Year of Release: 2015
Director: Jason Moore
Starring: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Ike Barinholtz, Dianne Wiest, James Brolin, John Cena, John Leguizamo, Bobby Moynihan, Greta Lee, Madison Davenport, Rachel Dratch, Santino Fontana, Britt Lower, Samantha Bee, Matt Oberg, Kate McKinnon, Colleen Werthmann
Genre: Comedy
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6
Watch it on Amazon
Synopsis and Review
"Sisters" is director Jason Moore's sophomore directorial endeavor, following his debut with the successful "Pitch Perfect". The film is also a reunion for habitual co-stars Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, alongside screenwriter Paula Pell, who also worked on SNL. The film follows the story of two sisters, Kate and Maura, who have to go to Orlando and remove their childhood belongings from their parents house, as they've decided to downsize, and move into a smaller space in an adult community space. Maura is a hardworking nurse, who is also recently divorced and has never had much of an opportunity to let loose, while Kate, who is a stylist/hairdresser, has always lived impulsively, making decisions based on whichever direction the wind blew, which also includes some of the attitudes she has had towards her daughter. The sisters know they have to clean up the house, as the new buyers are ready to take ownership, a rather uptight young couple from New York. They decide to throw one last party before parting ways with their house, but this time around decide to invert the roles, with Maura being allowed to let her hair down, and Kate being the sober one, in order to make sure things don't get out of control (she's also trying to prove to her daughter she can be responsible). The party starts somewhat timidly, with many of their high school friends showing up, and mostly acting their age. However, with some unexpected guests crashing the party, mixed with some recreational items and drinking, things really start getting out of control.
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler have great chemistry, which they of course developed during their years of partnership on SNL, which then also translated into films in which they've both acted, such as Michael McCullers' "Baby Mama", Amy Poehler's "Wine Country" and "Sisters". Their complicity and rapport is palpable, and this film lives from that relationship, and of the well peppered supporting players that come into the narrative and elevate whatever is happening, namely the always fantastic Maya Rudolph and the always funny John Cena. Whatever takes place in this film lives by the quality of its players, and their commitment in bringing this narrative to life. The script is rather generic and bland, giving the sisters just enough background for us to understand their relationship growing up, the same going for their friends, their romantic forays and their rivalries. Sadly the script doesn't allow much to be expanded upon for the supporting characters, including their parents, who are both the emotional and awkward part of the film. Where the film ends up lacking is precisely in the fear of offending, it simply doesn't go all in demonstrating that at times people aren't nice, that situations in life don't always have a happy ending, and that some attitudes can bruise and batter for long periods of time. That is to say: the script lacks a perfunctory bite, having a tone that is able to be funny, but at the same time ugly, which is something that not all comedies are willing to explore (which Paul Feig's "Bridesmaids" managed to illustrate to a certain extent, courtesy of Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo's script). The cast is superb, with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler having great support from Maya Rudolph, John Cena, Dianne Wiest, James Brolin, Bobby Moynihan, John Leguizamo, Greta Lee, Kate McKinnon. The production team is solid but unremarkable. It's an entertaining film, that could have gone even further, but that ends up being somewhat forgettable as a result.
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