Prelude to a Kiss

Starring:Alec Baldwin, Meg Ryan, Kathy Bates, Ned Beatty, Patty Duke, Richard Riehle, Stanley Tucci, Sydney Walker, Rocky Carroll, Debra Monk, Ray Gill, Ward Ohrman, Annie Golden, Frank Carillo, Sally Murphy, Salli Richardson, Victoria Haas, Fern Persons, JoBe Cerny, Josette DiCarlo
Director: Norman René
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Product Type: DVD

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Alec Baldwin reprises a role he originated in Craig Lucas's off-Broadway smash (which later had a Broadway run without him) in this touchingly romantic, funny, and underrated fantasy. He falls for a woman (Meg Ryan) at first sight and marries her, but, on their wedding day, an elderly stranger wanders into the reception, kisses the bride, and trades bodies with her. Once Baldwin figures out that something is amiss with the Mrs., he must track down the old man, in whom resides the spirit of his true love. This is a beautiful allegory about the nature of love and the commitment to give oneself in sickness and health, for better or worse, to achieve a true meeting of the spirits. Prelude to a Kiss was directed with a light touch by the late Norman Rene, with strong performances by Baldwin and Ryan. --Marshall Fine

Description

When you marry someone, you promise to love that person forever - no matter what may occur. But no one would expect to test that promise only moments after exchanging marriage vows. Peter (Alec Baldwin) and Rita (Meg Ryan) follow their whirlwind six-week courtship with a storybook wedding. After the ceremony, a mysterious elderly man (Sydney Walker) appears and asks if he may kiss the bride. It is this kiss that sends the two young lovers on a magical journey they will never forget.

Customer Reviews:

I will love you forever, no matter what.......2006-09-08

When we tell someone we love them, what do we mean by that? Do we mean we like the way they look? Do we mean we like to make love to their body? Love is a word that is used to describe a lot of very different feelings.

Let's say you are a guy, and you fall in love with a girl and tell her that you will love her forever, no matter what. Then she turns into an old man. Will you still love her? If not, what did you mean in the first place?

Who are we? Are we our bodies? Are we the people we see in the mirror? Or are we something else? Are we eternal souls inhabiting temporary mortal bodies? If so, what do we really look like?

Alec Baldwin falls in love with Meg Ryan and marries her. Before the wedding reception is over, Meg Ryan has traded bodies with an old man. The woman that Alec Baldwin finds himself honeymooning with is some strange old man in Meg Ryan's body. It doesn't take Alec long to figure it out, either. He knows soon enough that this isn't the girl he married.

Will he ever find the real Meg Ryan again, the one now in an old man's body? How will they react to each other? Will the two displaced souls ever return to the bodies they were born in? Why did the transfer happen in the first place? Is the old man some kind of evil spirit that takes advantage of young people by stealing their bodies when he gets old?

This movie could have been played many ways. It could have been a horror flick about a demon who possesses the bodies of his victims. It could have been a very intense and moody story of love and doubt. Imagine how it would have played out, if a powerful actor like Richard Burton played the Alec Baldwin role, or if a fiery Al Pacino played the role. As it was, Baldwin did a very bland job of it, but that fit into the overall atmosphere of this movie, which is usually light hearted, not very intense. It would have made a more powerful statement about love if someone like Richard Burton played the leading male, and it falls into the category of perhaps romantic comedy, or romantic fantasy, with bland Alec Baldwin, but that works too. I don't know how seriously you want your audience to take this plot, unrealistic as it is, so you may want to downplay it with Alec Baldwin.

Who is kissing who in that title "kiss"? Actually, this is a very sweet and romantic movie that may even make you cry. There may be some realism in it, if we do in fact live on after death, if we are not limited to our current bodies, if our souls can have a gender that is different from our current body. As for the ability to trade bodies with someone else, so-called "possession", I wouldn't bet on it. I've never heard of a "near death experience" that mentions possession.

This movie can be compared to Invasion of the Body Snatchers, All Of Me starring Lily Tomlin and Steve Martin, and even the tv series Wife Swap. It is fairly close to All Of Me, but the Tomlin-Martin movie is much funnier and sillier. Lily's soul ends up at times in a bowl of water, and I think in a horse. I'll never forget the scene where the priest thinks that there is a connection between a toilet flush and the telephone.

As a post-script, who are the morons who gave my review a thumbs down? It happens to be a great review. Why would some total moron object to it?

strange but good.......2006-02-28

It's a good movie, even though oerall it's kinda strange....show's what real romance is

Rainy day music.......2005-06-15

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.

A Romantic Variation on the Changing Body Theme .......2005-06-13

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.

A Love Story with an Enchanting Twist - Don't Miss It.......2004-07-29

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.

Perfect Date Movies Vol. 5 - Love & Devotion (The Object of My Affection / Hope Floats / A Walk in the Clouds / Prelude to a Kiss)

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Perfect Date Movies Vol. 5 - Love & Devotion (The Object of My Affection / Hope Floats / A Walk in the Clouds / Prelude to a Kiss)
Starring: Keanu Reeves , Aitana Sánchez-Gijón , Anthony Quinn , Giancarlo Giannini , and Angélica Aragón
Director: Alfonso Arau , Nicholas Hytner , and Forest Whitaker
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Perfect Date Movies Vol. 2 - Love & Desire (Never Been Kissed / The Truth About Cats and Dogs / Love Potion #9 / French Kiss)
Perfect Date Movies Vol. 1- Love & Romance (Life or Something Like It / Love is a Many Splendored Thing / One Fine Day / Say Anything)
Perfect Date Movies Vol. 3 - Love & Adventure (The Beach / A Life Less Ordinary / The Last of the Mohicans / The Chase)
Perfect Date Movies Vol. 4 - Love & Laughter (Raising Arizona / Me, Myself & Irene / Nine Months / The Man with One Red Shoe)
Love 3 Pack (Hope Floats / Down with Love / One Fine Day)

ASIN: B000JLTRBS
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Description

Disc 1: OBJECT OF MY AFFECTION Disc 2: HOPE FLOATS Disc 3: PRELUDE TO A KISS Disc 4: WALK IN THE CLOUDS

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Prelude to a Kiss
Starring: Alec Baldwin , Meg Ryan , Kathy Bates , Ned Beatty , and Patty Duke
Director: Norman René
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00005JA8H
Release Date: 2003-01-14

Description

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Prelude to a Kiss [Region 2]
Starring: Alec Baldwin , Meg Ryan , Kathy Bates , Ned Beatty , and Patty Duke
Director: Norman René
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Kate & Leopold
When a Man Loves a Woman
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ASIN: B00019HOPO

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