Romantic movies and TV shows just wouldn't be the same without kiss scenes. Characters tease and flirt, building tension until they can't resist each other any longer and finally lock lips. It might seem romantic on screen, but in some cases, visual effects are actually used to fake these swoon-worthy smooches. From using CGI to employing body doubles to bringing in plexiglass, there are multiple ways this can be done. Some of these cheat-kisses come off as surprisingly realistic — but others look downright ridiculous.
Although faking a kiss is definitely possible, it often requires a lot of work, both during filming and post-production. Why, then, do these movies and shows use visual effects instead of simply having the actors kiss each other? Religious beliefs and COVID-19 safety measures are just a couple of reasons why producers might decide to fake a kiss scene, but there are many others you might not expect. We're here to take a look at various movies and TV shows that have used visual effects to create their on-screen kisses, explain how they did it, and why.
You People
"You People" follows new couple Ezra (Jonah Hill) and Amira (Lauren London) as they deal with the cultural differences between their families. After they say their wedding vows, they lock lips, and flower petals fall around them. Some might consider it the most romantic moment in the film — but comedian Andrew Schulz, who plays Ezra's cousin Avi, revealed that the kiss was actually created with CGI.
"I don't even know if I should share this s***, but the final scene, they don't even kiss," Schulz said while co-hosting the "Brilliant Idiots" podcast. "It's CGI ... I'm there, I'm watching the wedding, and I see them go in for the kiss and their faces stop like this far," he said, placing his hands around six inches apart. "And I'm like, 'I wonder how they're going to play that in the movie. Oh, they're probably just going to cut right there.' But in the movie, you could see their faces come close, and then you can see their faces morph a little bit into a fake kiss."
Why didn't they go in for a real kiss? In short, because of COVID-19 safety guidelines. Filming took place in 2021, so they had to maintain a safe social distance to help prevent the virus from spreading. Next time you watch "You People," however, you're sure to remember this little detail, and attempt to catch the fakery in the act.
Fireproof
Accomplished firefighter Caleb Holt (Kirk Cameron) realizes that his marriage to Catherine (Erin Bethea) is falling apart. With the encouragement of his father, he reads a Christian self-help book called "The Love Dare" and embarks on its 40-day challenge to save his relationship. But Cameron is a devout Christian, and won't kiss any woman besides his wife, Chelsea Noble. To film the scene without compromising Cameron's values, filmmakers had Noble dress up as Catherine, then shot the scene in silhouette.
"The reason this movie was important to me personally is because I love my wife dearly," Douglas explained to Today. "We've been married for 17 years ... and we have six children. So marriage is a very special and sacred thing to us." In the end, "Fireproof" affirms these beliefs: Caleb and Catherine find a way to work things out. Lots of romantic movies feature happy endings, but few incorporate real-world romances in such a unique way.
Plan A Plan B
"Plan A Plan B" centers around matchmaker Dr. Nirali Vora (Tamannaah), who opens up a business next to cynical divorce lawyer Kaustubh Chougule (Riteish Deshmukh). They constantly butt heads, but have so much chemistry that they end up falling in love. Though Deshmukh refuses to do on-screen lip-locks, the two characters manage to have a lengthy kiss scene.
Filmmakers made this happen by using certain camera angles to create the appearance of kissing, without Deshmukh and Tamannaah ever actually making contact. Some viewers find the faux-smooch convincing, but others think it looks laughably fake. Why the subterfuge? Fans speculate Deshmukh believes kisses are meant to be private moments between two people.
