I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore

Stars: Jason Alexander (Pretty Woman, White Palace, TV's "Seinfeld"), Nia Peeples (singer, TV's "Fame" and "Party Machine"). Critics were more charmed than theater audiences by this lightweight romantic comedy which features TV actors playing at TV movie level. Cute storyline has Bernie Fishbine (Alexander), an overweight Jewish shoe salesman with an affection for chocolate kisses, falling for Theresa Garabaldi (Peeples), a singer/psychology student. The plot turns on Theresa's secret decision to use Bernie as the subject for her paper "A Psychological Study Of An Obese Male," which Bernie, of course, eventually learns about. All of the characters and situations are strictly stereotype. Bernie does the Jewish whine, nonstop. Bernie's mom (Lainie Kazan) does the overbearing Jewish mother bit. Theresa's Italian family serves huge meals with wine and hugs. And so on. On top of that, Bernie could hardly be classified as obese; Peeples doesn't remotely look or sound Italian; and the story is as predictable as sunshine in Hawaii. Audience: Easy-to-please romantic comedy fans will probably enjoy this.