Kissing Jessica Stein

Writers Jennifer Westfeldt and Heather Juergensen play the main characters. Jessica and Helen are queer; they're referred to as lesbians, although they also have romantic and sexual relationships with men. Jessica's journey -- from assuming she was straight to questioning to feeling secure and content in a same-sex relationship -- is one not often seen on-screen. Other LGBTQ+ characters include Helen's friends, a gay couple. Jewish culture is represented through Jessica and her family: Scenes take place at synagogue or Shabbat dinner, and she worries how her family will receive Helen (who is neither Jewish nor a man). Unfortunately, filmmakers use non-White culture as props to make White main characters seem more interesting: Yoga, statues of Ganesh and Buddha, feng shui, dinner at an Indian restaurant (contrasted with "boring" dates at Western restaurants), and kimono-wearing all appear in White contexts. A White man leans on a wooden statue of a Native American man in regalia. (There are no Asian or Native American characters in the film.) Stereotyping occurs when the only Black character with dialogue, Greg (Michael Ealy), is working-class and sexualized, existing only as Helen's hot but clueless lover.

Main characters kiss and engage in spontaneous and non-monogamous sex, mostly clothed or covered by bedsheets.

Sexual terms like "p---y," "c--k," "c--ktease," "blow" used as a verb, and ableist terms "freaks," "morons," "stupid," and "crazy."

Adults drink wine and beer throughout the film. Main character smokes a cigarette. Another downs champagne for liquid courage. One mention of "some people smoke pot."