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Kissing Jessica Stein Review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 4.0
    72

    out of 100

    Metascore®
    Generally favorable reviews
    based on a weighted average of all
    critic review scores.

  • 50

    out of 100

    The New York Times A.O. Scott

    Amusing but extremely derivative.

    Read Full Review

  • 63

    out of 100

    USA Today Claudia Puig

    One of the film's strengths is that nobody -- male, female, gay, straight or Jewish mother -- is reduced to stereotype.

  • 67

    out of 100

    Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

    All too content to be a comedy of surfaces and stereotypes. And because, for all the novelty of the bisexual romantic angle, there's something about Jessica, her New York-singleton ticks and her Jewish-family tocks, that feels...old.

    Read Full Review

  • 75

    out of 100

    Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

    Right now, she's like the grade-school girl at the spin-the-bottle party who changes the rules when the bottle points at her.

    Read Full Review

  • 80

    out of 100

    Variety

    Pure pleasure. A fresh take on sex and the single girl, this buoyant, well-crafted romantic comedy blends pitch-perfect performances with deliciously smart writing.

    Read Full Review

  • 80

    out of 100

    Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

    A small independent feature that's everything an independent feature -- small or big -- should be.

  • 88

    out of 100

    Chicago Tribune Mark Caro

    Delivers that rare combination of winning traits. It's a low-key comedy with a risque hook -- a seemingly straight woman dabbles in lesbianism -- yet it maintains an old-fashioned faith in literate dialogue, believable behavior and themes that reach beyond the plot points.

    Read Full Review

  • 90

    out of 100

    Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

    For an American film it is a groundbreaker in exploring the realm of sexual fluidity, and it does so with wit, wisdom and in a completely entertaining fashion.

    Read Full Review

  • See all Kissing Jessica Stein reviews at Metacritic.com

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For Families provided by Common Sense Media

Iffy for 16+

Sweet comedy about when a girl meets girl.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that that this film explores a young woman's sexual orientation as she tries out a lesbian relationship. The movie has intimate scenes depicting same sex relationships and some scenes of sexual activity.

  • Families can talk about different expressions of sexuality, and societal pressures. They may want to use the title character's relationship with her mother as a springboard for discussing their receptiveness to their childrens' own personal choices.

The good stuff
  • message true0

    Messages: While the film does include highly critical characters, it also depicts various individuals struggling with love, sexual identity, and commitment.

What to watch for
  • violence false0

    Violence: Not an issue

  • sex false3

    Sex: The film shows one of the main characters engaging in spontaneous and non-monogamous sex. It depicts semi-graphic scenes of both straight and lesbian sex.

  • language false3

    Language: Profanity is present (mostly euphemisms for sexual organs and acts), but kept to a minimum.

  • consumerism false0

    Consumerism: Not an issue

  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3

    Drinking, drugs and smoking: Inclusion of multiple instances of social drinking, but not drunkenness.

An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.

© Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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