"The OH in Ohio" (2006)
Directed By: Billy Kent
Starring: Parker Posey, Danny DeVito, Paul Rudd, Mischa Barton, Miranda Bailey, Keith David, & Liza Minnelli
MPAA Rating: "R" (for sexual content, language and some drug use)
Parker Posey is considered by many people to be the queen of independent films. She is one of the very few actresses who have become famous just by doing these types of movies. But, lately, she has taken to starring in more big-budget films, i.e. "Superman Returns" and "Blade: Trinity". Now, Posey is a great actress and I always enjoy watching her work, but I prefer to see her in simpler movies. "The OH in Ohio" seemed like the movie I had been waiting for since 2003's "A Mighty Wind". It was a low-budget film that was more focused on its plot and its characters than special effects and mainstream Hollywood ideas. I was very excited for this movie and had been anticipating it for quite some time, but it did not come to any of my local theaters so I had to wait for DVD. After plenty of anticipation, I finally got the chance to see "The OH in Ohio" and my reaction well, it was "Hmm, it was okay." Wait! What? How could this be? "The OH in Ohio" is ultimately a fun, yet awkward sex comedy that fails to click as well as it should, but still works because of its talented cast and its intriguing premise.
Priscilla Chase (Posey) is a woman who has led a rather dull, uneventful life. She is married to Jack (Rudd) who seems to be the perfect husband. In fact, from the outside, every aspect of Priscilla's life is perfect. She has the perfect career and the perfect house. But, there is one thing that isn't so perfect: her sex life. Priscilla has never had an orgasm ever. She ends up visiting a sex therapist named Alyssa Donahue (Minnelli) and a whole new door is opened. Soon, Priscilla begins to experiment with countless forms of sex, even going so far as to having sex with the female cashier at a sex store. But, Priscilla is not the only person having a sexual awakening. Jack, a high school teacher, begins an affair with his beautiful, young student, Kristen (Barton), who wants to help him to live his life to the fullest. As the couple begins to spiral away from each other in directions they never saw coming, they come to understand that, if they want to be truly happy, there marriage may never last.
The cast in "The OH in Ohio" is filled with very competent actors and actresses and it definitely shows. Parker Posey owns the screen, winning us other with her genuine naivety. She comes off as naive without sounding silly and unintelligent. Paul Rudd gives a dreary, flat performance. This sounds like an insult, but it is not. Rudd's character was dreary and flat and his performance easily encompassed that. It worked. Mischa Barton, from "The O.C." fame, surprised me. I expected her to rebound from being killed off of the popular television series by doing some flirty, clichéd romantic comedy or some brainless slasher flick (where she would, of course, play the lead who manages to survive some brutal killer while all of her dumb friends become fodder). But, she took a different route, starring in this little sex comedy in a supporting role. In my opinion, she proved that she could act in "The O.C." so it didn't surprise me that she did well here. Danny DeVito plays Wayne the Pool Guy, a part that I never saw working. DeVito, however, adds layers to the part, allowing it to transcend the clichéd stereotype it could have been.
First and foremost, let me say that the idea of Parker Posey and Danny DeVito being romantically involved (especially on an intimate level) makes me want to vomit. The romance, which is unexpected, is awkward and strange. When they kissed, I winced. When they spoke about having sex, I was repulsed. It just didn't work for me. I understand what the movie was going for--that she could only find true happiness with the person that wasn't her "perfect companion", thus allowing her to be happy and content but, at the same time, eliminating her perfect facade. I respected the message but Danny DeVito? The man who got drunk and was cradled by Rosie O'Donnell on "The View"? It was just weird. But, in all fairness, "The OH in Ohio" does a very nice job in creating interesting characters that all seem realistic and placing them in intriguing situations that are certainly comical. Overall, it's a fun movie that, though it kept me entertained and kept me laughing, was slightly disappointing. I expected this to be a great comedy. What I got was well, it was just an average comedy.
Final Thought: Though merely an average comedy, "The OH in Ohio" is effective in being a fun sex comedy with a nice cast.
Overall Rating: 6/10 (B)
Directed By: Billy Kent
Starring: Parker Posey, Danny DeVito, Paul Rudd, Mischa Barton, Miranda Bailey, Keith David, & Liza Minnelli
MPAA Rating: "R" (for sexual content, language and some drug use)
Parker Posey is considered by many people to be the queen of independent films. She is one of the very few actresses who have become famous just by doing these types of movies. But, lately, she has taken to starring in more big-budget films, i.e. "Superman Returns" and "Blade: Trinity". Now, Posey is a great actress and I always enjoy watching her work, but I prefer to see her in simpler movies. "The OH in Ohio" seemed like the movie I had been waiting for since 2003's "A Mighty Wind". It was a low-budget film that was more focused on its plot and its characters than special effects and mainstream Hollywood ideas. I was very excited for this movie and had been anticipating it for quite some time, but it did not come to any of my local theaters so I had to wait for DVD. After plenty of anticipation, I finally got the chance to see "The OH in Ohio" and my reaction well, it was "Hmm, it was okay." Wait! What? How could this be? "The OH in Ohio" is ultimately a fun, yet awkward sex comedy that fails to click as well as it should, but still works because of its talented cast and its intriguing premise.
Priscilla Chase (Posey) is a woman who has led a rather dull, uneventful life. She is married to Jack (Rudd) who seems to be the perfect husband. In fact, from the outside, every aspect of Priscilla's life is perfect. She has the perfect career and the perfect house. But, there is one thing that isn't so perfect: her sex life. Priscilla has never had an orgasm ever. She ends up visiting a sex therapist named Alyssa Donahue (Minnelli) and a whole new door is opened. Soon, Priscilla begins to experiment with countless forms of sex, even going so far as to having sex with the female cashier at a sex store. But, Priscilla is not the only person having a sexual awakening. Jack, a high school teacher, begins an affair with his beautiful, young student, Kristen (Barton), who wants to help him to live his life to the fullest. As the couple begins to spiral away from each other in directions they never saw coming, they come to understand that, if they want to be truly happy, there marriage may never last.
The cast in "The OH in Ohio" is filled with very competent actors and actresses and it definitely shows. Parker Posey owns the screen, winning us other with her genuine naivety. She comes off as naive without sounding silly and unintelligent. Paul Rudd gives a dreary, flat performance. This sounds like an insult, but it is not. Rudd's character was dreary and flat and his performance easily encompassed that. It worked. Mischa Barton, from "The O.C." fame, surprised me. I expected her to rebound from being killed off of the popular television series by doing some flirty, clichéd romantic comedy or some brainless slasher flick (where she would, of course, play the lead who manages to survive some brutal killer while all of her dumb friends become fodder). But, she took a different route, starring in this little sex comedy in a supporting role. In my opinion, she proved that she could act in "The O.C." so it didn't surprise me that she did well here. Danny DeVito plays Wayne the Pool Guy, a part that I never saw working. DeVito, however, adds layers to the part, allowing it to transcend the clichéd stereotype it could have been.
First and foremost, let me say that the idea of Parker Posey and Danny DeVito being romantically involved (especially on an intimate level) makes me want to vomit. The romance, which is unexpected, is awkward and strange. When they kissed, I winced. When they spoke about having sex, I was repulsed. It just didn't work for me. I understand what the movie was going for--that she could only find true happiness with the person that wasn't her "perfect companion", thus allowing her to be happy and content but, at the same time, eliminating her perfect facade. I respected the message but Danny DeVito? The man who got drunk and was cradled by Rosie O'Donnell on "The View"? It was just weird. But, in all fairness, "The OH in Ohio" does a very nice job in creating interesting characters that all seem realistic and placing them in intriguing situations that are certainly comical. Overall, it's a fun movie that, though it kept me entertained and kept me laughing, was slightly disappointing. I expected this to be a great comedy. What I got was well, it was just an average comedy.
Final Thought: Though merely an average comedy, "The OH in Ohio" is effective in being a fun sex comedy with a nice cast.
Overall Rating: 6/10 (B)