Review of The House of Yes (1997) by Diana S — 06 Jun 2005

I do love Parker Posey ("Blade: Trinity"). Though she may not always be the prettiest girl in the room, she is always the most fascinating. And The House of Yes is no exception.

Posey stars as Jackie O, the twin sister in a house of unbalanced members, of which she is the most unstable. She's just been released from the hospital when her twin brother, with whom she is exceptionally close, returns home with his new fiance. Her mother and younger brother feel this event will push Jackie back over the edge. As the evening unfolds, family secrets are aired and the humor becomes very, very dark.

Yes is based on the play by Wendy MacLeod who also wrote for the T.V. series Popular. As an adaptation, Yes does very well on the screen, though almost all of the action is set in family's house. The real drama is between the characters, in the dialogue, in the way they interact with one another.

Many things surprised me during the movie, and I'm not just talking about the plot twists. Besides Posey, the other four cast members turn in excellent performances, most unexpectedly in the form of Tori Spelling ("50 Ways to Leave Your Lover") and Freddie Prinze Jr. ("Scooby Doo 2"). Most unexpected.

But this film is a very good rent.