Benedict Cumberbatch makes out with Reese Witherspoon for NYT feature

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Benedict Cumberbatch has been having a good week! He received two SAG Award nominations yesterday (for Sherlock and The Imitation Game) and there’s every belief that he’ll be nominated for a Golden Globe in a short while. When asked about his SAG nominations by Entertainment Tonight, Bendy said: “I’m thrilled! That means we’ve got something right, that people think it is in that category – that’s terrific and that’s really heartening, both for our work and also for Alan’s legacy. It’s his story – it means that there will be an audience for it hopefully and that’s the main thing for me – if there’s a buzz about it, that means people will go and see this film. I’m in, that’s great.” He’s been pretty consistent about saying that any awards buzz should be used to get more people to see the film, so I buy that. But I think Harvey Weinstein definitely wants more.

Meanwhile, Benedict took part in the New York Times Magazine’s annual “let’s get buzz-y actors together to do weird stuff, for fun” feature. This year’s feature is nine videos of actors one-on-one, in various scenarios that lead to kisses. You can see the feature here – my favorite was probably Timothy Spall and David Oyelowo. Benedict was paired with Reese Witherspoon and the backstory seems to be “stolen kiss in the middle of a costume party.” While it might seem cheeseball, I actually thought the kiss was sort of hot.

Nice.

Meanwhile, I guess you want me to talk about Bendy’s Nerdist podcast? I only listened to a few minutes of it, my bad. He has a voice like butter and he’s nerdy, but even then, I didn’t have time to really listen to it – go here to hear. Apparently, Bendy insinuated that Sherlock is gay, except I don’t think he was saying that at all. He was comparing Sherlock to Doctor Who and he said “….They’ve got different dress senses, different taste in the sex of their partners…” I think he just means that Doctor Who travels with a female companion and Sherlock travels with Watson.

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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215 Responses to “Benedict Cumberbatch makes out with Reese Witherspoon for NYT feature”

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  1. t.fanty says:

    Oh, dear lord. Does Cumby realize that he’s supposed to open his mouth when he kisses a not-Wanda woman? I’m sure that DWI arrest isn’t looking quite so embarrassing now to Ms. Witherspoon.

    Holy crap, though this has the makings of a great game: things that still have more dignity than Zorrobatch. Go!

    1. The octopus his fiancé wore as a hat in her pop video,
    2. The investigative journalism department at Rolling Stone Magazine,
    3. Whichever poor woman woke up this morning and realized she was next to Robin Thicke,

  2. AlexandraJane says:

    Just reaffirmed his hotness to me.

    • Janet says:

      What hotness?

    • Toodles45 says:

      Cheesy but I liked it. She was kissing the skin under his nose at first (lol) but he looks like he tried to make up for it and really went for it again (bushpushing FTW!).

      Like a skater with an awkward landing but a decent finish. Ha, I give it a 7.

  3. Lindy79 says:

    Is #bushpushing is the new #jawseyes?

    Its truly not the worst kiss I’ve ever seen, but I couldn’t see the crazy hotness, it’s too pursed. The hotness I can see comes from the urgency of it. I know it’s a shoot so they don’t exactly have time to get to know each other as on a set but come on!

    He doesn’t make a great Zorro though, he looks like an accountant at an office party, I think it’s the hair he needs more of a Cary Elwes in the Princess Bride vibe going on, and is she meant to be budget Lady Gaga?

    • Ingrid says:

      I’m starting to sound like a broken record but the weird kissing is most likely the result of Reese’s No Tongue policy (most a-list actresses have that). But it doesn’t make sense why they picked this scene if tongues weren’t allowed.

      • Beth says:

        This is the first time I’ve heard of a No Tongues policy. 😀 Didn’t know they have that in Hollywood.

        Though you don’t really need tongues for a nice, natural-looking kiss – check out the video of Gugu and Miles Teller. Definitely chemistry there.

      • Lindy79 says:

        You can have chemistry without tongues…just like you can have chemistry with your fiancee without dry humping her on a red carpet.
        Benedict has neither in these cases.

      • Lucifer says:

        but ingrid this was a BAD kiss, and m starting to sound like a broken record that u don’t need to use your tongue to kiss. Hell I v never seen BC kiss with his mouth open..but those were pretty hot

      • An says:

        @Ingrid:

        No, that makes sense. They don’t pick the setting, the director does that. Same with the pairings. Closed mouths wouldn’t have been an issue if the scene wasn’t supposed to passionate, imo–although it wasn’t terrible, I thought it was going to be way worse than it was going by the comments.

        (They do these videos every year with a different theme; that’s how it worked in the past).

      • Ingrid says:

        Of course you don’t need tongue. What I was trying to say (and of course assumed that everyone can read my mind and come to same conclusion, LOL), was that there are strict rules in Hollywood and especially A-listers can be a bit of pain in the a$$ with these things. Most likely Reese’s people said something to BC and he was trying to walk the line between passionate and respecting Reese’s wishes.

        And the whole thing was one take. They picked the overall best.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Her no tongue policy had nothing whatsoever to do with his weird head shaking.

  4. Beth says:

    The video is cheesy as hell and Bendy boy is an awkward kisser.

    • Green Eyes says:

      Very true. I remember reading about past Batch kissing scenes and it was always noted how awkward they were. I don’t get it. He’s an *actor*. Hopefully, art does not imitate life in this instance.

      • EscapedConvent says:

        This may be why he often remarks that there were no girls at his all boys’ school. 😉 No opportunity to practice.

        To me, he always looks very self-conscious in kissing scenes.

      • Beth says:

        This reminds me of the scene in Shame where Michael Fassbender was flirting with a stranger on the train. No kissing, no touching even but the chemistry is sizzling.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orxrkiPhCQM

        Sigh… fassy

      • blended says:

        i think he’s just self-conscious. olivia doesn’t seem like the kind of woman who would stick it out with a guy for over a decade if he didn’t satisfy her sexually.

      • Isadora says:

        @Beth: Aaah, yes, Fassy and his sizzling chemistry…. It’s also (in part) why his Rochester worked for me, although I know that many people prefer a different Rochester.

      • Beth says:

        @Isadora

        I didn’t mind his Mr Rochester, though Mia Wasikowska kinda stole the show a bit in that movie.

        I love Shame. I always felt a bit bad for Fassy that his Fassdong (impressive as it is) overshadowed the intensely poignant and heartbreaking performance he gave in the film. In interviews I’ve always noticed he and Steve McQueen (director) get a tad peeved when asked about the nudity.

    • Hello Kitty says:

      Dlisted said it best, “actors who want an Oscar work it like their pimp is in jail and they gotta bail him out before morning. ”

      Re: podcast. I was greatly amused by his fart noises at the end of the podcast. Who knew Cumby was into toilet humour.

    • Lucifer says:

      very true. lets just accept that he is not at all comfortable doing intimate scenes onscreen

      • Beth says:

        I read somewhere that the TIG director said Bendy was actually up for some gay-lovin’ scenes in the movie, but they decided not to go down that route.

        Now I suspect they filmed it and Bendy was so awkward kissing the other male actor that they decided to edit it out. So please stop blaming the poor director and screenwriter for the lack of hawt gay sex in TIG! Blame Bendy and his lousy kissing! 😀

      • **sighs** says:

        The only time to me that he’s ever had a kissing scene that was actually hot was with Molly in Sherlock. That was no tongues but hot. I actually think no tongues is hotter, usually. You can open your mouth, though Bendy.

        This however, was simply awkward. maybe he mixed up the direction? Got the wrong bush? Idk. Lol.

      • Beth says:

        “Got the wrong bush?”

        I’m crying with laughter as I imagine Bendy looking around the set, Sherlock-style, for the right “bush”. *mind turns dirrrrtyyy* 😀

      • **sighs** says:

        I was thinking more the director said push into her bush and he heard push her into the bush… I’ve had a weird morning.
        I think I like your version better. 🙂
        I’m now imagining him with his magnifying glass looking for the right bush. Clueing for looks…

      • Emily says:

        He admitted he didn’t actually kiss molly.

      • Lucifer says:

        @beth totally possible. even his bed scene at parade’s end u can see how he operates the B**bies. No touching nothing *pardon my vulgarity* but those are the fav things of all men i’ve slept with. He could atleast portray 1% of that IMHO

      • Beth says:

        @Lucifer

        He did kiss Valentine’s boob at the end… though that was also an awkward scene haha…

      • Felice says:

        I always saw him as a boob man irl. And yeah I noticed his mouth goes to the side in Parade’s End and To The Ends of the Earth.

      • Beth says:

        @ Lucifer

        OMG thanks for reminding me of that To The Ends of the Earth kiss. That was freakin’ awkward, like he wanted to avoid her chest and his nose was touching her boobs instead of his lips. Hilarious.

        Tip for Eddie Redmayne: Just send clips of Bendy’s kissing scenes to the Academy members as proof of bad acting. 😀

      • Soothy says:

        I found it very sweet that he purposely avoided actually kissing the nipples in both TOTE and Parades End. Something nicely gentlemanly about that, somehow.

      • Cate says:

        I agree Soothy, but I do hope that gentlemanly behavior only goes as far as his intimate on screen partners, ahem.

      • Lucifer says:

        yeah @beth @sighs lets just accept he can’t come out of his poshy demeanor even when ACTING. @felice yeah he is cancer-ian they’re serious boob men. Maybe that’s why he does not do that. 😉 that actually makes him stiff.

        Hope eddie misses that clue LOL

      • Soothy says:

        @cate

        Haha. Nah, I get quite the frisky vibe off him. These repressed public schoolboys go off like firecrackers. ..

      • Toodles45 says:

        @Soothy, I agree. I hope my post doesn’t get deleted and I hope you guys will forgive me but…

        ACTUALLY there is a gif of BC’s scene in To the Ends of the Earth on Tumblr that CLEARLY shows he….*whispers* licked her boob.

        yes, he definitely likes boobs but I think he’s a bit of a bum guy too. During the Fallon word game, when they got to “BOOTY”, one of the clues he gave to Jimmy was “big and beautiful” complete with hand gestures.

      • Felice says:

        That was his first on screen sex scene and he and Olivia were off at the time so he got a little frisky hehe

      • Oh Hey says:

        I play the Molly Snog on a loop, that was definitely hot – didn’t think the Reese thing was that bad, maybe he would have been a little more into it if he didn’t have TWILWIPT peering over his shoulder (like she could honestly give a shit)….

    • lunchcoma says:

      Indeed. Though really, most of these videos are cheesy and awkward. Benedict doesn’t seem like the best kisser, but this is also a terrible idea for a promotion.

  5. A. Key says:

    Just when I thought this whole thing couldn’t sink any lower….

    p.s. I see they’ve teamed up now – 2 of the most desperate Oscar campaigners together! yay

  6. Anname says:

    I tend to agree with this tweet about this latest Oscar campaign tactic-

    …Pretty sure the NYT “9 Kisses” videos are not only extreme click bait BS, but the low point of the trend of making actors perform for media

  7. Coco says:

    Hot? That kiss is not hot, come on! they have no chemistry.

  8. Jaderu says:

    Laura Jean! You get your mouth off that this instant, young lady!
    Don’t you know who you are?!?!?!!!

  9. Lottie says:

    The Gugu Mbatha / Miles Teller scene was good. She is so georgeous! Theirs was pretty believable.

  10. Anon says:

    Someone please give this man a lesson in kissing. One does not just press ones lips against someone else’s in the hope a kiss will happen. I had more chemistry with the back of my hand….when I was 13.

    There goes his lead in a romantic comedy….

    • Jaderu says:

      Actually if you knock back 3 Jager bombs real quick before viewing, every Benedict Zorrobatch movie/tv show is a romantic comedy. I somehow found a time portal through my Netflix account one time by doing this.

    • Toodles45 says:

      Take a peek at BC in The Last Enemy, he’s got a pretty sexy scene there. Wreckers ain’t so bad either, but he had pretty good chemistry with the actresses.

      Believe me, this is nothing compared to his kiss scenes in Parade’s End. Those were awful in my opinion, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt because he was playing such an uptight character.

      Open that mouth and relax your jaw more, BC!!

      • ellesbelles says:

        +1000000000

        His kissing scenes in The Last Enemy gave me serious tingles. He is brilliant in that series. I actually bought the dvd so I could watch it easier, and agree on wreckers as well!

      • Felice says:

        Those white boxers were sooooooo geeky though

      • ellesbelles says:

        lol true Felice, but it added to his character, and he does have a nice bum. The deleted bubble scene gave me flutters

    • Lucifer says:

      hahahaha 😀

    • Cate says:

      Sorry, I kind of zoned out after reading: ‘someone give this man a lesson in kissing’… I still would volunteer, I SO would. Sorry. (Not really sorry)

  11. Ingrid says:

    Our Otter boy is smoking again (new RIII photos).

    Or the more likely scenario, he never stopped but PR used it as an excuse for Pissybatch.

    Too bad, I wish he would actually stop.

    • gg says:

      I am sure he is using every opportunity while in the UK and away from Harvey to smoke. Apparently he was smoking outside at the BIFAs too

    • Lindy79 says:

      He never gave up! Come on, he’s a heavy smoker and giving up at this time was ridiculous to even suggest. He’s never shown or mentioned any desire to quit before now.

      Harvey is going to murder him for getting papped with one.

      • J says:

        @lindy79: nah, he’s mentioned regretting ever starting for years now. i did look at the pics and it’s hard to tell tbh as he’s just got something white in his hand but not actually smoking

        i think he may be trying since he was chewing gum the weird way you have to with nicotine gum. the nice thing about the gum is that you can generally still switch back and forth while you try to wean yourself off, unlike the patch. you use the gum to cut down the number of smokes per day

        im a former smoker still using an ecig though

      • Lindy79 says:

        He may regret starting but he’s always struck as someone who actually enjoys it and does it quite frequently. It was stupid to announce he’d quit, it opened him up to the “AHA so he hasn’t quit” first time he was seen with one.

      • J says:

        he flat out said he shouldn’t have said it at the time for that exact reason lol

        all i can say is that quitting smoking is a process with a lot of backsliding tbh, and i wouldn’t be surprised if he’s trying because he’s not getting any younger and his schedule is hectic. but cold turkey does not work lemme tell you lol

      • gg says:

        Between being papped smoking and *possibly* suggesting Sherlock is gay, Harvey will definitely have some harsh PR duties in mind for poor Benedict. Maybe doing the NYE ball drop in Times Square with Carson Daly? Is that still a thing?

      • Ingrid says:

        @gg – I truly think we’ll be subjected to the romantic Christmas shopping and snogging pap pics we all have been “hoping” for this weekend…

        Unless there’s some big event this weekend…

    • Lucifer says:

      someone mentioned in sogo tha he went out for smoking several times during the BIFA ceremony. And he was thr for only 2hours at most

  12. scout says:

    LOL! Good that he kept mouth closed while kissing her! He would have inhaled enough to get DWI on the way back if he was driving.
    I hope he gets an award, The imitation game movie looks good. XMas week will be good, Unbroken and this movie for us and Hobbit for kids, can’t wait!

  13. steffie says:

    I really have a problem with bad movie kisses, I know it’s a personal pet peeve but I can’t even watch it
    I mean do it properly or don’t do it at all
    That being said, the Rosario Dawson one was hot.
    That’s all.

  14. Jem says:

    He must have a mouthful of wine

  15. vauvert says:

    Based on that kiss as evidence, no thank you. Cheesy and so not hot. What were they doing in those cheap costumes, re-enacting a budget Barbarella running off with her dad’s secretary on Halloween? I am starting to think that he is too preoccupied with his own self to be any good at…. Well, anything interesting. And she was no better.
    The Gugu/Miles scene, that was great.

  16. Ag says:

    i guess i’m not getting the ART!. why is he dressed as zorro? why is she dressed in some “plan 9 from outer space”-level “futuristic” dress?

    • gg says:

      They have escaped from a costume party to make out, because they are having an affair. The headlights make them nervous because they are being found out. All that is from the NYT website

      • Cate says:

        @gg Luckily he himself won’t ever feel the need to have an affair – as he’s forever more bound to the most important experience of this year, erm, his life…the women he loves, the one is he engaged to, Ms Sophie Turner, erm, Hunter…

  17. Ingrid says:

    Ben got GG Best Actor nom for TIG

    0 for Sherlock (eligibility issue, maybe? IIRC, under the new rules, Sherlock is Drama series, not Miniseries. Don’t quote me on that though)

    ETA:

    TIG’s Golden Globe nominations:
    Best Motion Picture, Drama
    Best Original Score in a Motion Picture
    Best Screenplay, Motion Picture
    Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
    Best Actor, Motion Picture, Drama

    No director.

  18. tasha_nat says:

    Oh man, that was not a good kiss. Not good at all. Relax your jaw, Benny! What’s up with that tight mouth? The bushpushing could’ve been hot, but it needed a thicker hedge…he pretty much pushed her INTO the bush vs pressed her up against it. Showed it to my boyfriend and he started laughing and asking me why the alien Zorro was trying to eat Barbarella’s face.

    Gugu/Miles and David/Timothy…nice.

  19. Toodles45 says:

    Apparently Kiera’s publicist just confirmed she’s three months pregnant. Congrats, I’m happy for her. She’ll be sporting a nice bump come Feb. I love seeing pregnant actresses in their gowns, I think it makes them look so much more beautiful.

    • Mikasa says:

      Whoop! Whoop! Let the Oscar campaign begin for Keira!!
      I wonder if BC knew about her pregnancy??
      I used to think he rushed his engagement because he wanted what Keira had…but if she’s only three months along, I’m not sure that was the case.

      • CL says:

        Gasp! Do you realize what this means?! OBVIOUSLY she and BC had a one night stand, resulting in KieraOtter, and she has refused to leave her hubs or reveal her OtterLover, and he is so hurt (because he’s still in lurve with her – you can tell by the way he looks at her), that he proposed on a whim and is now stuck looking unhappy and grim with the woman he loves, the most wonderful woman in the world, Kier – whoops! Sophie. And he put it in the paper because he knows that Kiera reads the Times no matter where in the world she is, and, uh, Harvey knows, and has threatened to kill his career to the point where he can only guest star in crime serials, and not cool ones, like Miss Marple (cause he was so dreamy in that one that he did), and, uh, Karon is fighting the urge to slap him hard across the back of his head on a daily (hourly) basis, because now she has two wrangle two bitches at once ( OctoOtter), and his buddies mcAvoy and Fassy are all, “dude, we totally get it”, and, uh, I’m out.

        *removing tongue from cheek*

    • Ingrid says:

      If someone finds the article that says her publicist confirmed it, please share a link.

      The ones I found were still “allegedly pregnant”.

    • Lindy79 says:

      *IF* it’s true then Harvey is probably creaming himself with excitement right now.
      An engagement and a pregnancy in the one movie, so much to sell!
      I hope Keira tells him to f*ck off if he tries to over work her.

  20. Table says:

    Ick, no hotness from Ben and Reese. Love the Laura Dern/Steve Carell pairing though. That one was surely the best (with props going to Gugu and Miles) as well. And Julianne Moore can’t dance.

  21. MyLittlePony says:

    Fun to watch 😀 If only Cumby would simply open his mouth, and actually kiss Reese instead of pretending to do so. Probably a very good kisser when he is actually doing it and not only pretending to !

  22. Ncboudicca says:

    I have drool on my cheek…not because I’m salivating over that kiss, but because I feel asleep watching it.

  23. Gracie says:

    Second-hand embarrassment anyone?

    • Lucifer says:

      *waves hands*

    • MissMary says:

      He’s done some really hot kissing scenes in his work history but… this is not one of them. *cringe* It’s not even cutely awkward or “funny because it’s intentional.” It looks like they were legit going for sexy. And missed. #bushpushing the sexy out of the picture.

    • I Choose Me says:

      *Waves hand along with Lucifer.*

      Annnnd, how many times does one ever get to type that sentence. 😀

  24. ellesbelles says:

    Still more chemistry than with Ursula

    whats the other saying.. Still a better love story than Twilight?

    When Twilight is a better love story than your engagement, you’re doing it wrong

    • Gracie says:

      Oh, no!

      ‘What don’t you bite me, Edward?’
      ‘Bite me, Edward, I don’t want to look old and wrinkly all by myself…’
      ‘Bite me, because I am so boring and a nobody anyway…’

      Wait, it’s Benedict….

  25. Koodles says:

    So, just looked at sogo’s tumblr and a fan got a picture of sophie arriving at the bifas(alone) and she is happy as a clam, no looks of nerves or anything. So, I hope people will stop with the “delicate flower,hated being photographed” nonsense.

    To me, it looks like benedict tried with Reese, but she was holding back. But, still awkward and didn’t feel it. The kissing scene in wreckers, however, purrs.

  26. Emily says:

    What stuck out most about the nerdist podcast is admitting he saw a therapist and the benefits of being able to do that. He claims a clean bill of health.

    The first mention of Benedict suffering mental illness and receiving treatment for it came from an anonymous style forum. Someone said they knew he was doing this via a friends connection more than a month ago.

    Either it’s true or he pays attention to even random obscure talk about him. That theory didn’t gain any traction, so why mention it?

    • lindy79 says:

      He mentioned it during the Oz comic con q&a sessions earlier this year if memory serves.
      Im on the crazy train with regard to his PR shilling but its good he talks about speaking to someone when he needs. The stigma needs to be removed and people should feel no issue in getting help, likewise society needs to take it seriously. Too many are suffering in silence.

      This is the Cumberbatch I want to go have a scotch with. Not the #jawseyed shell he’s become the last few months.

    • Soothy says:

      I seriously doubt very much that there was any truth at all in that gossip board rumour.
      I agree, Lindy, it was very decent of him to do that. Really breaks down the stigma around keeping a check on one’s mental health. There shouldn’t be shame or shock attached to that.

      • Ingrid says:

        I agree that it’s very good he talks about this (although Harvey and PR most likely disagree but lately they have disagreed a lot, I think)

        The other (little) thing that stood out from the podcast was Benedict’s short sentence “Maybe if I wasn’t so busy, I would be a better person.” and then he stops talking. 😉

      • Toodles45 says:

        @ingrid, wow really?? I missed that one. Interesting

      • Ingrid says:

        It’s around 48.40 min (just before he “jumps out of the window”

      • Cate says:

        I might have to give this one a listen, sounds too interesting to miss.

  27. Lucifer says:

    Any idea where is may23 today?? or is she a “couple post only” kind of person 😉

    • Ingrid says:

      Interesting, isn’t it? I miss her so much…

    • scarf girl says:

      Oh, nice catch Lucifer.

      Totally off topic and I do apologize, but the new Colin Firth/Mark Strong movie trailer is out for Kingsmen. Not at all what I expected but it looks like it will be so much fun. Mark Strong really looks like he is enjoying himself. And Colin, well, I would go there. Also the new French trailer for The Little Prince. I might have posted that comment on another thread.

  28. Lucifer says:

    @Ingrid
    Next red carpet post and she is gonna get serious competition from me. M practicing my omg so perf comments. Expect u guys to play along 😀

  29. tasha_nat says:

    I’m ready. I’ll play. 🙂 🐙🐙🐙

  30. lunchcoma says:

    I think I’m over Otter Boy. I’m not one of the people on “the engagement is fake!” train, but this is deeply unsexy and he’s spent a lot of time making an ass out of himself lately. He’s still very talented, but there are other pretty dudes with pretty accents to lust over (I’m not inclined toward blokes, so those of you who have one on reserved need not fear!).

  31. Lucifer says:

    okay saw some comments in the article of NYT video . He was tight lipped kissing Reese because he wanted to respect his fiancee *barf*

  32. Ellen says:

    This should be called Benny Daily now. I bet when he changes his underwear there would be a new thread about. Tiger print Y fronts anybody?

    Btw Hi To Dara. We miss you

  33. Ingrid says:

    Smaug on Colbert was pure magic.

    “I spend most of the movie reciting lines to a tennis ball on a stick and I’m not even talking about Orlando Bloom”

    Smaug – better interviewee than Pissybatch.

    • tasha_nat says:

      “Who wants to play second fiddle to that hack, Cumberbatch?”
      🙂 Excellent work, Colbert.

    • MissMary says:

      I had a feeling it’d be something to do with Smaug but I legit thought it was just going to be BC doing his “I DID THE MOTION CAPTURE!” thing again (far more welcome than anything else he’s been saying lately). I legit snorted, I laughed so hard.

  34. Lunar says:

    That kiss was terrible and painful to watch. I felt bad for the both if them; it looked as if it hurt.

  35. Hm says:

    That was not very good.