Davalon-Davalon A friend gave us the option of several movies to view after he served Thanksgiving dinner. This was one. If I had stumbled upon this film on my own, I may have watched a bit of it, but I doubt whether I would have gotten all the way through it. Yes, as my friend said, it was a dark comedy. But I fear it was too dark. The film used as a centerpiece a woman (Parker Posey), mentally unbalanced, with a fixation on Jackie Kennedy (why they called her Jackie-O, I don't know since they were focused on the Jackie Kennedy the day that Jack Kennedy was assassinated) and her twin brother (Josh Hamilton). The story centers around this sick woman and her unwillingness to let her brother live a normal life. This includes destroying a new relationship with his fiancée (a refreshing Tori Spelling), insulting her kid brother (Freddie Prinze, Jr.) and faking out her mother, Genevieve Bujold. All the actors were good. The dialogue consisted of making statements and having other actors repeat the statements as questions or repeat the statements rephrased sarcastically. There were funny moments, no question. But, there was a fair amount of footage used of Jackie Kennedy and John Kennedy on the day of Kennedy's assassination in Dallas in 1963. What was disturbing was seeing the footage of the time period just shortly before John Kennedy was killed. I found it be deeply upsetting and I was not sure why it was necessary. This is NOT a Thanksgiving film. It is a very dark indie comedy to be viewed when you have NOTHING to do, and it is NOT the holiday season. Seeing it once is enough and you will not forget it. Whether that is a compliment or not, I will leave up to you.

wes-connors On Thanksgiving 1983, twenty years after US President John F. Kennedy's assassination, the wealthy Pascal family of Virginia prepare for a stormy reunion. Recently released from a psychiatric institution, attractive Parker Posey (as Jacqueline "Jackie O" Pascal) takes center stage. She remains there, for the most part. Arriving home is Ms. Posey's twin brother Josh Hamilton (as Marty). His surprise for the family is fiancée Tori Spelling (as Lesly), a donut shop clerk. She arouses attention from the twins' younger brother Freddie Prinze Jr. (as Anthony). We know there are going to be some serious sexual problems when family matriarch Genevieve Bujold tells Ms. Spelling her twins are so close, "Jackie's hand was holding Marty's penis when they came out of the womb."...As you'll see, she has a hard time letting go...Mark Waters took this story from Wendy MacLeod's play, without giving us many reasons why it shouldn't have remained there. The inserted footage of the real Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, whom Posey emulates, reveals the actress' hair and make-up are off the mark. The pink outfit with "pill box" hat is recognizable, though. Other than that, Posey offers an interesting but insensitive characterization. It is not impersonation and the association of President and Mrs. Kennedy with this family's insanity lacks depth. It's happenstance. The film is promoted as a comedy, with the quotes "Dark, Clever Comedy!" (GQ Magazine) and "Bitingly Funny!" (Elle) prominently featured. However, the film is not very funny. The comic aspects likely worked better in the stage production.**** The House of Yes (9/12/97) Mark Waters ~ Parker Posey, Josh Hamilton, Tori Spelling, Freddie Prinze Jr.

joe_lvn This is one of the most perverse and disturbing black comedies I've seen. And also one of the most well written, well acted and hilarious. I enjoy watching a film that is like watching a stage play (which of course this was based upon). Parker Posey is great as always, as well as everyone else. I thought Tori Spelling was surprisingly good as the "innocent" yet "not so innocent" fiancée. This is the best "dysfunctional family" film I've seen. An extremely offbeat and very funny...satire? Not for everyone, but much more intelligent and clever than most movies today. A great and very underrated film. And I might add, one of the best films of the 1990's.

Lee Eisenberg Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, one of history's most enigmatic figures, just got a lot more enigmatic. No, "The House of Yes" isn't about her, but rather a mentally ill young woman (Parker Posey) who calls herself "Jackie-O" and even dresses like the woman. Throughout her life, Jackie-O has gotten what she wants, but things are about to change: her brother has announced that he's getting married. Thus, Jackie-O can do only one thing: flip. And flip she does...with a vengeance."The House of Yes" is one of those quirky indie flicks (well obviously, if it stars Parker Posey) that you might want to check out whenever possible. Maybe watching it won't change your life or anything, but it's still quite interesting. You almost feel like you're spying on them.