The Opposite of Sex (1997)

[7]

Christina Ricci definitively sheds her child-star persona in The Opposite of Sex, playing a snarky teen who runs away from mother and crashes with her older gay half-brother (Martin Donovan). After she seduces his naïve young lover (Ivan Sergei) and becomes pregnant, she hits the road with her baby daddy, forcing the half-brother and his bitter sister-in-law (Lisa Kudrow) into hot pursuit.

The Opposite of Sex, written and directed by Don Roos, is a dark comedy that delivers an engaging performance from Ricci. Despite her bitchiness toward other characters, her guiding narration manages to soften her edges for the audience a bit. Lisa Kudrow is even more entertaining as the intrusive sister of Donovan’s deceased former boyfriend. Johnny Galecki (Roseanne) and William Lee Scott are memorable as scheming ex-lovers of the younger cast members.

If there’s a weak link in the entire film, it’s Martin Donovan’s driftwood-like performance. Granted, his character is still in mourning for his former partner and prone to let people walk all over him. But Donovan adheres to the “less is more” philosophy so strictly, he’s almost invisible.