kariann-marti If you can get past how creepy/twisted the plot is, the dialogue is gold. Parker Posey at her best.

sophiej468 this 1997 film of an earlier play is the proof. there's just too much real absurdity going on. Genevieve Bujold as the disconnected mother is the best thing in it, but these days, that isn't saying much, because so many people are disconnected. What there is of a plot about sibling incest and insanity is today totally predictable. A few (too few)funny lines. no one seems to know quite what to do with Parker Posey, except Christopher Guest, in his wonderful mockumentaries, in which she's very funny. Here, she just seems strained. Tori Spelling is quite appealing as the only normal character, a donut shop waitress who lands in a pretentious upscale family.

jackcaughran This film's thick and pervasive irony requires a sophisticated sense of humor. Starring Freddie Prinze, Jr., and the inimitable Tori Spelling, "The House of Yes" didn't give me great expectations, but for Parker Posey I was willing to take the risk. It turned out to be perhaps the most original comedy I've ever seen and one of my new favorite films. Naive reviewers and low ratings here on IMDb have confirmed my suspicion that most people completely miss the point of this film. There is nothing earnest or straightforward in the least about the story or the dialog. Writer Wendy McLeod and director Mark Waters are trying to do for film and theater (certain genres of them, at least) what "A Mighty Wind" did for folk music, or "Best in Show" did for dog shows. Although, I contend that "The House of Yes" accomplishes this parody in a vastly more ruthless and consistently incisive way than Christopher Guest could ever dream.The entire film is poking fun at all things trite, melodramatic, and self-serious about modern film and theater. From the narrative, the characters, and the setting, to the direction, cinematography, and dialog (especially the dialog), "The House of Yes" is not a film but a caricature of a film, adapted from a play that is the caricature of a play. Anyone who has read or seen a few modern plays will recognize the stilted, stylized dialog and the actors' artificial, super-sincere interpretations. Wendy McLeod is no idiot; she has a post-graduate degree in theater from Yale. She's not writing this doggerel in earnest; she's making fun of other people's doggerel. I mean, c'mon.In less skillful hands, this film could easily have slipped into the realm of burlesque. If, for the sake of humor, you want to point out lots of annoying, hackneyed film and theater conventions, you run the risk of making an especially annoying film. But I think, for the most part, McLeod and Waters dodged this bullet. Not every line in the film hits the perfect chord, but a surprising majority of them do."The House of Yes" is not typical as a dark comedy, as a cult film, or as any other film genre. I've never seen anything else like it. If you're smart and have a wicked sense of irony, you'll love "The House of Yes." If you can't recognize a joke without a laugh track, I recommend "There's Something About Mary."

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.