|
For
a while, I thought the makers of "The Oh in
Ohio" were trying to make a clean naughty film.
Parker Posey plays a frigid woman and Paul Rudd
plays here school teacher husband. For quite
a while the film is rather tame and reserved.
But eventually the film goes for full on, NC-17
style raunchy humor and we realize that what
the film is doing here is making the film that
John Waters should have made instead of "A
Dirty Shame." There is some really funny
stuff. I'm not saying that the film can maintain
the level of hilarity that it has in the first
2/3rds or so, but I am saying that this is probably
the funniest sex comedy since the 70's, at least
since "American
Pie."
The
real reason to see the movie is Parker Posey.
She gets to go from one extreme to another in
the film and watching her complete this arc
is quite delightful. At first you think she
is going to be playing against type as the film
has her portraying a frigid but sweet business
woman who is neither acerbic or acidic nor is
she a prude, really. But eventually the film
aims for all out sexual raunchy comedy and Posey
delivers in abundance. She's always been a cult
favorite and here she displays the talents that
have made intelligent, open-minded, and eccentric
film viewers love her so much.
The secondary female cast is awesome as well.
One of the real reasons to see the film is Liza
Mennelli's first film appearance since 1991!
Ms. Mennelli is a real hoot here. She's playing
an eccentric and unusual woman and she does
so with sheer brilliance hitting the perfect
note for the role and the film. What a treat
for her fans. And then there's the adorable
Sarah Polley who doesn't have much to do here
but is given the most he-lar-e-ous line in the
film. This zinger, about Kathy Lee Gifford,
will make you incontinent. Seriously, you'll
piss your self as if it were your first day
at the nursing home!
While "The Oh in Ohio" does eventually go too
far over the top and does drag a bit towards
the end, it is still one hell of a funny movie.
You can forgive the film all of its silliness
even more easily when you consider the unusual
and unexpected, albeit abrupt, ending. Consider
how this film goes against the traditional Hollywood
mainstream and you'll realize just how daring
and bold it is. Ok, so it isn't John Waters.
But it sure the fuck is a lot more funny that
his films from the last decade have been.
Notes:
Also with Danny Devito, Mischa Barton, Miranda
Baily, Keith David (not David Keith), and Robert
John Burke.
Bailey is one of the film's producers.
Set in Cleveland but filmed mainly in L.A.
I did notice one goof when Posey and Devito
are going down a water slide at one point. They
start on a white foam rubber floatie but it
is purple when the come down the slide and land
in the pool.
Viewed at SXSW in March of 2006 at the Paramount
Theater where the film had its world premiere
with my friend Johnny Oh!
Report Card
Script:
B+
Acting:
A
Cinematography\Lighting:
C+
Special Effects\Make Up: A-
Music:
C
Final
Grade: B+
|
