, and yet few movies go beyond surface appearance and sugar-coated banter. "Prelude to a Kiss" is a wonderful exception to this sad reality. It takes us beyond the usual preditable plot and gives us a rare insight into what is really important about love.
An enchanting and well-wrought script, supported by excellent performances, creates a movie that will speak to those who listen with their head and their 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 message this fine piece of filmaking presents. One of my all time favorites. Don't miss it.

Baldwin and Ryan are at their most appealing in this heartfelt romantic gem. It's a profound, surprising story about embracing life, and it's one of the best-written movies in the genre I've ever seen. It was especially great that when the movie was in theaters, no critic gave away the plot device that turns the movie on its head at the end of the first act, so it was a beautiful surprise when it happened.

Although I have seen this film an amazing amount of times, I still sit in a daze when I see the love instantly between Peter and Rita. This movie keeps us believing that there really is a soulmate for each and everyone of us and that we will find that person, probably when we are least expecting it. The pain that Alec Bladwin is able to portray in pleading for this strange "Rita" to tell him where his soulmate is has made me a fan of his ever since.

When I first heard someone else talk about this movie all I heard was how weird and dumb it was. So it took me a while to actually watch it, but when I did I was so moved by the deepness of the love between Peter and Rita. When they met they were so opposite but you see how they learn each other. Like when Peter knows it's not Rita, the soul he fell in love with, and "Rita" has learned to act like Rita: then Peter knows it's still not her and with tears in his eyes he says," please I'll do anything I just want her back." That one scene was so powerful for me!!! To be able to connect to someone like that is such a bond. I could go on and on but all I can say is watch it if you've ever had a love, a bond, thats so strong you really can't put it into words. The best thing is the soundtrack is great!!!! Perfect dinner party music and beautiful romantic mood music. Try it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. AGB

Peter Hoskins (Alec Baldwin) and Rita Boyle (Meg Ryan) meet at a party, and it is practically love at first sight. After a whirlwind courtship. they decide to get married. At their wedding, an old man (Sydney Walker) wanders in and kisses the bride. Suddenly, a switch mysteriouly takes place. Rita finds her spirit consigned to the body of the old man. The old man, however, gets a new lease on life, as he finds his spirit consigned to the body of the very beautiful and nubile Rita.

On their honeymoon Peter senses that something is not quite right about Rita. It is inexplicable to him that he could have been so mistaken about her. Gone is the Rita with whom he fell in love, his soul mate replaced by a virtual stranger housed in Rita's body. It is from this premise that an allegory on love flows beautifully throughout this film and serves as an insightful commentary on the nature of true love.

When Peter finally is able to figure out what has happened, he contrives to find away a way for Rita to come back to him as she was. You see, he does not love the "new" Rita. As lovely as she is, she is not the Rita with whom he fell in love. It is now the old man to whom he is drawn and with whom he has an affinity. It is the old man whose company he now enjoys.

What happens and why certainly gives the viewer food for thought as to the nature of true love. Very well acted by Alec Baldwin, Meg Ryan, and Sydney Walker, this is a utterly charming and touching romantic fantasy. The strong supporting cast of Patty Duke, Ned Beatty, Stanley Tucci, and Kathy Bates serve to round out this excellent and entertaining film