Here Comes the Ghost

kiss_me_goodbye“Kiss Me Goodbye” serves as a wonderful little treat and a reminder that sometimes a comedy has no purpose but to put a smile on your face. That element is often forgotten in the world of comedy, where everything needs to have a deeper meaning or a social context. It is such a breezy and happy-go-lucky treat to just watch some great actors perform in farcical situations.

Kay (Sally Field) is a young widow that is about to get remarried to a sweet but slightly dull man named Rupert (Jeff Bridges). There is one major problem, however, and that is the ghost of her late-husband, Jolly, (James Caan) who seems to object and has no problem being vocal about it.

Is Kay losing her mind? Probably, but it is a funny little journey that you will embark on with her as she tries to reclaim her sanity. Much of the humor is centered around the comical mishaps and misunderstandings that made “Three’s Company” such a treat to watch.

Bridges’ career in Hollywood has been based on his natural on-screen charm that seems effortless. He is always able to put himself fully into the character and rarely plays the same type of role twice. That makes his natural screen presence and diversity as an actor a major reason why he is underrated. “Kiss Me Goodbye” exposes us to the lighter side of the actor, as the bumbling and confused Rupert. Is his bride-to-be crazy, or is the ghost of Jolly really there with them?

Field is opposite Bridges for the second time since the wonderful and rarely-seen comedy “Stay Hungry.” However, “Kiss Me Goodbye” is slightly more audience-friendly and not as offbeat. Field and Bridges have a wonderful romantic chemistry together and compliment each other well.

Sadly, Jolly does not feel the same way and attempts to break them up before the big day.

Caan gives a funny and lively performance as Jolly, which allows us to peer into a lighter side of the Hollywood tough guy. His character may only exist in Kay’s mind and as she uncovers the unfortunate truth about her husband, that comes through in Caan’s performance.

Films such as this are often largely ignored because of their lightheartedness, but people should be aware that a comedic performance is slightly harder then a dramatic one.

So, turn off the rational side of your brain and have a good laugh at the expense of Kay, Rupert and Jolly.

About Anthony Benedetto 153 Articles
I have always had a tremendous passion for the cinema. For me, movies provide a great escape. When done right, the characters and stories are something that I am instantly drawn into. Over the years, I’ve unintentionally become a movie encyclopedia that I often find myself the recipient of late night phone calls from my friends while at Blockbuster [One such conversation between the Editor of this site and the film “Redbelt” immediately comes to mind.] As far as my preferences go however, I love both the cult cinema and the classics. My love of film ranges from features such as “Amadeus” to “Sorority Babes in the Slime Ball Bowl-A- Rama.” I have a long range of film heroes as well that include, Michael J. Fox, Lloyd Kaufman, Robby Benson, Michael Caine and Jeff Bridges. On this site, I hope to teach people about cult cinema and have them rent films that they normally would not, turning you into the monster that I have become. Someday, I hope to be the star and director of my cult film, employing the old stop motion techniques used in films like “Flesh Gordon.”

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