Kiss Me Goodbye Synopsis: The ghost of a dead husband haunts his wife as she moves back to their house in NYC. She’s about to marry an egyptologist there.
Just days before her wedding to Rupert, an Egyptologist, Kay makes the unexpected decision to move back into her old home—now haunted by the ghost of her late husband, Jolly. Though only Kay can see Jolly, her conversations with him in front of others start to raise doubts about her mental state. As the wedding draws closer, Kay must confront a deeper question: Is Rupert truly the right man for her, or is she still holding on to the memory of Jolly?
Despite the cast, Kiss Me Goodbye is a bit of a mess. Sally Field seems to pull her weight here as Kay, but that’s likely because Kay appears to be the most developed character out of the three leads, even though that’s not saying much.
Jeff Bridges is handsome and shows glimpses of his on-screen charisma, but his character, Rupert, is so dull and, honestly, kind of a jerk. He and Kay are mismatched in every way, though the movie tries to dismiss their lack of chemistry as being Kay’s fault for not yet letting go of her deceased husband.
James Caan plays the ghostly ex, a Broadway choreographer who was the life of the party when he was alive. Caan does what he can, and he’s fun to watch because he’s James Caan, but Jolly is as much of a jerk as Rupert, and I felt no spark between him and Kay. Why had they been married in the first place? We don’t get much in the way of knowing what their marriage had been like, so their scenes post-Jolly’s death come across as flat and emotionless (despite Kay’s teary-eyed hysteria).
The supporting cast is as talented as the main cast is. Still, the actors are sorely underused, especially Paul Dooley and Claire Trevor, who, in my opinion, is the best part of the film as Kay’s blunt, disapproving mother. Everyone feels wasted on this script, which is lifeless and bland. Despite Kiss Me Goodbye being a romantic comedy, I wanted Kay to end up alone. Jolly is boorish, and Rupert is tiresome. Kay may be a neurotic mess, but she’s too good for either guy.
If you can’t already tell, I didn’t enjoy Kiss Me Goodbye much. There is a complete lack of chemistry between any of the leads, which is crazy to comprehend, considering the acting caliber of all three. There are some humorous moments between Kay, Rupert, and Jolly as Kay tries to get Rupert to believe in Jolly’s existence, but there are certainly not enough to call this a comedy. So much of the intended humor falls flat. James Caan took a break from acting for five years after his experience making this movie, so that probably tells you all you need to know about it.
Watched: 08/25/2021
Notable Song: But It’s A Nice Dream by Dusty Springfield
Joel
September 2, 2021I’ll agree that the film is scattershot and often unfocused but I enjoyed the film more than you.
Probably because of my love for both Sally Field and Claire Trevor more than any real brilliance of the script. You mentioned Caan’s 5 year break after the film was completed but not sure if you know that this was Claire Trevor’s (who is without question one of the major highlights of the film) first picture in 15 years and her last theatrical feature. She had retired to focus on her painting (at which she was quite accomplished) and was coaxed out for this when she found herself at loose ends following the passing of her long-time husband. I wish it had been a classic for her but it was good to see her back. She made a few TV appearances after and one TV movie and then withdrew again to her art.
Besides Claire Sally is the other MVP. She’s adorable (and looks great) as she dithers and flutters over her choices. She loves her drama but she’s always been a very skillful comedienne. Despite them, and prime era Jeff Bridges, the film lacks proper pacing and focus. It seems incredible that it was directed by the same man who guided To Kill a Mockingbird, Baby the Rain Must Fall, Up the Down Staircase and many other fine films. I guess directors have off days like everyone else.