The Opposite of Sex
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Movie Reviews of The Opposite of Sex
Movie Review: Wickedly evil dialogue fills this movie
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a long-time fan of this film and I finally took the time to read all the reviews and comments already here at Amazon to find out what others thought. Usually I don't add reviews to a film with an existing body of comments, feeling I have little to add to what others have already said, but in this case I'm making an exception.
One actor commented in another review that the performances come across as a cold read. While I agree with that opinion of some of the performances, acting is not my forte. I'm a writer and my appreciation of this film is for the wonderful script. If you like your comedy dark and uncompromising, (think Heathers) then you will enjoy some of the crackling and sarcastic dialogue waiting for you in this story.
The plot itself isn't designed to bring compelling comparisons to Citizen Kane. The characters are ignorant, easily manipulated, individuals. Contented and in some cases arrogantly complacent people have their lives turned upside down by the arrival of a trailer-trash backwater tramp. It's a common enough contrivance to twist the "fish out of water" plot, but Ricci plays her part as one who is better prepared for her new environment than those that already call it home. Her performance is a tour de force and this film was the exact transitional point in her career that allowed her to move from the "goth child" whimsy of her early films into the sexier and more adult fare she tends to favor today. Her acting is actually a cut above what she delivers in films like Monster, where she at times seemed almost in awe of her costar. Here she takes center stage and the only real competitor in sight is Lisa Kudrow, who gives an uneven but wickedly sharp-tongued turn.
An example of the dialogue I referenced earlier is provided by Kudrow in fact. Early in the film, Ricci announces she has become pregnant by her brother's gay lover. Kudrow turns to the brother and says, "I thought you were gay!" He informs her that he is bisexual and without missing a beat Kudrow retorts, "Oh PLEASE! I went to a Bar Mitzvah once and it didn't make me Jewish!" Her delivery of this line is full of such venom that half of the audience I saw it with was deeply offended while the other half, myself included, burst out in loud and approving laughter.
Such is the nature of black comedy. It walks the fine line between offense and hysteria. When it misses the mark, as is often the case in lesser scripts, the entire film suffers. When it finds the balance it delights as many people as it offends. Such is the case with The Opposite of Sex. The majority of reviewers here have adored the crisp dialogue, and a vocal minority found themselves offended or lost.
Amazon recently dropped the price of this movie and while the older $20 price tag may have made it a risky choice for someone who hasn't already seen the film, at the new lower cost it's worth every penny to give this movie the chance it deserves. If nothing else, it's a chance to watch a young talent make the successful transition into adult-flavored roles that have eluded so many other child actors and actresses.
Movie Review: The Opposite Of Lousy
Summary: 5 Stars
The Opposite of Sex, (a Christina Ricci showcase), pulls off an almost impossible trick - it's a gleefully irreverent piece of political incorrectness that is never mean-spirited - indeed, as much as it would pain Dede, (the Ricci character), to admit it, the movie has heart. This is a solid film that holds up very nicely under repeated viewings.
Much has been made of Dede's narration, (more of an anti-narration), and the way it lampoons film conventions, traditional plot points, and viewer expectations. She's saucy, fun, and outrageous - the kind of smart mouth teenager who's not nearly as tough and savvy as she wants you to believe. But the real hero of this picture is writer, and novice director, Don Roos. With a lead as flamboyant as Dede it must surely have been tempting to go for the broad laugh, instead, Roos took the high road.
Listen carefully to the dialogue in this film, especially anytime Lucia, Lisa Kudrow, is speaking. Kudrow gives the performance of a lifetime - perfect - but with scripting that smart and well turned it's hard to go wrong. In Dede you have cynicism that wants to be cool, in Lucia you have genuine misery born of a feeling that everyone but you was invited to a party.
This film looks at the meaning of being gay from every imaginable angle. At one end are Dede's stereotypes of why real estate agents prefer selling the homes of gay men; at the other is the memorable scene between Bill, (Dede's half brother), and the preposterous Johnny, (Jason Block). Bill, normally thoughtful and quiet, has found an aggressive way to command Johnny's attention, (Johnny is defaming and extorting him). Bill's short, passionate speech detailing what he has had to endure as a gay man in order to make way for a next generation of ungrateful gay men like Johnny is hilarious, sad, and powerful; quite an accomplishment.
Comedy is hard, dark comedy is harder still. But delivering a dark comedy with truth and bite, that leaves you liking humanity more - not less - that's the opposite of common, that is truly exceptional.
Movie Review: Opposite of Sex
Summary: 5 Stars
Don Roos writes & directs Christina Ricci (Buffalo '66), Lisa Kudrow (Friends), Martin Donovan, and Lyle Lovett (the dude who was married to Julia Roberts) in "The Opposite of Sex" which tackles almost every subject having to do with sex including AIDs, homosexuality, relationships, why we like sex, you name it. The movie is smart, entertaining, and funny; the cast is perfect. It's really a quality movie. Ricci plays the 16-year old Dedee Truitt, who lives with her mother whom she can't stand and her stepfather who has just passed away. In a act of rebellion, she moves in with her half-brother Bill Truitt (Donovan), a homosexual school teacher. Dedee is a character we've seen in plenty of movies; she's deceitful, a liar, cold, and devilishly smart. Anyway, Dedee seduces Bill's boyfriend Matt (Ivan Sergei) and then announces that she's pregnant. Leaving Bill hearbroken, Matt and Dedee move to Los Angeles and Bill continues living his life. But then a former student of Bill's looking for Matt accuses Bill of molesting him in school, when Bill will not reveal Matt's whereabouts. With his reputation ruined, his former-dead-lover's sister Lucia (Kudrow), who's clearly in love with Bill heads to L.A. with Bill to track down both Dedee and Matt. But things don't go down that easy. Christina Ricci is a talented actress, she can play any character she wants to. Nice girl, naughty girl, or downright mean girl. I think the latter is what she plays best and she's in top form here. The thing I thought was interesting was that I was more interested in the story between Bill and Lucia then I was with Ricci's character though. Since her character would disappear for long intervals (although, Ricci narrates the movie), I noticed I was more entertained without her. Anyway, it's a flawed film definitely but I enjoyed it a lot. It's witty and makes quite a few good points about a lot of different subjects.
GRADE: A-
Movie Review: Funny, outrageous, and beautifully woven story
Summary: 5 Stars
I love films that are not formed of the standard hollywood cookie-cutter methods, i.e. I hate McMovies. The Opposite of Sex is anything but. There are a couple of reasons why.1) The characters are actually interesting! The protagonist is not a likeable character. Why is it that Hollywood feels the need to consistently feed us vanilla characters who are heroes and sympathetic characters? This film breaks that trend--Dedee is a wonderfully malicious, if not completely evil, immoral, and obscene character. Her maneuverings and dialogue are so much fun to see--both for her biting humor and the reactions the other characters have to her. Christina Ricci (as DeDee) obviously had a great deal of fun in playing the role, and her energy is contagious.
Though not as vivid, the other characters are very interesting as well. Any fan of Friends and Lisa Kudrow should see this film just to see her in a non-ditsy role. Her character of Lucia, like all of the characters (perhaps save for Lyle Lovett's Carl), are written and played with a great deal of depth and style. None are entirely likeable, but in real life, who ever is?
2) I have not seen a film in a long time that weaves such a complicated humorously soap-operatic storyline with such effortless grace. In the end, all of the characters interrelationships make sense to YOU, but don't try to explain them to someone who hasn't seen the film--you won't be able to!
The DVD is packed with features as well. The directors' commentary is very good, for those aspiring filmmakers out there. The deleted scenes were cool as well, especially as they also included director's commentary. WARNING--If you like only the standard wholesome hollywood fare where they guy always gets the girl, you will likely find this movie offensive in its story and dialogue, and not compelling for its characters.
Movie Review: Ricci is peachy!
Summary: 5 Stars
Ricci aside I thought Lisa Kudrow was a delight playing the oppisite of her well known ditzy blonde "Friends" type cast, which helps her to not become to much of a type casted actress. She does have range. I fully enjoyed this movie. I loved the characters, the offensive (to many) script, the well balanced comedy mixed with drama. This film moves you, makes you laugh, think, and truly has you wanting to reach into your television to strangle some if not everyone. Christina Ricci "She's the human tabloid." is all attitude and no graduate as DeeDee Truitt a 16 year old girl that refuses to grow a heart of gold even for us the veiwers. Thats cool we see that type of stuff everyday in the movies. After her stepfather kicks the bucket she decides to go and live with her brother. He, who is moaring his lovers death welcomes her. One might say that was a huge mistake on his part. She does little more than ruin his teaching career, steal his new boyfriend, gets him involved in a gay sex scandal involving a former student where he teaches (thus, the reason for his almost termination), okay what else... steals his dead lovers urn containing the mans ashes. Oh and thats just the half of it. Let's finish this... "The Oppisite of sex" is what DeeDee wants. SEX involves relationships, deceases, pregnanies and other complications in ones life. Who want's that? The film also addresses the survival of the species topic. It's true if we didn't love sex (complications aside) we would have died out aeons ago. Good move on God's part. This is a movie that can be enjoyed by adults that aren't easily offended.