The Opposite of Sex
Sony Picture Classics, 1998
Directed by Don Roos

$$$$

A sharp, biting, cynical examination of the control sex has over the human species; The Opposite of Sex is smart, sarcastic and brutally insightful film. It's the first directorial effort by screenwriter Don Roos. I can't wait to see the second.

Christina Ricci's character stirs the movie's twisted stew. Graduating from child actress to her first "bad girl" role, Ricci plays Dedee, a wild 16-year old who runs away to live with her much older gay-half brother, Bill, a school teacher. She's not there long when she begins ruining his life. She quickly seduces Bill's live-in lover. Not long after that, she announces she's pregnant. But that's just the tip of the ice berg.

The Opposite of Sex explores the lengths people can be driven to by sexual frustrations and the damage it can do. Most movies treat love as a perfectly natural pursuit. But this film asks whether it's all really worth all the trouble.

Director Roos delights in shattering movie conventions. The plot goes off in directions you don't expect, the characters are never stereotypes and the film's voice over narration actually spoofs movie voice overs. Ricci, who provides that scathingly witty naration, gives a breakout performance. But the biggest surprise in the cast is Lisa Kudrow. Playing a bitter old maid, Kudrow shows much more range than her role as Phoebe on Friends would ever allow. Another TV actor, Roseanne's Johnny Galecki also gives a performance that will make you forget his sitcom past.

(c) Copyright 1998