You probably remember the early nineties for big, sweeping romances. We had Ghost, we had Pretty Woman, and then there was this oddity called Prelude to a Kiss 1992. It wasn't exactly a blockbuster, but if you saw it, you never really forgot it.
It’s a movie about a wedding, a mysterious old man, and a supernatural soul-swap that happens right in the middle of a reception. Sounds like a goofy body-swap comedy, right? Wrong. It’s actually pretty dark. Honestly, it’s a meditation on aging and the terrifying reality of "till death do us part."
The film stars Alec Baldwin and Meg Ryan at the absolute peak of their movie-star powers. Baldwin plays Peter Hoskins, a guy who falls head over heels for Rita Boyle, played by Ryan. They meet, they have this whirlwind romance, and they get married. But then, at the wedding, an elderly stranger (played by the legendary Sydney Walker) asks to kiss the bride.
And that’s when everything gets weird.
The Weird Logic of the 1992 Version
People often forget that Prelude to a Kiss 1992 started its life as a stage play. Craig Lucas wrote it, and he also wrote the screenplay. You can really feel those theatrical roots in the dialogue. It’s dense. It’s poetic. It’s definitely not how people talk in real life, but in the context of the movie, it works.
When the "kiss" happens, Rita and the Old Man swap souls. Suddenly, Peter is on a honeymoon in Jamaica with his beautiful new bride, only she isn't acting like Rita. She’s cautious. She’s old. She’s suddenly interested in things a twenty-something liberal bartender wouldn't care about. Meanwhile, the Old Man is wandering around the city inhabiting Rita's youthful body, feeling more alive than he has in decades.
Critics at the time, like Roger Ebert, pointed out that the movie is essentially a fairy tale for adults. It deals with a fear that’s very real: watching the person you love change into someone you don't recognize.
👉 See also: The Entire History of You: What Most People Get Wrong About the Grain
Alec Baldwin and Meg Ryan’s Chemistry
It’s easy to look back now and think of Alec Baldwin as the guy from 30 Rock or SNL, but in 1992, he was a massive leading man. He brings this frantic, desperate energy to Peter. When he realizes his wife isn't his wife, he doesn't just act confused—he acts devastated.
Meg Ryan was the "America’s Sweetheart" of the era. This role was a bit of a departure for her. She had to play two different people: the vibrant, slightly pessimistic Rita, and then the spirit of a dying old man trapped in a young woman’s body. It’s a subtle performance. She doesn't do a "grandpa" voice. She just changes her posture. She slows down.
Why This Movie Was Actually About the AIDS Crisis
While it’s never explicitly stated in the dialogue, many critics and scholars have noted that Craig Lucas wrote the play as a metaphor for the AIDS epidemic.
In the late 80s and early 90s, the theater community was being decimated by the virus. The idea of a young, healthy person suddenly becoming frail, or their "spirit" being replaced by the shadow of death, was a very real, very visceral experience for audiences in New York. When Peter looks at the Old Man—who now has Rita’s soul—and decides he still loves her, it’s a powerful statement.
It says that love isn't about the physical shell. It’s about the person inside, even when that person is physically failing or transformed by illness.
That’s what makes Prelude to a Kiss 1992 different from something like Freaky Friday. It’s not about the hijinks of being in the wrong body. It’s about the grief of losing the person you thought you knew and the commitment to stay by them anyway.
✨ Don't miss: Shamea Morton and the Real Housewives of Atlanta: What Really Happened to Her Peach
A Background Character You Should Know
The casting of Sydney Walker as the Old Man was a stroke of genius. He wasn't a huge Hollywood star, but he was a veteran of the American Conservatory Theater. He brought a sense of dignity and profound sadness to the role.
The scene where he (as Rita) talks about his daughter is heartbreaking. It reminds us that the "villain" of the movie—the guy who stole the bride's body—isn't really a villain at all. He’s just a man who was terrified of dying and took a chance to live again.
Comparing the Play to the Movie
If you’re a theater nerd, you probably know that Alec Baldwin actually played Peter on Broadway before the movie came out. Mary-Louise Parker was the original Rita.
A lot of people think the movie suffers a bit from "opening up" the play too much. In the play, the supernatural element feels more like a dream. In the movie, the beautiful cinematography of the Jamaican honeymoon makes it feel very literal.
Sometimes, seeing things too clearly makes them harder to believe.
However, the film version directed by Norman René (who also directed the play) keeps the emotional core intact. It doesn't try to explain the "how" of the magic. It just happens. We have to accept it, just like Peter does.
🔗 Read more: Who is Really in the Enola Holmes 2 Cast? A Look at the Faces Behind the Mystery
The Legacy of the 1992 Film
Does Prelude to a Kiss 1992 hold up?
Mostly, yes.
The fashion is very "early 90s chic"—lots of high-waisted jeans and oversized blazers. The soundtrack is a vibe. But the themes are timeless. We’re still obsessed with the idea of soulmates and the fear of mortality.
There was actually a musical version of Prelude to a Kiss that premiered more recently, proving that the story still has legs. People keep coming back to it because it asks a question that most rom-coms are too scared to touch: Would you still love me if I was someone else?
What You Should Do Next
If you want to revisit this era of cinema or see it for the first time, keep these points in mind:
- Watch for the nuance: Pay attention to Meg Ryan’s eyes in the second half of the film. She’s doing a lot of heavy lifting to convince you she’s an seventy-year-old man.
- Don't expect a laugh riot: Even though it’s marketed as a comedy/romance, it’s more of a supernatural drama. Bring tissues.
- Check out the director’s other work: Norman René also directed Longtime Companion, which is one of the most important films about the early years of the AIDS crisis. Seeing those two movies together gives you a much deeper appreciation for what he was trying to do.
- Look for the supporting cast: Keep an eye out for Kathy Bates and Ned Beatty as Rita’s parents. They’re fantastic and provide some of the movie's most grounded, human moments.
The movie is currently available on various streaming platforms and digital storefronts. It’s worth the two-hour investment, even if just to see a time when Hollywood was willing to make "weird" movies for grown-ups.