michaeljcummings "For better or for worse." Cliché but seldom are we tested. This is a very unusual story. You think you're watching a romantic comedy at first, albeit one with ominous overtones. It then veers into a very mystical love story. In my opinion, both Alec Baldwin and Meg Ryan give the best performances of their careers - and are both absolutely stunning-looking and charismatic. The tone is somewhat "Witches of Eastwick" - though not quite as supernatural - and a little bit "Death Becomes Her" - but less absurdist. The supporting players are all excellent, albeit in very lean roles. A few things to keep in mind: the movie is adapted from a 1990 play and can seem a bit stagey at times. Alec Baldwin recreates the role he had created on Broadway. (Mary Louise Parker had created the role on Broadway but the studio insisted on Ryan - Ryan was restrained and very good but her participation gave the impression to audiences that they were in rom-com territory: expectations were set - then dashed - as this is not a rom-com and is at times is very disturbing. Although she was not well-known at the time, MLP may have made this film remembered more fondly.) The writer/director team is also the same as the Broadway play and the writer and director had previously collaborated on Longtime Companion. That is important because deep- down Prelude to a Kiss is a metaphor for loving someone whose clock is ticking - loving someone despite the illness and decay. About true love - and its limits - and appreciating what we have while we have it - it's a little gem of a movie although you need to suspend your disbelief and focus on the three (yes, three) lead performances.

gwnightscream Alec Baldwin, Meg Ryan, Sydney Walker, Kathy Bates, Patty Duke and Ned Beatty star in this 1992 romantic fantasy based on the play. Baldwin (Beetlejuice) plays Peter, a businessman who meets and finds romance with Rita (Ryan), a designer turned bartender who has a negative outlook on life. Soon, fate takes them on a journey when a mysterious, sickly, old man, Julius (Walker) crashes their wedding and kisses Rita. Peter starts noticing changes in her behavior discovering that Julius and her have magically, switched bodies. Eventually, things go back to normal and Rita's outlook on life changes. Bates (Titanic) plays Leah, Julius' daughter, Beatty and the late, Duke play Rita's parents. This is pretty good and Baldwin and Ryan have good chemistry. I recommend this.

Uh Yeah The first 10-15 minutes, I thought this movie was going to be a dud. As soon as the entire plot came to light, it was really great! I loved the storyline. Good plot. The movie was well played out. The movie gave me chuckles. The movie kept me interested throughout. It didn't drag. The characters were likable. Good acting. I would recommend this movie to those who haven't seen it.If you like movies like Freaky Friday, this is a much better version of it. Good stuff!Hmm? Here we go again. Apparently my comment doesn't contain enough lines, so hopefully this will do it.

timmauk I saw this film at the video store and got it because I saw that cute mug of Meg Ryan's on the box. I have just about every movie she has made and just love her(check out "FRENCH KISS"). I also notice that hunky Alec Baldwin was in it too. I didn't think much more and then I watched the film......WOW!Alec Baldwin gives an Oscar worthy performance. So much of a performance that I didn't even think much of dear Meg in this film. She was there to be cute but Alec just showed a wide range of emotions from the joy of falling in love to the despair of losing her, and with PASSION! The old man played by Sydney Walker was very good as well. We all know that this could never happen but the story is very original and clever. It quietly shows us the lengths one will do for someone they love, and how strong love can be. *******SPOILERS********Two different kind of people meet and fall in love. They get married and at the wedding an old man wants to kiss her. When they do, their souls switch bodies, and the old man's soul goes into Meg and Meg's goes into the old man. During the honeymoon, Alec finds out that Meg is not Meg. He sets out to find out what happened to his real love. He surmises if he can get the two (Meg and Old Man) together again, that maybe a kiss will switch the two back, but Meg refuses. The old man(with Meg inside) finds out his body has cancer and is dying. Alec, who found it awkward to show affection to the old man(with Meg inside) because it was a man, now grabs him and kisses him and says how deeply he loves him(Meg). I cried and cried in that scene.*****SPOILERS OVER*********I JUST LOVE THIS FILM!! It's just a nice movie about love. What a wonderful concept. Please give this a chance and watch it.