FILM REVIEW: THE OH IN OHIO

By Michael Wilmington

Chicago Tribune Movie Critic

2 stars

A C-sex comedy with a near A-list cast - at least in terms of talent - "The Oh in Ohio" is one of those movies that promises much but doesn't deliver. Despite a lot of misplaced talent, this movie is as silly and forced as its title.

A pity. After all, there aren't that many independent American film comedies set in Cleveland revolving around the theme of sexual dysfunction, and we might have liked to see this one, by longtime commercial director Billy Kent and writer Adam Wierzbianski, try to establish a higher mark. It doesn't.

Instead, "The Oh in Ohio" archly tells the story of a married yuppie couple who break up because of a lack of respect for the hubby and a lack of orgasms on the wife's part. Both take lovers and search for new sexual horizons, which they find in unlikely places, with erratically entertaining results.

If the story sounds dubious - and it is - the cast assembled by Kent and his team is impressive. Bouncing across the screen with a barrage of bawdy antics that range from amusingly naughty to embarrassingly gross are indie queen Parker Posey, heading the roster as spiffy Cleveland public relations agent Priscilla Chase; Paul Rudd as Jack, her shaggy biology teacher mate; Danny DeVito as Wayne, Priscilla's local-celeb lover; Mischa Barton as Kristen, Jack's self-absorbed student/lover; and Keith David as the nervous sports coach at Jack's school.

Firing off a blowzy cameo is Liza Minnelli as over-the-top masturbation guru Alyssa Donahue. Blond bombshell Heather Graham goes unbilled for another cameo as Priscilla's lesbian lover. (Maybe the rest of the cast should have followed Graham's example.)

Kent and Wierzbianski are obviously trying to mine Farrelly brothers territory here. But this movie, unlike "There's Something About Mary," is fairly tasteless without being particularly funny. Most of its gags are better on premise than execution, like the ones involving onanism by cell phone and an "American Beauty"-style affair without agony or ecstasy.

Posey has become a diva of this type of movie ("The House of Yes" is another example), and although she shows off fine cheekbones and athletic comedy chops, it's a waste of her ability. Rudd is somewhat convincing but unappealing; David's too jumpy, Minnelli's too "up." Most of the other actors press the comedy buttons too hard.

"Oh in Ohio" keeps trying to swim along with the contemporary crude and lewd sex-comedy currents, never rising above nervous-giggle level. But the movie does have one surprisingly affecting performance. Playing an unlikely Don Juan, DeVito gives the movie something it doesn't have elsewhere: warmth and likability. Since he doesn't often get cast in this kind of role (a friendly Casanova with a custom-made love pool), "Oh in Ohio" can at least boast that it stretched the pint-size maestro's career in unusual directions.

"The Oh in Ohio"

Directed by Billy Kent; written by Adam Wierzbianski; photographed by Ramsey Nickell; edited by Paul Bertino and Michael R. Miller; production designed by Martina Buckley; music by Bruno Coon, Todd Homme and Michael Muhlfriedel; produced by Miranda Bailey, Francey Grace and Amy Salko Robertson. A Cyan Pictures release; opens Friday, Aug. 11. Running time: 1:28. No MPAA rating. Adult (for language, sensuality and partial nudity).

Priscilla Chase - Parker Posey

Jack Chase - Paul Rudd

Wayne - Danny DeVito

Kristen Taylor - Mischa Barton

Alyssa Donahue - Liza Minnelli

Coach - Keith David