Kissing a Fool (1998)

KISSING A FOOL is your garden-variety love-triangle romantic com-
edy, sweet in spots, funny in others, but marred by a boneheaded 
premise and, worse, a stilted, stops-the-film-in-its-tracks perfor-
mance by Jason Lee.  David Schwimmer (THE PALLBEARER) plays against 
type as a thick-headed Chicago sportscaster, whose anxiety over his 
spur-of-the-moment engagement leads to this brilliant idea:  "test" 
his fiancee (Israeli actress Mili Avital) to see if she'll fall for 
another man.  Or, in particular, his best bud (and her co-worker), 
played by Lee.  Can you guess what happens and who gets yelled at, 
afterward?  Though idiotic in places, the plotting isn't *quite* as 
bad as it sounds-- the core story is almost touching.  To enjoy it, 
though, you have to get past Mr. Lee, who again, as in CHASING AMY, 
sounds like someone reciting dialogue, instead of performing it.  
Oh, well...  With Bonnie Hunt, who narrates in flashback.  (Rated 
"R"/93 min.)

Grade: C-

Copyright 1998 Michael J. Legeros
Movie Hell is a trademark of Michael J. Legeros

Originally posted to triangle.movies in MOVIE HELL: March 1, 1998