The Opposite of Sex 1998
I had heard some good things about this movie and was expecting some good writing and acting performances from people who are on the verge of breaking out.
First Christina Ricci is trying to go from child actress to adult. She couldn’t have picked more of an adult role even though she plays a teenager. The movie is certainly a showcase for her talents and though she does well, either she or the writing wasn’t quite ready for the spotlight. Though her character is interesting as a young woman who acknowledges the (true) fact that she has no redeeming qualities, the movie can’t resist trying to redeem her at least in a few ways. Why bother? Much better to watch an unrepentant character wreak havoc on the nice people surounding her.
Lisa Kudrow plays a teacher who would rather get a nice shampoo than have sex and so represents the opposite extreme. But she still comes off as being Phoebe from Friends, it’s just that she’s a repressed teacher now instead of hippie coffee shop singer. Given these two roles as well as the one in Romy & Michelle, I’m thinking she just has no real range, though she plays the role of Lisa Kudrow quite well.
Lyle Lovett, who I really enjoy as a singer, turns in a small, but stilted at best, performance though by the end of the movie either you’re used to the stiff monotone or he’s gotten more relaxed in his role as person rather than a policeman. But still this is not a great performance.
The array of actors who play homosexuals and are all unknown (to me at least) turn in pretty decent performances and carry the plot along well. The dumb guy and the mean guy are both one dimensional, but the main character has more depth, much of which remains unexplored. His is the best role and the best performance in the movie.
The writing wasn’t quite up to par either and though I can forgive a plot with only a few departures from banality, this needed to be a better movie and in the end it just wasn’t. It was a good set up, a solid ensemble of characters, but they were pretty much wasted.
Worth watching (because it *is* different) if there’s nothing else you want to see.
6 out of 10.
Written: 30 Aug 1998