Cheap The Opposite of Sex (DVD) (Christina Ricci, Martin Donovan (II), Lisa Kudrow) (Don Roos) Price

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Customer Reviews of The Opposite of Sex

a solidly acted, engaging comedy
i read a review of 'the opposite of sex' that claimed erroneously that the opposite of sex is friendship. but, it didn't seem to me that was the film's message at all. i don't think this small-scale, black comedy is anywhere near that glib and i think the critic did the movie a disservice. i watched it only yesterday, so it is still fresh in my mind as i write this review. it is far from a great film, it drags a bit in places, but the performances are excellent. if you like lisa kudrow as phoebe in friends, you will like her here. if you don't like lisa kudrow as phoebe in friends, you will probably still like her here. she brings a subtlety to her role of a frustrated spinster-in-the-making that is absent in her sitcom character, but retains all the comic timing from her tv work has taught her. christina ricci's comic timing and ability to steal scenes has never been in doubt since making her mark in the addams family. she is excellent here, and much of the humour in the film comes from ricci's droll voice over. she has a pleasing little crack in her voice that perfectly fits her role of deedee, a wiseacre little sixteen year old troublemaker who comes like a whirlwind into her gay stepbrother's life. she even manages to undermine the potential sentimentality at the end of the picture. if you have liked ricci in anything (addams family, buffalo 66, sleepy hollow) this is a performance well worth checking out. enjoyable comedy fare with some real points to make about relationships and a few real bellylaughs. the response from ricci whilst in labour when kudrow asks if she is having contractions is worth the admission price alone.

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Meaning saturated in every line.
One of the best independent films I've seen this year, THE OPPOSITE OF SEX focuses on the narrator of the film, Dedee Truitt, played by Christina Ricci. Perhaps her best performance so far, her dialogue is witty and knowing, her timing impeccable. She portrays Truitt as sort of an actress with no thoughts about getting into pictures or theater but just to get by. She flees to her sometimes understanding gay half-brother, Bill, falls in love with his boyfriend, and takes off with him to a distant place. Meanwhile, and there is a lot of "meanwhile"s in the script, that you seem to get overwhelmed, Bill's deceased love's sister, Lucia Delury, played with great strength by Lisa Kudrow, buys plane tickets to go after the newly formed couple. The film is packed full of truly interesting characters, imaginative one-liners, and a hearty script, one that could only been dreamed up by someone who has gone through this all and survived. That someone should be congratulated. Writer-director Don Roos has made a masterpiece, in my mind anyway. Just because it is an independent film and you have never heard of it, don't pass it by.

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A movie that sticks with you (if you like comedy black)
It's saying something about a movie when a friend asks you for a recommendation in 2004, and 1998's "The Opposite of Sex" is one of the first things that pops into your head. Christina Ricci - in her first real adult role - rips the paint of the walls with her performance as Dede Truitt, a one-woman hurricane. She wreaks havoc here in everyone else's life, starting with half-brother Bill, played by the always excellent Martin Donovan (see, among others, "Insomnia," in which he plays Al Pacino's doomed partner).

In fact, for all the attention garnered by what was essentially Ms. Ricci's very successful coming out party, the real news here are the excellent turns by Donovan, Lisa Kudrow (playing about as far from Phoebe as one can get) and Lyle Lovett. Mr. Lovett proves her that he doesn't need Robert Altman to transfer his charisma from his musical performances to film. [He had been essentially an Altman 'house player' up to this point in his career.]

The script is sharp and witty. We've got Don Roos (as writer and director) to thank for that. I'm a little perplexed by Mr. Roos' career since that point - 'Bounce' (a disappointing Affleck/Paltrow outing) came out in 2000. He did have a critical hit with 2000's TV summer replacement 'M.Y.O.B.'

Roos has proven himself to be a great writer who attracts quality stars and directs them to impressive performances. He does have 'Happy Endings' in production right now with Ms. Kudrow and other talented actors. As far as I'm concerned, his success with 'Opposite of Sex' will compel me to see anything that he creates.