The Opposite of Sex

Plot synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Dedee Truitt (Christina Ricci) runs away from home. She is pregnant by her ex-boyfriend, Randy Cates (William Lee Scott). Not revealing her pregnancy, Dedee eventually moves in with her much older half-brother Bill (Martin Donovan), a gay teacher in a conservative, suburban community in Saint Joseph County, Indiana.
Although he is living with Matt (Ivan Sergei), Bill still mourns the loss of his previous partner, Tom, who died of AIDS some time ago. Bill maintains a friendship with Tom's younger sister, Lucia (Lisa Kudrow), who idolized her brother.
Dedee seduces Matt, then tricks him into believing he has impregnated her. They elope, leaving Bill and Lucia to track them down.
Bill and Lucia find Dedee and Matt, only to discover Dedee has stolen Tom's ashes and is holding them for ransom. Randy also finds Dedee; they inform Matt that they are taking the ashes and moving away. They escape but soon get into an argument that leads to Dedee accidentally shooting Randy. She and Matt escape to Canada.
Bill eventually tracks down Matt and Dedee. Dedee goes into labor and Bill accompanies her into the delivery room. After giving birth to her son, Dedee returns Tom's ashes to Bill, apologizing for her actions in the past year.
Lucia and Bill have a falling out after Lucia implies that Tom died as a result of having gay sex. Despondent, Lucia has a one-night stand with Sheriff Carl Tippett (Lyle Lovett) who had previously made unsuccessful romantic overtures to her. Lucia soon discovers that she is pregnant.
Dedee ends up serving time in prison, leaving her son in Bill's care while she's incarcerated. After a few months, she moves back in with Bill, while Matt goes traveling, and Lucia gives birth to her own child. Eventually, Dedee decides that her son would be better off with Bill, who is now dating Dedee's parole officer, and runs away.
Dedee sarcastically concludes that sex is precisely the opposite of what people should want, leading as it does to kids, disease or, worst of all, relationships. At the end of the film, the vignettes of the various caring relationships among the characters show the opposite of superficial sexual gratification.

Tags: comedy, murder, cult, satire, romantic, home movie

Review:
The Opposite of Sex is narrated by the appropriately cynical lead character, Dede Truitt (Christina Ricci).
Dede Truitt basically walks into her half brothers life (Martin Donovan) and causes a stir among his sister in-law (Lisa Kudrow) by stealing his boyfriend who was originally thought to be gay and now decides he is bisexual.
The Opposite of Sex is a brilliant film, when Christina Ricci was in her prime.
Christina Ricci is perfectly cast and gives a great performance as a 16 year old who tries to manipulate and bully all of the other characters into bowing to her sick and twisted view of the world.
Ricci's character does and says hateful things throughout the movie but the film is successful in maintaining it's own view on these topics without squelching her characters voice.
I ended up liking the character for her survive at any cost mentality and her resolve.The movie is hilariously funny and at times touching.
Lisa Kudro turns in another great performance as a lonely single girl who is pining for the affections of Ricci's gay half brother.
If your into witty one liners, a fast story line and terrific acting (two thumbs up to Lisa Kudrow!)than this movie is for you.
We have a trash-talking southerner: Christina Ricci (in one of her better roles) who takes some pretty illogical decisions in life and affects so many lives around her.
The film shows us Deede (played to perfection by hot Christina Ricci), a 16 year old going on 17 who is having a baby soon, but the results of the next 9 months will surprise everyone (which includes a cast of Martin Donovan, Lisa Kudrow, Johnny Galecki, Lyle Lovett and Ivan Serguei).
A cast of talented actors and actresses does not make up for a what a tired and time consuming miss-match of a movie this is.One liners may be all the rage in 'Will & Grace' but this particular 'flick' left with a funny taste in my mouth (no pun).Character development is hidden away amongst the over-the-top narration.
But the highest praise must go to Lisa Kudrow, who broke out of her "Friends" character and actually generated a little bit of deserved Oscar buzz for her performance as an uptight prude.Grade: A.
The "strong" language and gay-theme may be funny and shocking to U.S. audiences, European viewers are probably less easily shocked into laughter.There's no emotional theme that I could see, or it would have to be the AIDS related death of a main characters partner that gets dragged into the story kicking and screaming.I'd have walked out of the movie if it weren't for my companion who wanted to see it through to the end..
The movie is the excuse for that dialog, though sometimes the higher level of engagement between us and Roos will borrow from the story.He is, in fact, having a sort of sex with us at the same time he tells us its the opposite, a different sort of attraction and seduction.Roos' surrogate is Ricci in voice-over narration.
It is the very best she has been, except for that bowling alley scene in "Buffalo." Since she isn't a great acting talent, what this means is that the role is a perfect fit for her sort of sexual detachment.The narration starts out commenting on the movie, telling us what kind of movie this is not, and how we cannot expect her to behave as if she were in a movie.
Then, she deliciously shifts back into character and says that's foreshadowing and we studied that in school.This is pretty shocking stuff, this shift out of the movie, using moviedom's most intimate trick, the internal noir narrative that starts such films.
Right off the bat, Christina Ricci's character is 100% annoying and she even lets us know she will not get any better as the movie progresses.
On a positive note it addresses and deals with some very deep issues concerning sexual societies and homosexuality.Bottom Line: I wouldn't recommend it, yet I feel that there has to be a certain audience that would like this movie, maybe bratty slutty teenagers..
Told in a rather unusual manner, this film featured some deadpan performances by Johnny Galecki, Lyle Lovett and Lisa Kudrow.
Christina Ricci plays the film's main antagonist and voice-over narrator, Dedee, a white trash, runaway teen slut from the Deep South.
"The Opposite of Sex" starts with Dedee Truitt (Christina Ricci) in an off narration, saying absurd things and complaining about everything, while she is shown at her stepfather's funeral throwing things on the grave.
There are some hilarious lines- specially in the beginning of the film, when Dedee talks about her mother and her stepfather, and when Lucia tells that she seems like the villain of "The Sound of Music".
It's a very unusual film, and independent movies should follow this one and Kevin Smith's movies.Many people complained about Dedee's narration, but I think it is one of the best points of "The Opposite of Sex".
In some moments she cheats us, telling lies to show the truth after.Christina Ricci, in a very, very inspiring performance, show that she is a great actress, besides her age.
Overlong, and at times dull and confusing, 'The Opposite of Sex' appears to be one of those films which tries too hard to impress the viewer, perhaps due to its independent nature, making the director want to scream, "Look what I did with so little money!".
I especially liked the characters played by Donovan and Kudrow, but I didn't like the one played by Ricci, and so I felt that the movie was generally better when her voice was absent.
Christina Ricci gives one of her best performances to date as DeDee Truitt, the 16-year-old who is full of herself and thinks of all others as losers (only those who are nice).Don Roos, who both wrote and directed this film gave a valiant effort only to see his film lose its focus (everyone eventually skipping off to Canada for no apparent reason) after having a powerful and interesting first half hour.
Many have complimented Lisa Kudrow on a "wonderful" performance - I think this comes after so many have seen her so often as a simple blond, the likes of Friends.
In movie reviews and commentary much has been made of the scathing commentary provided by Christina Ricci's character throughout "Opposite of Sex".
The movie is moderately amusing, but the reprehensible nature of Christina Ricci's Deedee becomes somewhat overpowering by the midpoint of the film, and all the rest involved seem more like losers than anything else, despite any politically correct posturing which starts to become a bit thick towards the end.It is interesting to watch Miss Ricci's career continue to blossom, however, and for that reason alone the movie is worth a look..
I'll start off by saying "I'm a big Christina Ricci fan," but this movie didn't go anywhere.
I speak french.I'm a fan of Christina Ricci and I didn't like this movie.
Ricci and Kudrow get the best lines, but that's all they are - one-liners - a crippling lack of investment behind them from either the writers, performers, or most crucially, the watcher themselves.Too 'frothy' a subject to be truly dark, yet simply too unpleasantly acerbic to engender even a smidgen of good feeling toward any of its characters.
Look, it's well filmed, well directed and - to a certain extent - well acted (Christina Ricci is a great talent).
Ricci is supported by an odd cast of TV faces, Hal Hartley regular Martin Donovan (who is usually superb but has too much of an under written role here to make any impression), and a truly awful and unconvincing performance by Lyle Lovett.
You never once care about the Christina Ricci's character and are completely annoyed by her voice-over explanation of what's going on.
Christina Ricci plays Dedee Truitt, a young girl who leaves home to go live with her step brother in Indiana.
There is quite a bit more of scenery changing that occurs, but the basic plot of the movie is how several different people think about sex and relationships, how they interact with each other, and how Dedee's exploits serve to change some of their thought patterns.Trust me on this one, it sounds a whole lot better than it actually is.
she could be *excellent* if just cast in the right thing by a decent director.Best bit has to be the line Ricci delivers to the audience just after the Bill & Matt kiss..
Christina Ricci is a fantastically beautiful actress that I've liked in many of the films I've seen her in, but even she cant get past the awful lines she has to deliver, and the awful cast she's acting alongside.
It's like the film-makers couldn't decide if this was a drama or a comedy.I can only think of two reasons why this movie got the reviews it did.
"The Opposite of Sex" is a bland, sophomoric, unfunny comedy with a bunch of second rate actors, a dumb storyline/script, a somewhat cynical and sardonic feel which shows us nothing new, is not compelling or poignant, tries to be hip and fails, and pretty much adds up to one big boring waste of time.
Christina Ricci and Lisa Kudrow, coming from different genres (horror movies and TV sitcoms) were popular stars, and their meeting on the screen was expected to be explosive at the time.
I can usually take off-screen talking only in small doses, here it is much too extensive, very rarely funny and never meaningful.Good acting cannot make it at all for the rest, and this film is going down and I suspect that it will go into complete oblivion as time passes..
"Writer-director Don Roos' film has a gnarled wisdom about modern romance, straight and gay, that makes it a road-movie Chasing Amy, a Heathers for the whole post-nuclear family." (Time magazine).Mighty praise indeed.
However, her turn of phrase is even less appealing: "If you don't breathe in, you can do anything for ten minutes" or "A blow job is a blow job."With Ricci laying it on far too thick, the pleasure in this confused, slightly inconsequential film lies with Donovan, the king of American indie cinema, and Friends' Kudrow.
The acting in this movie -with the exception of Lisa Kudrow-is appalling, the plot is weak, the script is absolutely devoid of any appeal and the whole movie is totally unnecessary and pointless.Christina Ricci is, not for the first time, totally annoying in this movie and the whole supporting cast is not much of an improvement (although Lisa Kudrow makes a valiant effort).
Christina Ricci and Lisa Kudrow do provide some good performances -as does Lyle Lovett-but it is not enough to save the movie from an uninspiring script and total lack of plot.
Christina Ricci was always a bit overrated in my book, until I saw the funny, clever The Opposite of Sex. This film has its flaws, but Ricci owns the movie from the beginning, and as a mean, wizened, wisecracking 16-year-old, she's a joy to watch.
Though the pacing lags at times, as the viewer you jump on for the ride and careen all around her crazy world.And, ultimately, Dee Dee (Ricci) learns something in the film, even though you may doubt all along that she will.It's so refreshing to watch a movie that deals with teenage angst, sex, gay men, pregnancy, and so many other issues in a reasonably intelligent way.
Lyle Lovett surprises with his understated small role.The script has some classic lines.I almost watched this movie twice in a row, but then decided to save the 2nd viewing to enjoy later.
The narrator of this movie is a rebellious and obnoxious sixteen-year-old hellion named Dedee (Christina Ricci) whose basic nature is to leave chaos and destruction in her wake no matter where she goes or who she is with.
Some original takes are given on these subjects (if that is still possible) like when Carl (Lyle Lovett) speculates that maybe sex isn't for recreation or procreation, but for concentration.Donovan plays the earnest and thoughtful Bill with a presence that commands attention; Bill is similar to Donovan's character in the more serious "Hollow Reed." As the sister of Bill's ex-lover, Lisa Kudow shows a great sense of comedic timing.
The Opposite Of Sex, is about a trashy, bitchy and heartless sixteen year old girl Dedee Truitt(Christina Ricci).
This a hilarious movie and both Christina Ricci and Lisa Kudrow give excellent performances.
I think the word is sparkle.Lisa Kudrow seems to be playing her Friends role here, she's not a very good actress.
Although the story gets immature at times, Ricci shows herself to be a mature actress in tackling this movie role.
To her credit, Christina Ricci plays the vicious little hussy so well that I have been unable to see another of her films: I can't stop seeing her as this character and hating her on that account.
The indie film "The Opposite of Sex" is a modern day love story about those people you love and can't live without,no matter what their sexual orientation.Christina Ricci totally steals the show in her coming out performance as the bitter,pregnant,chain smoking teen.Though it is a huge change from her normal "Little Girl" roles she proves she can play more than the innocent baby doll.Along with her award winning supporting cast,such as Lisa Kudrow and Johnny Galucki,it is one of the best off beat love storys I have ever seen.All I have to say is awesome film!!!!!.
I liked Christina Ricci, as many others among us have stated.But what really stood out to me, in contrast to the opinion posed right up front on the info page, was Lisa Kudrow's performance.
Christina Ricci rips into her role of DeeDee, a Lolita-like teenager hell-bent on causing a lot of trouble when she steals her half brother Bill's boyfriend Matt (Ivan Sergei) and runs away with him.
Ricci did a very good job playing a seductive teenager in this film.
I can't say what Christina Ricci does is acting, exactly, but with a role like this, how can you not be captivated--even when you're repelled at the same time?
I agree with the New York Film Critics Circle; this was the best supporting actress performance of 1998.Even the lesser roles are fetching from Lyle Lovett who has probably the best line in the movie to Ivan Sergei as Bill's bee-stung-lipped bedpartner Matt to William Lee Scott as the birthfather.
Don Roos' fast-moving script presents the viewer with a truly memorable character: DeDe Truitt, a cynical, manipulative, trash-talking 16-year old, who says of herself "I don't have a heart of gold and I don't grow one later on, okay?" Christina Ricci's performance is simply perfect.
What a relief from all of the Hollywood films being made today.Right ~ it's no "Heathers" or "Chasing Amy."IT ISN'T TRYING TO BE!This is a quirky, cool look at real life relationships, straight and gay.And Ms. Ricci?
Anyone who is into Christina Ricci should not miss this film.
The funniest thing about this film was Lisa Kudrow's character Lucia.
Lisa Kudrow is perfect as the sister of Bill's dead lover, and Lyle Lovett is wonderful as the unexpected love interest for her character.
There are lots of nicer people coming up--we call them losers," begins Christina Ricci's opening monologue in this wonderful film written and directed by Don Roos.
In a role far from her sweet-tart roles in "Casper", "Now and Then", and "That Darn Cat!", Ricci absolutely OWNS this film as Dedee Truitt - the foul-mouthed 16-year old nymphet who "doesn't have a heart of gold and doesn't grow one later".Though the screenplay is a bit far-fetched (the story takes place all over the country, and characters always seem to "find" each other anyway), it has some of the sharpest dialogue to come out in years.Ivan Sergei is hilarious as the oh-so-dumb boyfriend, and Lisa Kudrow takes a respectable dramatic turn (though she still can't shake the Phoebe mannerisms, even with the tied back hair and matured look).
The movie has the best intentions and is clever in a way, but the constant narration is making it tiresome most of the time and only the brilliant performance of Lisa Kudrow playing against type saves the film from being too self consious and smart for its own good..
This film also establishes Christina Ricci as an actress who is going to go far..
I rented this film because I enjoyed Christina Ricci in the Ice Storm and wanted to see if she would be as entertaining.
I believe the film would have worked better if it had made her character a lot meaner as I really like those evil never get nice characters who don't carry on how mean they are as they are oblivious to it.But this is not fault of Ricci but the fault of Don Roos the director and script writer of the film.The Opposite Of Sex is still a pretty decent film.
How great is it to go to a movie and actually be able to laugh your a** off - one of the few times a voice over throughout worked.
Lisa Kudrow, Martin Donovan, Christina Ricci and Johnny Galecki all were great - I had seen these 4 performers before - but had not seen IVAN SERGEI in anything before - the guy was fantastic - funny as hell - a great looking guy - correct me if I'm wrong, but is this guy a future movie star or am I nuts?.
Ricci is a 16 year old bombshell who moves in with her gay half-brother.Excellent writing, a story that never gets too caught up in itself, and a whole array of interesting characters make Roos' directorial debut quite a spectacle.Granted, the self-effacing narration can be guilty of indulging in the very things it derides, but these indulgences work.