Kissing Jessica Stein (2001)

Directed by: Charles Herman-Wurmfeld

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Jessica Stein (Jennifer Westfeldt) is looking for true love and is shocked when she finds it in the form of Helen (Heather Juergensen).

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Jessica and Helen are shopping at a small market when Helen asks Jessica why she doesn’t make any noise while making love. A nearby tuxedo cat looks surprised.

Kissing Jessica Stein - bodega tuxedo cat reaction shot

The film’s director Charles Herman-Wurmfeld and cinematographer Lawrence Sher explain on the DVD’s commentary track that the cat was just kismet. The scene was shot in front of a make-do market (the fruit stands outside didn’t even exist) at night for what was supposed to be a morning scene. It was the bodega’s cat who just happened to come out and settle among the fruit. The film’s stars Jennifer Westfeldt and Heather Juergensen also noted the feline in their commentary saying the little cat was just a gift and that the cinematographer grabbed some shots of the cat which paid off in the editing room.

Kissing Jessica Stein - bodega tuxedo cat in fruit stand behind Jessica Jennifer Westfeldt and Helen Heather Juergensen

Final Mewsings: Some cats are just meant to be discovered.

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