The Opposite of Sex

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Don Roos directs. Hubert Taczanowski behind the camera. Mason Daring scores. David Codron cuts. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 128 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
• 2Directed by Don Roos, shot by Hubert Taczanowski. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 3Original score by Mason Daring. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 4Editor David Codron shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 5Christina Ricci and Martin Donovan and Lisa Kudrow carry the top of the cast.
• 6Marketing tagline: "You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll be offended".
• 7IMDB entry: tt0120777 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
• 8Classified under 8 themes, including "dying and death", "louisiana", "stepfather", "teacher".

The technical file

Cinematography

Hubert Taczanowski

Original score

Mason Daring

Editing

David Codron

Production design

Michael Paul Clausen

Costume design

Peter Mitchell

Makeup / hair

Brigitte Hennech

Sound

Gerry Lentz

Stunt coordinator

Gary J. Wayton

Runtime

106 min · 1h 46m

Aspect ratio (typical)

1.37:1 (Academy)

Status

Released

Budget

$5,000,000

Box office

$5,879,254

Return

118% of budget

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

R

IMDB

The Opposite of Sex (1998) ↗

Also by

Don Roos

• 
  The Other Woman

  2010 · ★ 6.2
• 
  Bounce

  2000 · ★ 5.8
• 
  Happy Endings

  2005 · ★ 5.6

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  The Opposite of Sex Trailer

  Trailer

Community reviews

What people are saying

• Zoro DPiece2018-05-28
  ★ 7/10

  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.

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• 

  Rysher Entertainment

  US

• DA

  David Kirkpatrick Productions

• MI

  Michael Besman Productions

Key crew

• ProducerMichael Besman
• ProducerDavid Paul Kirkpatrick
• EditorDavid Codron
• Dialogue EditorTrevor Jolly
• Dialogue EditorAndre Bacha
• Dialogue EditorArthur Farkas
• Production Sound MixerJon Ailetcher
• Set DecorationKristin Peterson
• Production DesignMichael Paul Clausen
• Sound Effects EditorMark Choi
• Script SupervisorRebecca Robertson
• Costume DesignPeter Mitchell
• Music SupervisorRandy Gerston
• Steadicam OperatorKenn Ferro
• First Assistant Sound EditorRickley W. Dumm
• Transportation CoordinatorBrian N. Everett
• Stunt CoordinatorGary J. Wayton
• Sound EditorMark Allen
• Sound Effects EditorScott Sanders
• Sound Effects EditorFrank Gaeta
• Sound Re-Recording MixerGerry Lentz
• Transportation CaptainMichael Locke
• Still PhotographerBob Akester
• Production CoordinatorAndrew J. Sacks

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• dying and death
• louisiana
• stepfather
• teacher
• teenage girl
• death
• lgbt
• gay theme

Release history · US

When it landed

• Premiere1998-01-22R· Sundance Film Festival
• Theatrical1998-05-22R

Also known as

International titles

• Lo opuesto al sexoES
• Nem ér a nememHU
• 對抗性誘惑TW