Back home

The Opposite of Sex

211 votes

Producing House

A 16-year-old girl visits her gay half-brother and ends up seducing his boyfriend, thus wreaking havoc on all of their lives.

movie

Status: Released

Released Date: 1998-05-22

Runtime: 105 mins

Director: Don Roos

Writer: Don Roos

Spoken language: English

Genres: Comedy, Drama

Original title: The Opposite of Sex

Production Companies: Rysher Entertainment, David Kirkpatrick Productions, Michael Besman Productions

Production Countries: United States of America

Reviews

T

TheMovieGuru1993
Possibly one of the funniest satirical stabs at sexuality, AIDS and LGBT relationships. Don Roos known for television direction and script writing tries his hand at a theatrical film. The movie stars Christina Ricci, Martin Donovan, Lisa Kudrow and Ivan Sergei. Sixteen year old Dede Truitt (Ricci) is the opposite of sweet sixteen, politically incorrect and acid-tongued. When her stepfather passes away she runs away from home, and pays her half brother Bill (who is a gay teacher) a visit. Unaware that he has an alternative lifestyle, she meets his significant other, Matt (Sergei). Dede takes a liking to Matt and seduces him into having sex with her, much to the dismay of Bill (Donovan) and Lucia Dalury (Kudrow), who is the sister of Bill's former boyfriend Tom who passed away. Dede then tells them she is pregnant and Matt is the father, the two elope and run away with Bill's safety deposit money and Tom's ashes. The chase begins, to add more tension Bill has to deal with Matt's other boyfriend. The grunge looking flamboyant Jason Bock (Johnny Galecki), who slanders Bill by falsely accusing him of molestation. Bill at risk of losing his job, must track down Dede and Matt in order to clear his name. Meanwhile, Lucia who is a repressed old maid is disgusted by the thought of sex. With the help of a Carl Tippet (Lyle Lovett) they track down Dede and Matt only to discover that she has hooked up with Randy, a somewhat religious old friend of hers whose beliefs clash with Matt. The two then make a run for it, leaving Bill, Matt and Lucia concerned about Dede's well-being. Meanwhile, Bill is hounded by the media and tabloids thanks to Jason's false accusation much to the frustration of Lucia. With the help of law enforcement they are able to track down Dede and Randy at a motel. Dede angry that Randy is wasting her money coldly breaks up with him, causing him to be physically abusive. They get into an altercation which ends with Dede and Randy fighting on the bed and her firearm going off. Matt then arrives to the motel and after Dede tells him she accidentally killed Randy they flee. With no other choice other than to stay at the motel Lucia and Bill check-in. Bill and Lucia then have a falling out after learning that Tom's AIDS was the result of gay sex. Just then Carl arrives at Lucia's room, and both find themselves in the heat of the moment. Lucia finally is able to get over her disgust of sexuality, but is unable to leave Bill alone. Bill learns he is suspended without pay, and is later surprised by Jason who has a message for him. Bill frustrated with the events and Jason's false accusation painfully forces him to reveal the location of Dede and Matt. Upon learning that Matt and Dede are in Canada, Bill and Lucia are able to track them down. Dede frustrated that Jason told Bill where they were located then goes into labor. It is then that Bill, Lucia, Dede, Matt and Jason must all put their differences aside and help Dede in her time of need. Dede gives birth to a healthy baby boy, but then shows signs of postpartum hemorrhaging. The others are relived to learn that Dede and the baby are okay. Dede and Matt are then brought back to answer questions about their actions. Dede ends up doing time in jail for Randy's death, but a lack of evidence and Randy's corrupt religious beliefs play in her favor. Lucia then discovers she is pregnant and gives birth to a healthy baby boy. Matt and Bill go their separate ways and Bill ends up dating Dede's parole officer. Deciding her baby will be happy with her brother she gives him full custody. Dede then realizes that she never wanted to get involved with sex, because of its consequences (disease, pregnancy and worst of all relationships). The movie ends with Dede stating that she was a changed person after that summer. While not a financial success, despite being produced on a reasonable budget and being produced by a studio that was running into financial issues the movie does manage to get a few good laughs out of its audience. Christina Ricci proves her versatility in the transition from kid-friendly films to more adult fare. Her portrayal of the acid-tongued Dede Truitt is wickedly delightful. Lisa Kudrow's Lucia is our opposite to the happy somewhat cheerful Phoebe Buffay, as the acid-tongued spinster who is sexually repressed she sells this role. Martin Donovan, Ivan Sergei and Johnny Galecki are all charming as well. If you like satirical films and can laugh at human sexuality, then I highly recommend this film. Sony Pictures Classics was generous enough to take over this film after Rysher Entertainment gave it up due to financial woes. The company may not have been able to top major studios but it certainly went out with a bang thanks to this film. Alright, I think you've seen enough now go watch the film.
2018-05-28

Recommendations

IDENTITEAZE
4.2

IDENTITEAZE

2024-06-24

Two strangers wake up in a mysterious white room with no way out or memory of their past. The two mu

Summer
2.4

Summer

2017-09-13

During a hot summer in rural England, a sheep shearer in his late adolescence struggles with a growi

Sauvage
3.3

Sauvage

2018-08-29

Léo, a 22-year-old homeless sex worker searches for genuine love on the streets of Strasbourg.

Apocalypse After
2.8

Apocalypse After

2018-05-09

An abandoned seaside resort. The shooting for a fantasy film about the end of an era wraps up. Two w

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
3.8

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

1958-08-29

An alcoholic ex-football player drinks his days away, having failed to come to terms with his sexual

Breathless
3.8

Breathless

1960-03-16

A small-time thief steals a car and impulsively murders a motorcycle policeman. Wanted by the author

The White Sound
3.5

The White Sound

2001-12-31

Lukas, a young schizophrenic man, has to deal with a new town, a new relationship, and the paranoia

Desert Hearts
3.5

Desert Hearts

1985-10-01

While waiting for her divorce papers, a repressed literature professor finds herself unexpectedly at

Beyond Silence
3.5

Beyond Silence

1996-12-18

Beyond Silence is about a family and a young girl’s coming of age story. This German film looks into

Snow Cake
3.6

Snow Cake

2006-09-08

A drama focused on the friendship between a high-functioning autistic woman and a man who is traumat

Mambo Italiano
3

Mambo Italiano

2003-06-06

When an Italian man comes out of the closet, it affects both his life and his crazy family.

Summer Storm
3.4

Summer Storm

2004-09-02

Tobi and Achim, the pride of the local crew club, have been the best of friends for years and are co

Cockles and Muscles
3

Cockles and Muscles

2005-03-30

Crustacés et coquillages is a fresh French comedy film with numerous surprise turnarounds and about

Leaving Las Vegas
3.6

Leaving Las Vegas

1995-10-27

Ben Sanderson, an alcoholic Hollywood screenwriter who lost everything because of his drinking, arri

Bend It Like Beckham
3.2

Bend It Like Beckham

2002-04-11

Jess Bhamra, the daughter of a strict Indian couple in London, is not permitted to play organized so

As It Is in Heaven
3.6

As It Is in Heaven

2004-09-03

A musical romantic tragedy about a famous composer who moves back to his small hometown after having

My Own Private Idaho
3.5

My Own Private Idaho

1991-02-01

In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henry IV," Mike Waters is a hustler afflicted with narcol

Bandyta
2.9

Bandyta

1997-11-07

Shipped off to a Romanian orphanage to finish his sentence, a British criminal finds romance but als

7 Virgins
3

7 Virgins

2005-10-14

Tano is 16-years-old and is already sitting in jail. In 48 hours he’s a free man and off to the wedd

The Seventh Seal
4.1

The Seventh Seal

1957-02-16

When disillusioned Swedish knight Antonius Block returns home from the Crusades to find his country