French Kiss

Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline star (Ryan being type-cast in no way whatsoever), and Timothy Hutton (that sexy guy who won an Oscar for his part in Ordinary People) makes a welcome return in this slushy but fun romantic comedy.

People with an I.Q higher that the average sociology student will probably notice the central problem in the casting of this film: Kline is not actually french. Not surprisingly, some of the best moments of comedy are somewhat unintentional, but Kline, never-the-less, keeps up with Ryan's hectic acting pace.

The basic jist of the plot (and there is one, honest guv) finds Ryan's character being suddenly dumped by her long-term fiance of pleasure. Crisis follows crisis, as she flies off to Paris to recover her man. Encountering a French jewel-thief on the plane (Kline), she subsequently loses all her possessions. Adventure follows adventure (what a zany film this is!) and the two are thrown together into a strange love/hate relationship. (Sort of like my relationship with Lorraine Kelly - Ed.) And for all the romantics out there, they all live happily ever after. (Oh, shit! Have I just given the plot away?) (Erm, I doubt it, but you may be the first person to say that word in the booklet - Ed.)

Marty Hammersle