Prelude To A Kiss (1992)

On her wedding day, a creepy old man (Sydney Walker) desiring youth possesses the body of a nubile young bride (Meg Ryan). On the honeymoon, the bridegroom discovers to his horror that this creature is not really his wife. Based on the play by Craig Lucas and directed by Norman Rene (LONGTIME COMPANION). This horror film is a gender reversal of the much superior I MARRIED A MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE. If that film had a gay subtext, this one doesn't bother to bury it. The film finds all kinds of excuses to keep Alec Baldwin in various stages of undress while Meg Ryan remains fully clothed. The whole film seems set up to have Baldwin make out with a man old enough to be his grandfather. In what may be her worst performance, the clueless Meg Ryan acts as if she were in another romcom rather than a horror movie. On the other hand, while Walker is every bit as creepy as Bela Lugosi, he lacks Lugosi's imposing presence. I'm not familiar with the stage play which was well received but the film comes across as a mediocre TWILIGHT ZONE episode. Best to stick with I MARRIED A MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE or INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS for this kind of thing. With Kathy Bates, Patty Duke, Ned Beatty and Stanley Tucci.