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Parker Posey stars in a sweet film about personal fulfillment and romance under the guise of broad satire. Liza
Minnelli cameos as a mistress of masturbation
Minnelli cameos as a mistress of masturbation
Oh What a Relief "It" Is:
The Oh in Ohio
8-9-06 "Knight Thoughts" web exclusive
By Richard Knight, Jr.
The Oh in Ohio
8-9-06 "Knight Thoughts" web exclusive
By Richard Knight, Jr.
A film about an uptight woman who has never had an orgasm sounds ripe with dirty comic possibilities. Something along the lines of
American Pie or John Waters’ A Dirty Shame, say. And though The Oh in Ohio, the feature debut of director Billy Kent and writer
Adam Wierzbianski has plenty of moments of the broad physical comedy one would expect, it’s the surprisingly charming treatment
of the leading character’s emotional rebirth that stays with the viewer.
Parker Posey plays Priscilla Chase, a successful businesswoman whose marriage to her emotionally dead husband Jack (Paul Rudd),
a high school biology teacher, is also about to expire. The cause of the problem, acknowledged by both parties, is Priscilla’s inability
to have an orgasm. She’s not frigid just unable to climax. After couples therapy fails, Jack moves into the garage and Priscilla tires
other avenues to deal with her problem. Never having masturbated, she decides to seek out a masturbation expert, played by Liza
Minnelli in a blonde wig and caftan in typical Liza Minnelli fashion (not a bad thing here). This scene, directly out of Fried Green
Tomatoes, finds Minnelli helping Posey to examine the center of her “female power.”
But it doesn’t do the trick so Priscilla heads for the sex toy shop and returns with a vibrator and other goodies after turning down a
forward pass by store clerk Heather Graham. Meanwhile Jack is having a tryst of his own with the worldly wise Kristen (Mischa
Barton), one of his students. Both now find their physical soul mate – though Priscilla’s unfortunately, turns out to be a handy dandy
vibrator.
After a series of low comedy scenes once Priscilla finally gets her wish, the tantalizing introduction of a romance for her is introduced
with Jack (Danny DeVito), who plays Wayne the Pool Guy, a salesman who has made a lot of money off campy commercials and
deluxe pool installations. The improbable couple (not unlike DeVito and Holly Hunter in Living Out Loud) hook up and a happy
ending would seem to be forthcoming.
Posey, who specializes in uptight shrews, is allowed to play both that and a woman who, in finding her G Spot, is now smart enough
to realize its time to give up a bit of control over the rest of her life. DeVito is charming as her would be suitor. Barton wins points
as the knowing teen and Rudd, whose role seems a carbon copy of the one that Matthew Broderick played in Election, has moments
of charm as well. There are some fine supporting performances to boot with the always welcome Keith David as the high school
coach and “this year’s therapy counselor” a standout.
Given the subject matter, this is a sweet and surprising debut.
American Pie or John Waters’ A Dirty Shame, say. And though The Oh in Ohio, the feature debut of director Billy Kent and writer
Adam Wierzbianski has plenty of moments of the broad physical comedy one would expect, it’s the surprisingly charming treatment
of the leading character’s emotional rebirth that stays with the viewer.
Parker Posey plays Priscilla Chase, a successful businesswoman whose marriage to her emotionally dead husband Jack (Paul Rudd),
a high school biology teacher, is also about to expire. The cause of the problem, acknowledged by both parties, is Priscilla’s inability
to have an orgasm. She’s not frigid just unable to climax. After couples therapy fails, Jack moves into the garage and Priscilla tires
other avenues to deal with her problem. Never having masturbated, she decides to seek out a masturbation expert, played by Liza
Minnelli in a blonde wig and caftan in typical Liza Minnelli fashion (not a bad thing here). This scene, directly out of Fried Green
Tomatoes, finds Minnelli helping Posey to examine the center of her “female power.”
But it doesn’t do the trick so Priscilla heads for the sex toy shop and returns with a vibrator and other goodies after turning down a
forward pass by store clerk Heather Graham. Meanwhile Jack is having a tryst of his own with the worldly wise Kristen (Mischa
Barton), one of his students. Both now find their physical soul mate – though Priscilla’s unfortunately, turns out to be a handy dandy
vibrator.
After a series of low comedy scenes once Priscilla finally gets her wish, the tantalizing introduction of a romance for her is introduced
with Jack (Danny DeVito), who plays Wayne the Pool Guy, a salesman who has made a lot of money off campy commercials and
deluxe pool installations. The improbable couple (not unlike DeVito and Holly Hunter in Living Out Loud) hook up and a happy
ending would seem to be forthcoming.
Posey, who specializes in uptight shrews, is allowed to play both that and a woman who, in finding her G Spot, is now smart enough
to realize its time to give up a bit of control over the rest of her life. DeVito is charming as her would be suitor. Barton wins points
as the knowing teen and Rudd, whose role seems a carbon copy of the one that Matthew Broderick played in Election, has moments
of charm as well. There are some fine supporting performances to boot with the always welcome Keith David as the high school
coach and “this year’s therapy counselor” a standout.
Given the subject matter, this is a sweet and surprising debut.
