Old Stuff
The House of Yes (1997)
Directed by Mark Waters
Parker Posey is the 90's "queen of the indies" and maybe someday she'll be in a film that will "break her out." "House of Yes" isn't that film. How about "House of Acting Up a Storm" as an alternate title? Posey is sorta like a Liv Tyler with range. Maybe, she should try getting into an Aerosmith video or two and see if that gets her on Hollywood's "A list."
"The House of Yes" isn't a terrible film. It's the standard filmed adaptation of a play with lot's of snappy dialogue and good portrayals of oddball characters. This doesn't save it from seeming pointless as a movie. We've seen this type of low budget film many times before, 5 actors and about the same number of sets, taking place during the course of one day, a project that actors love to be in but not as fun for the audience to watch. There's lots of "acting" going on here.
Josh Hamilton plays Posey's twin brother who is bringing his fiancee (Tori Spelling) home to meet the family. What he has failed to tell Spelling is that everyone in his family is insane. Another thing he's forgotten to tell Spelling is that he was involved in an incestuous relationship with his fraternal twin, Posey. When Spelling catches them in the act, Josh tries to pass it off like it's just an advanced form of masturbation. Venerable war-horse Genevieve Bujold is the whacked-out mom and Freddie Prinze Jr. plays the fucked up younger brother to Posey and Hamilton. Part of the problem here is the passivity of Josh Hamilton's character. He doesn't take charge of anything. Things happen to him, including sex with his Jackie Kennedy Onasis obsessed sibling. She likes to recreate the Kennedy assassination as an icky form of foreplay. Shocking: yes. Funny: I didn't think so. Meaningful: no. Recommended only to those who are "incest movie" completist. -- Rating: $3.06
Tom Graney -- copyright 1997 Hollywood Outsider