Name: Retro Film Review: The Opposite of Sex (1998)
Item: The Opposite of Sex
Rating: 60
Author: @drax

(source:tmdb.org)

"Even the blind hen can pick a grain or two" is one of the most popular proverbs in this part of world. The author of this review learned to use it while assessing certain films in the context of their authors' careers. One example could be provided by Don Roos, whose screenwriting credits in 1990s usually weren't something to write home about. Yet, in one precious moment he managed to write script bordering at the very edge of brilliance. He even bothered to direct the script and the result was 1998 comedy The Opposite of Sex.

The protagonist and narrator of the film is Dede Truitt (played by Christina Ricci), 16-year old girl from small town in Louisiana. She lacks good manners, education and money, but all that is of little importance to men preoccupied with certain parts of her anatomy and unaware of her lack of moral scruples. Dede decides to run from her impoverished home and finds shelter in the home of Bill (played by Martin Donovan), half-brother who is twice her age. Bill is everything Dede is not - well-educated, soft-spoken, morally responsible and homosexual. His rich lover has died of AIDS and left Bill with a pile of money. Bill tries to find some sort of comfort in the arms of Matt Mateo (played by Ivan Sergei), new and younger lover. Matt's youth and innocence allow Dede to start sexual intrigue – she seduces Matt and convinces him that he made her pregnant. Two new lovers steal Bill's money and head for Los Angeles. To make things worse for, Jason Bock (played by John Galecki), Bill's former boyfriend and student of high school where Bill had taught, comes forward with false accusations of paedophilia. Bill loses his job and the only support comes from Lucia (played by Lisa Kudrow), deceased lover's sister who always carried torch for him. Bill and Lucia decide to track Dede and Matt down, while being followed by Sheriff Carl Tippet (played by Lyle Lovett) who is trying to investigate Jason's accusations while falling in love with Lucia.

The Opposite of Sex looks refreshing and almost daring compared with most of comedies to come from 1990s Hollywood. First of all, it breaks one of Hollywood's most sacred taboos by portraying homosexuals as anything but saintly characters. Another thing is dark, misanthropic and almost sadistic level of humour. More pleasant surprise comes with the casting where two actresses play characters totally against the type. Christina Ricci, who made a career as a child actor, triumphs in the role of malevolent sexual predator. Lisa Kudrow, who is usually associated with the image of ditzy blonde, is in a way even more impressive as sexually repressed woman. But the most ingenious thing in Roos' script is decision to have its protagonist/narrator dissect the film in the manner of geek dissecting the particularly lousy trash film.

The Opposite of Sex is far from trash film. In some of its segments it even touches some of the major social issues of 1990s America and satirises both bigotry and "political correctness". However, that doesn't mean that The Opposite of Sex is a masterpiece. Roos had a lot to learn while directing this film and it shows on screen. Cinematography is too dark, while script itself begins to lose steam near the end. However, The Opposite of Sex, despite not being as brilliant as it could have been, provides very enjoyable viewing experience.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on May 29th 004)