The Opposite of Sex

R

Released May 22, 1998

1 hr. 45 min.

Comedy

Drama

LGBTQ+

List

81%

43 Reviews

Tomatometer

60%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

After her stepfather dies, 16-year-old Dede (Christina Ricci) moves in with her gay half-brother Bill, (Martin Donovan). Already pregnant, Dede seduces Bill's partner, Matt (Ivan Sergei), and convinces him the child is his. The couple steals $10,000 from Bill and runs off. But when an ex-student of Bill's -- who's also Matt's ex-lover -- accuses Bill of molestation, he must track down Dede and Matt with the help of Matt's sister, Lucia (Lisa Kudrow), to salvage his reputation.

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Critics Consensus

The Opposite of Sex smartly lightens a bitter story with sharp insights and strong dialogue - as well as a startlingly mature performance from former child actor Christina Ricci.

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Audience Member

Dede is 16 years old and her stepfather has died She moves in with her gay half-brother Bill to get away from her mom But she ends up seducing Bill's partner Matt Dede is also pregnant so she pretends the baby is Matt's Both of them end up stealing $100,000 in the process To make things more dicey an ex-student of Bill's and also Matt's ex accuses him of inappropriate behavior He tracks down both Dede and Matt with the help of his sister, Lucia to save face Christina Ricci, Lisa Kudrow, Johnny Galecki, and Ivan Sergei make quite a cast This is one of Ricci's spicer roles, this was a showcase for her moving into more adult areas as an actress She attempts to break the fourth wall being the snarky narrator yet she has no heart of gold This turns into a chase film and there's no denying there's quite a number of eye brow raising moments when it comes to the dialogue being so casual, some racial slurs, and stereotypes So yeah today lots of this wouldn't fly as it was pretty provocative even 25 years ago Even it's anti politically correct attitude feels jarring But director Don Roos' script is funny with lots of zingers Weirdly Ricci's character disappears through half the film Half of this is funny but so serious so the tones are a bit more conflicting Most want the opposite of sex; it can be destructive, crazy, dangerous even kill But there are pros as well as cons particularly when it comes to our emotions Ricci is really good here; it's just that the material needed to be balanced better

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/23/23

Full Review

Thomas M

The best filmmaking debut ever from Don Roos!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/25/22

Full Review

Audience Member

some of the worst dialog i've seen in a long time. No wonder it killed its studio.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Superbly written & unpredictable dark comedy features Ginsu-sharp dialogue. Ricci is deliciously wicked & Donovan is stoically sure, but it’s Kudrow who gives her career-best performance - easily the film’s acting MVP. #nitrosMovieChallenge

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/18/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Uma boa trama, eficientemente narrada, bem entrecortada, mas foi tão entediante e desnecessário, que soou chato… Os 10 minutos finais foi mais legalzinho que todo filme, e o prologo final da protagonista, define bem muitos adolescentes e esse momento conturbado da vida deles...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

George M

Christina Ricci grows up in this movie, she's a long way from the Addams' Family mansion!

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/02/20

Full Review

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Don Roos

Director

Christina Ricci

Dede Truitt

Martin Donovan

Bill Truitt

Lisa Kudrow

Ludia DeLury

Lyle Lovett

Sheriff Carl Tippett

Johnny Galecki

Jason Bock

Show Less Cast & Crew

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77%

64%

Your Friends & Neighbors

79%

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44%

65%

Foxfire

55%

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C-

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Globe and Mail

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 25, 2003

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Watching the movie is like sitting through a film in front of a row of wisecracking cult movie fans. It's also sometimes very funny.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

Roos knows his way around the ideas of homosexuality as well as the human condition. He’s able to tug at the right heartstrings while dousing his screenplays with enough humor to keep them afloat.

Rated: 4/4

Jan 7, 2023

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

As the movie goes on, the meaning of the title comes into focus.

Rated: A-

Sep 2, 2022

Full Review

Joe Lozito

Big Picture Big Sound

Rated: 1.5/4

Jul 14, 2007

Full Review

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Synopsis

After her stepfather dies, 16-year-old Dede (Christina Ricci) moves in with her gay half-brother Bill, (Martin Donovan). Already pregnant, Dede seduces Bill's partner, Matt (Ivan Sergei), and convinces him the child is his. The couple steals $10,000 from Bill and runs off. But when an ex-student of Bill's -- who's also Matt's ex-lover -- accuses Bill of molestation, he must track down Dede and Matt with the help of Matt's sister, Lucia (Lisa Kudrow), to salvage his reputation.

Director: Don Roos
Executive Producer: Steve Danton, Jim Lotfi
Screenwriter: Don Roos
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Rysher Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 22, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 28, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.4M
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby SR, Surround
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

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