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"I Remember My
First Time With A
Vibrator" |
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Directed by Billy Kent -
Written by Adam
Wierzbianski, Billy
Kent, Sarah Bird
Starring Parker Posey,
Paul Rudd, Mischa
Barton, Danny DeVito
Distributed by Cyan -
2006 - 88mins - Rated NR |
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Richard Propes'
Review
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B+ |
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Parker Posey offers an award-worthy performance as... |
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Priscilla Chase,
beautiful and successful, appears to have it all...a perfect job, a
beautiful home and an attractive husband.
The only problem is sex.
Well, okay, that's a bit deceiving. Sex isn't REALLY a problem for
Priscilla. She's perfectly satisfied, she proclaims to her husband
Jack, despite the fact that she's gone through 10 years of marriage
without having an orgasm.
Are you cringing? Thinking to yourself "Oh my god, not another lame
sex comedy."
Think again.
"The OH in Ohio" is a surprisingly witty, fresh and tender comedy
starring Parker Posey and Paul Rudd as a couple potentially torn apart
by, well, their inability to come together.
Posey, long an indie fave and a vastly underrated actress, is a
revelation as Priscilla. Quite easily, Priscilla could have been
turned into a caricature in less capable hands. Posey, however,
presents a woman who is professional, strong, capable, tender,
vulnerable, funny, sweet and constantly believable. In a performance
deserving of Posey's second Independent Spirit nomination (her first
was as Best Lead Actress in "Personal Velocity"), Posey reveals a side
to her acting repertoire previously unseen, and her ability to combine
a sweet, comic vulnerability with her well known gift for quirky
comedy provides a depth to Priscilla that brings the character
hilariously to life without resorting to histrionics.
Likewise, as Jack, Rudd manages to balance a character whose choices
may be more difficult for an audience to swallow. Jack, a burned out
high school biology teacher, begins a relationship with an 18-year-old
student (Mischa Barton). The relationship, while obviously
controversial given the student/teacher relationship, is played out
more from the angle of two mature individuals making a decision that
could be right or could just as well be wrong. Somewhat reminiscent of
Spike Lee's treatment of the subject matter in "25th Hour," the
relationship here feels deeper, more authentic, more honest and,
ultimately, more misguided than immoral. Rudd successfully wades
through the emotional ambiguity of his character by underplaying Jack
without the potential emotional peaks and valleys so readily available
in the situations he faces. He is victim and victor, parent and child
all wrapped up in one.
"The OH in Ohio" is blessed with a rich authenticity down to the most
minute role. As Kristen, the aforementioned student of Jack's
affection, Mischa Barton brings to mind Anna Paquin's student of "25th
Hour." As seems to be the tone for the film, Barton underplays the
character and avoids the obvious pitfalls of appearing seductive,
manipulative, victimized and/or careless. Instead, Kristen is simply
deeply, deeply human. Her performance may, in fact, make you
uncomfortable with just how comfortable you are watching it.
While Jack falls for the young, attractive high school student,
Priscilla ends up orgasmic over "Wayne, the Pool Man," beautifully
played by Danny DeVito. An odd couple at best, their relationship is
one of sweetness, tenderness, understanding and innocence. Priscilla
and Wayne do not "look" physically compatible, but they "feel"
compatible. DeVito, in a relatively brief role, practically transcends
the screen. This type of relationship, so often played for laughs,
certainly offers natural humor. Yet, the humor is never at the expense
of the characters. Instead, it is the natural humor that arises out of
that ever so uncertain dance we call a relationship. Simple scenes of
Priscilla and Wayne hugging each other, holding each other, looking at
each other and, at times, playing with each other are powerful because
we are watching the power of nonverbal acting between Posey and DeVito.
Liza Minnelli has only a single scene as a sex guru, however, she
makes the most her scene. Likewise, an uncredited Heather Graham shows
up as an adult store clerk whose two brief scenes play perfectly
largely due to Graham's innocent "girl next door" looks. As
Priscilla's best friend, Miranda Bailey gets quite a bit out of what
is essentially a one-note character.
"The OH in Ohio" is directed by Billy Kent based upon a script by
first-time screenwriter Adam Wierzbianski. While the film, at times,
seems to ricochet too quickly between scenes of great, almost maudlin
sentimentality and dark, shallow humor, "The OH in Ohio" frequently
works largely due to the cohesive chemistry between the characters.
Instead of going for easy laughs, Kent wisely allows the inevitable
humor of relationships to dominate the action. The cinematography is
simple, yet fresh and the film's production design complements the
action nicely.
"The OH in Ohio" is the exception. Defying the stereotypes often
present in both romantic and sexy comedies, "The OH in Ohio" is an
intelligent, insightful, funny and fresh comedy about sex, love and
all the objects that come between us. |
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© Written by Richard Propes -
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