PRELUDE TO A KISS

US, 1992, 106 minutes, Colour.
Alec Baldwin, Meg Ryan, Kathy Bates, Ned Beatty, Patty Duke, Sydney Walker, Stanley Tucci.
Directed by Norman Rene.

Preluded to a Kiss is a piece of romantic fluff, utilising the popular genre of the late '80s, early '90s of personality switches. There were quite a number of father-son interchanges of the vice-versa variety. There was also the change from Perry King into Ellen Barkin in Blake Edwards' Switch.

This is a very lightweight piece in which husband and wife, Alec Baldwin and Meg Ryan, experience a crisis when an elderly man, Sydney Walker, kisses Meg after her wedding. Their souls exchange bodies - and one can imagine the consequences.

Alec Baldwin is able to do this kind of role without much effort, as is Meg Ryan. There is a good supporting cast with cameos by Ned Beatty, Patty Duke and Kathy Bates. The film was directed by Norman Rene, best known for directing Longtime Companion.

1.Piece of American romantic fluff? The fantasy of people exchanging bodies? Credible? Incredible?

2.Chicago, Jamaica? The city settings? An atmosphere of realism for this fantasy? Range of songs? Musical score?

3.The title? The kiss between the old man and Rita? The final kiss? The happy ending?

4.The voice-over of Peter? His storytelling? Focusing audience attention on himself and the themes?

5.Peter, his way of life, his friends, the workplace? The encounter with Rita? Dancing, talking? Learning more about her? Fascinated? Meeting her family and becoming friends? His own family? The decision to marry? The wedding ceremony? The kiss - and the consequences, Peter and his suspicions on the honeymoon, Rita's seeming out of character behaviour? The return home, the hostility of her family, his friends, trying to cope? Visiting the old man's family and trying to understand? Meeting Rita, her collaboration with him, tracking down the false Rita? The final confrontation, his anxiety? The happy ending?

6.Rita, insomnia, her fears and lack of self-esteem? Out dancing? Meeting Peter, their friendship, falling in love? Her family and their eccentricities? The wedding? The kiss, her disappearance, her being in the old man, talking with Peter, his recognising her? Their plans, the phone calls, the meeting? The final discussion with the old man about personalities, love, their talking in unison? Her return? Happy ending?

7.The old man, his illness, wandering? His family explaining his background? The kiss and his desire to live? In Rita, his youthfulness, his happy-go-lucky attitude, antagonism towards Peter? Going off with the family? His return, Peter's threats, the discussions with Rita, his understanding and acceptance of himself?

8.Rita's family, the meals, the talk, the eccentricities and humour, the wedding? Their turning against Peter?

9.Peter's mother, her support?

10.The old man's family, their concern, their explanations to Peter?

11.The workplace, the friends, the discussions about relationships, sexuality and marriage?

12.A piece of American romantic fluff? Entertaining? Thoughtful?