Tuesday Mar. 28, 2006, 5:52pm PT
The Oh in Ohio
By JOE LEYDON
If the Farrelly Brothers were to film their version of a
naughty, bawdy dinner-theater trifle from the '70s, the
result likely would resemble "The Oh in Ohio." Amusing
indie comedy blithely blurs the line between risque and
raunchy, often to hilarious effect. With shrewd marketing,
pic could click with adult auds during theatrical run, and
make a bigger splash as homevid fare.
The titular "Oh" stands for orgasm, a state of sexual
arousal that has remained consistently elusive for Priscilla
(Parker Posey) throughout a decade of marriage to Jack
(Paul Rudd). And while Priscilla claims she is perfectly
satisfied with their lovemaking, Jack is growing increasingly frustrated by his inability to fully
excite his wife.
Worse, he's also nearing premature burn-out as a high school teacher -- making him all the more
vulnerable to the alluring appeal of Kristen (Mischa Barton), a willowy student who wants to ease
his pain.
While Jack grapples with temptation -- far less successfully, it should be noted, than Kevin
Spacey's character in "American Beauty" -- Priscilla seeks help from a flamboyant sex guru (Liza
Minnelli) who advises a do-it-yourself approach. Priscilla normally channels most of her time and
energy into her PR job of attracting industry to Cleveland (where pic was shot). But, after breaking
down and buying a vibrator from a slinky lesbian sex-shop salesclerk (unbilled Heather Graham),
she becomes addicted to self-stimulation, to the point of finding inventive new uses for her
vibrating cell phone. Latter twist cues an uproarious set piece that plays like equal parts soft-core
porn and "I Love Lucy" while showcasing Posey's talent for physical comedy.
When Jack moves out of the house (and, of course, into an affair with Kristen), Priscilla finds an
unlikely Mr. Right: Larry (Danny DeVito), a paunchy and balding swimming pool mogul who's two
or three decades her senior. Despite the age difference, however, he's even better than a battery-
operated appliance when it comes to causing climaxes.
Working from clever but uneven script by Adam Wierzbianski, helmer Billy Kent relies on his
strong cast to get pic through occasional bumpy spots. DeVito gives a thoroughly engaging and
surprisingly sweet performance in a role that other thesps might have overplayed unattractively.
He cracks wise with gusto, but expresses emotion with heart. That goes a long way toward
keeping "The Oh in Ohio" on an even keel as it shifts gears in the final reels, moving from broad
farce to romantic comedy.
Posey gracefully maneuvers a tricky transition of her own, tracing an arc from uptight denial to
lusty excess to serene self-confidence. (Her final line is the perfect capper for both her character
and the pic itself.)
Rudd is at his funniest while Jack stews in discontent, spewing barbed commentary that indicates
serious self-loathing. He's also adept at infusing romantic longing with sardonic, self-deprecating
wit.
Keith David brings a touch of sly-fox mischievousness to his supporting turn as Jack's best
buddy, while Barton is appealing and poised as the mature-beyond-her-years Kristen. Minnelli
and Robert John Burke (as Kristen's father) score laughs while demonstrating how to score
maximum impact in single-scene cameos.
Overall tech package is impressive enough to suggest Priscilla would approve of pic as suitably
image-enhancing for Cleveland.
With: Heather Graham.
Camera (color), Ramsey Nickell; editors, Michael R. Miller, Paul Bertino; music, Bruno Coon;
production designer, Martina Buckley; costume designer, Bruce Finlayson; sound (Dolby Digital),
Patrick M. Griffith; assistant director, Jude Gorjanc; casting, Monica Mikkelsen. Reviewed at SXSW
Film Festival (Spotlight Premiere), Austin, Texas, March 13, 2006. Running time: 91 MIN.