Sisters (2015)
Certified: 15
Duration: 118 minutes
Directed by: Jason Moore
Starring: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Ike Barinholtz, Dianne Wiest, James Brolin, John Cena, Madison Davenport, John Leguizamo, Bobby Moynihan
KRS Releasing Ltd
Sisters sees the cinematic pairing of two of today’s most prolific female comedians: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
Tina Fey plays Kate Ellis who had been a popular girl at school but in real life this popularity did not seem to carry over. Her daughter Hayley (Madison Davenport) does not want her in her space as Kate seems unable to do anything right, both in her private life or herhairdressing job.
Maura (Amy Poehler) is the complete opposite. She is a successful nurse in Atlanta.
When Maura finds out that their parents Deana and Bucky (Dianne Wiest and James Brolin) are going to sell the house where the two sisters grew up the two reunite to venture off to Orlando to try and stop this. However, they are too late and the only thing they can do is take the high school stuff out of their bedroom and make way for the new owners.
That is when the two sisters opt to throw one last party to which they invite former classmates of theirs such as Liz and Rob (Samantha Bee and Matt Oberg), who are now married, and their lesbian friend, Sam (Kate McKinnon).
Invited also is their single neighbour James (Ike Baronholtz), Hae-Won (Greta Lee), who works in a nail salon, Alex (Bobby Moynihan), who used to be the funny guy in class, Kelly (Rachel Dratch), who was always sad, and Pazuzu (John Cena), the local drug dealer, who is to bring the drugs to place the “wild” in this party.
Things soon start to go off track while the two sisters start to show different signs of responsibilities, which will make the two understand themselves and each other more.
Sisters is an enjoyable romp for various reasons. The obvious one would be that the movie is a veritable no holds barred kind of party. This is a party that goes overboard in a hilarious manner.
The other factor is that Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are so in synch with each other – so in tune – that one can feel their energy as the two go all out in what seems to be a very natural manner. It also gives the feeling that, while some parts of the two’s conversation are well planned out and scripted, there also seems to be a sense of spontaneity as if the two were also left to come up with their own lines on the spot which gives their characters a natural and lived in feeling.
Their experience from the Saturday Night Live stints really seems to come in handy as they elevate the script from sit com level to a more cinematic level of comedy and with a sense of unbridled chaos that is a delight. Under the helm of Jason Moore (Pitch Perfect), this film has a fluid structure.
This gives the sisters a chance to shine but even more so makes sure that all in the cast have some sort of unique moment in which they are allowed to hog the spotlight.