Tags
1990's, Christina Ricci, Dark Comedy, Don Roos, Ivan Sergei, Johnny Galecki, Lisa Kudrow, Lyle Lovett, Martin Donovan, The Opposite of Sex
Film Title
The Opposite of Sex
Director
Don Roos
Starring
- Christina Ricci as Dedee Truitt
- Martin Donovan as Bill Truitt
- Lisa Kudrow as Lucia DeLury
- Ivan Sergei as Matt
- Johnny Galecki as Jason
- Lyle Lovett as Sheriff Carl
A jet-black comedy that is frequently shocking and covers themes that could be incendiary with caustic aplomb, The Opposite of Sex makes for an unconventional and oddball story, populated by strange yet winning characters and a sarcastic turn from Christina Ricci.
Dedee Truitt is a bitchy, trailer trash 16-year-old girl who runs away from her Louisiana home after burying her stepfather. She high tails it to Indiana where she arrives on the doorstep of her sensitive gay half-brother Bill, who is still mourning the loss of his partner to AIDS. He is currently in a relationship with the hunky but dumb Matt, though he still hasn’t faced the loss of his former flame properly. Dedee, who is secretly pregnant, slowly sets in motion a cunning plan to gain money from Bill, knowing that he has $10,000 in his safe deposit box. Seducing Matt and then pretending that the baby is his, she skips town with him along with the money and the ashes of Tom, in an urn that could fetch a tidy sum. Bill doesn’t know what to do about the situation, but Tom’s sister Lucia, who is highly strung and obviously has feelings for Bill, encourages him to find both of them. Things also heat up when Matt’s former boyfriend and Bill’s former student Jason threatens him with accusations that he made inappropriate advances towards him. As a missing person’s report has been filed by the spiteful Jason, local sheriff Carl, who has the hots for Lucia, has to become involved as Bill and Lucia search for Dedee and Matt. Dedee continues to manipulate everyone for her own gain as a cross-country madcap venture takes place, leading to many realizations and people confronting what they are holding back. Add to this chase murder, ransom, extortion and blackmail and its eventful days for all the people Dedee comes across and wreaks havoc on.
Don Roos made his directing debut with The Opposite of Sex, as well as penning the screenplay. And he does an extremely engaging and biting job at bringing these unusual characters and events to spirited and also darkly comic life. And yet while the film has a dark, rude and sarcastic heart, it surprisingly allows for oddly touching and moving moments to be gleaned. This comes with a definite irony as while Dedee ruins everyone’s lives, she inadvertently helps them come to terms with various issues and personal demons. The Opposite of Sex is ballsy material that takes aim at homophobia and bible-bashing zealots with rapier wit that it is clearly unapologetic for. And while some of the things the movie deals with won’t be to all tastes, it really knows the buttons to press and gets jaw-dropping gasps from you, whether you like it or not. A lot of this comes down to the acidic script, that churns out great one liners at a regular rate. The best example is the use of narration from Dedee, whose view on things is spiked with savage commentary and smart alec remarks. She’s the kind of narrator that is fun to listen too as she is no angel and her mordant assessment of events has to be heard to be believed. I mean, just listen to how she knows that the audience isn’t going to root for her or a withering offer her opinion on the people she ruins. This is a self-aware heroine who doesn’t give a damn, which suits the film down to the ground. Even when she isn’t on screen and it is just her voice, you can’t help but be intrigued and frequently flabbergasted by her thoughts. The pace is pretty quick and filled with sparks, only sometimes having the odd lull that can be forgiven owing to how incisive and scathing it all is. A strangely bouncy score belies the gleefully sardonic and vicious wit of the piece.
Front and centre of it all is Christina Ricci, who is acerbically vicious and seductive in equal measure as the sly Dedee. Ricci embodies the bitchy and sarcastic attitude to an extremely high degree, making you both shocked and strangely attracted to her, even though she’s vindictive. Though there are hints that Dedee may have some form of a heart, the spiky and cutting aspects of the part are what is so appealing, a strength to which Ricci plays to in devilishly vindictive mode. Blasé and snappy as Dedee is, Christina Ricci makes you unusually root for and be fascinated by this trashy jailbait vixen with a mind as sharp as an axe and a tongue like a viper. This is one of the best performances of Christina Ricci, which is no surprise considering how much she puts into the part and other roles too. The other players are also given lively and kooky characters to flesh out this darkly humorous experience. Martin Donovan is perfectly subdued as the mild-mannered Bill, who is too nice for his own good but slowly seeing that he can’t just sit back as all of this chaos ensues. Donovan gets probably the most relatable part in The Opposite of Sex, which he plays to the hilt and never rings false. Really having a blast is Lisa Kudrow as the opinionated and self-righteous Lucia, who finds the idea of sex repulsive but quietly yearns for companionship. She is amusingly passive-aggressive, high and mighty and ever so slightly sour, but Kudrow wisely ensures that she isn’t without sympathy. Ivan Sergei makes the most of his role of the not too intelligent Matt, who gets completely wrapped around the poisonous fingers of Dedee without quite realising it. Johnny Galecki has a ball as the mendacious accuser, while a homespun Lyle Lovett is just right as the sheriff drawn into this outrageous web.
Unapologetically snarky and definitely not adhering to political correctness, The Opposite of Sex couldn’t give a damn about that and comes off as a biting dark comedy that provides biting humour and curious insight into relationships and the complexity of them. Bolstered by a wickedly biting performance from Christina Ricci, this is a film that is best summed up by the tagline ‘You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be offended’.
fragglerocking said:
another for my list, I like the sound of this. Also V~man want to say thanks for putting me on to V for Vendetta. I ordered it on bluray as the amazon reviews gave the soundtrack a better write up than that of the DVD, the film was everything you said in the review and me and the hubby loved it. So relatable to today too. At the end with the big kaboom we raised a glass and cheered our heads off 😀 V for V~man!
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vinnieh said:
Oh I’m thrilled you liked V for Vendetta. For me, it was very topical and relatable about a lot of things in society now. You made my day with that comment, Fraggle.
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fragglerocking said:
Well you made ours with directing us to the movie!
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vinnieh said:
That fills me with happiness.
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vinnieh said:
As for this film, it’s black comedy at its most biting.
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beetleypete said:
So I was wrong then…
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fragglerocking said:
sorry yes, Phil and I were quite amazed that this being made in 2006 had so much relevance to what is going on in the world today, I think that’s what struck us most.
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beetleypete said:
I suppose I was less enamoured as I had read the graphic novel. I found the film incredibly silly at times. Worked better as a comic for me.
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beetleypete said:
I haven’t seen this one yet, V. But the presence of Ms Ricci is sufficient to pique my interest.
Cheers, Pete.
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vinnieh said:
Ricci is excellent as the scheming trailer trash bitch.
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beetleypete said:
That works for me!
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vinnieh said:
She rocks the part and her snarky narration is a particularly amusing highlight.
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thespiritkeeper said:
I will have to watch this movie
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vinnieh said:
It’s cutting but very funny.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Hmm. I’ll have to give this a look. Nice review Vinnie.
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vinnieh said:
I found it fun writing about this film. It is so deliciously acerbic and caustic. And the main character is a hellion.
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vinnieh said:
It’s not for everyone, but still comedy at its darkest.
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keepsmealive said:
We saw this, but so long ago I don’t remember it all too well except Ricci in a bikini. Apparently that stayed in my memory.
Opposite Of Sex is… no sex? Count me out! 😉
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vinnieh said:
Well she does look very alluring in that bikini. Haha, that last line made me laugh a lot.
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mpwilson said:
Loved this movie.. Haven’t seen it in years so definitely want to take another look. Am a huge Christina Ricci fan and agree this was one of her best roles. Also really loved Johnny Galecki in this.
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vinnieh said:
Ricci is so good as the manipulative scheming bitch, some of her withering put downs are sublime.
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mpwilson said:
I know there was some Oscar buzz at the time for her and Kudrow, but sadly didn’t occur.
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vinnieh said:
They were both fabulous.
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JJAzar said:
“Dedee Truitt is a bitchy, trailer trash 16-year-old girl who runs away from her Louisiana home after burying her stepfather.” You got a laugh from that! Haha! Wow, this one sounds like a ballsy rollercoaster ride. Thank you for sharing films that are lesser-known. I always enjoy reading these! 😀
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vinnieh said:
Happy you liked that opening to the plot summary. It is exactly how she is introduced in the movie so it seemed right to honour that. What did you like most about that sentence? Ballsy is the word for this movie.
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JJAzar said:
It just calls out the protagonist for being a “bitch, trailer trash 16-year-old”! :D. Just imagine if somebody presented Harry Potter as a “pathetic orphan with a pathetic life.” Funny in a morbid sort of way, I suppose.
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vinnieh said:
When you put it like that, it does have a ring of humour to it.
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JJAzar said:
It’s the judgement in the statement that’s funny.
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vinnieh said:
When the film opens, she says about herself ‘I don’t grow a heart of gold’. It really sets up her character wonderfully.
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vinnieh said:
And I was going to ask, have you done an acceptance post for the award I gave you the other week? I’ve been so busy, that I haven’t had chance to check.
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JJAzar said:
I have one queued up before I post the one you (graciously) awarded me. Coming soon! 😀
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vinnieh said:
Thanks man, you’re a great friend.
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