The House of Yes (1997)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Mark Waters

Writers:

Wendy MacLeod (play)
Mark Waters (adaptation)

Release Date:

10 October 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Enter at your own risk.

Plot:

A mentally unbalanced young woman (who thinks she's Jackie Kennedy) flips into a murderous rage when her brother returns home to reveal he's engaged.

Plot Keywords:

John F Kennedy | Thanksgiving | Storm | Kennedy Assassination | Family Relationships

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Parker Posey	...	'Jackie-O' Pascal
Josh Hamilton	...	Marty Pascal
Tori Spelling	...	Lesly
Freddie Prinze Jr.	...	Anthony Pascal
Geneviève Bujold	...	Mrs. Pascal (as Genevieve Bujold)
Rachael Leigh Cook	...	Young 'Jackie-O'
David Love	...	Young Marty (voice)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, perverse sex-related situations, and an image of violence.

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Iceland:12 | USA:R (certificate #35075) | Australia:MA | France:U | Italy:VM14 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario)

Company:

Bandeira Entertainment

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Jackie-O says, "Goo is what makes it tape instead of paper," someone can be seen moving in the background (to the right), apparently attempting to get out of the shot.

Quotes:

Lesly: Does this happen a lot?
Jackie-O: Every goddamned hurricane!

Movie Connections:

References "Rocky and His Friends" (1959)

House of Fun for the sick-minded and perverse

The House of Yes is one of my personal favorites. Is it creepy? Yes. Is it funny? No - it's hysterical, at least to those of us accustomed to laughing at things you're not supposed to laugh about - like bizarre social taboo. Younger indie fans may not care for this flick, but The House of Yes is not to be compared with the likes of Chasing Amy. For Parker Posey fans, the film is apples to the oranges of Party Girl, Henry Fool, Clockwatchers, etc.

The House of Yes was adapted from Wendy McLeod's play, so it is a dialogue film with its own language - similar to the Coens' Miller's Crossing. As with Miller's Crossing, the snappy dialogue never misses. While watching The House of Yes, I've caught myself rewinding to catch a phrase I missed because I was still laughing a the preceding gag.

Facial closeups dominate this film, and for reason - the actors' expressions are more telling than the dialogue, delivered flawlessly by every member of the crew - looks you could spread onto a cracker, like when Mama (Bujold) warns her son Marty about Jackie-O's mental state: "I'm going to baste the turkey, and hide the kitchen knives."

The film's biggest surprise: Tori Spelling, as a prudish and naiive Pennsylvanian - perhaps her most believable role to date.

If there were a Cooperstown for comedic acting, this film alone puts Parker Posey into the Hall of Fame.

Highly recommended for the sick-minded and perverse.

Miles Keaton Andrew