Sisters Review

2015 in film

Dec 16

Written By Rendy Jones

Preview

R: Crude and Sexual Content/References Throughout, Drug Use, and Language

Universal Pictures

1 hr and 58 Minutes

Cast: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Ike Barinholtz, John Leguizamo, Dianne West, James Brolin, Maya Rudolph, Jon Glaser, Rachel Dratch, Kate McKinnon, Madison Davenport with Bobby Moynihan, and John Cena

Editor’s Note: This review was originally published during my adolescence. Outdated language might be seen in these old posts. Since then, my thoughts and values have grown. This review is being presented as they were originally written, grammatical errors and typos and all. Because to do otherwise would be that same as claiming these flaws has never existed.

BACKSTORY: Tuesday December 8th 2015, I go to the premiere of sisters with my 10th grade prodigy Emily. Since it has been an entire year since I went to the Top Five premiere, I knew this premiere will be as lively as that. Believe it or not IT WAS! Up to 7 notable actors I met/took a picture with including Ellie Kemper, Bobby M, Taran Killiam, Rachel Dratch, Brittany Snow, etc etc. AND JOHN CEEEENNAAA. Seriosuly as John sat in his seat, Emily got up and said "I'm gonna ask him for a picture." I was very cautious in her decision especially since we convinced her mom not to ask Smosh (oh yeah they were there). But with Cena we both went to him and got our pictures with him. Our post production literally approached us the morning afterwards at school and said "okay guys I'm jealous."

REVIEW: Every year during Christmastime, we get a comedy pair up with actors we know and love, but in a new story we didn't see them do before. Last year was the controversial comedy The Interview with Seth Rogen and James Franco. 2013 was the comedy sequel Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues with Will Ferrell and his friends and you pretty much get the gist. Before the film began Fey proposed to Poehler saying that she promises to make a film with her every seven years (since 7 years ago they starred and produced Baby Mama together). With Baby Mama you had a lighthearted comedy with edge, wit, and heart. Now with Sisters you get the rated R type comedy that is crude and rude. I don't know if it makes sense to say that even with the R rating, the comedy is still lighthearted in a way. The film takes good advantage with its rating that whatever jokes they didn't get away with in Baby Mama is applied here. Since the central plot is really grown sisters throwing a huge party, the film just runs into chaos. It's pretty much House Party before the shitty sequels, but instead of Kid n' Play we got Poehler N' Fey. The characters written for Poehler [Maura] and Fey [Kate] have some dimension to them which do make them relatable characters. You see them go through struggles that people really do face. What really makes Fey and Poehler shine is their chemistry together. With their comedic exchange with each other, you get the sense that they're related as in they're not really acting but they are sisters. Even when they're both trash talking to other characters, they do have the sisterly bond where they got each other's back. If this was more of a drama than a comedy, this film would've been great. Unfortunately with the story it feels as if writer Paula Pell went to the old library shelves of generic comedic screenplays and decided to pick idea #4 and put her own little twist on it. Party films are fun and so is this one, but I'm exhausted reiterating my same complaint I say in other comedies. NO COMEDY NEEDS TO FUCKING BE TWO HOURS LONG UNLESS IT IS EPIC OR HAS SOMETHING MEANINGFUL TO SAY. Although the film does have a nice message it isn't until the final 5 minutes when the lesson is learned. Even some of the gags aren't that funny. A lot of the jokes is just characters repeating dialogue back and forth until either the other character or the audience laugh. The comedic timing is great at times, but its just the jokes itself is nothing above chuckle worthy. There is like a 30% chance you will genuinely laugh hard, but most of the humor is nothing more above a chuckle. Even with the other comedic actors [mostly SNL alumni] they are the ones who shell out the hard laughs especially Bobby Moynihan. With Moynihan he is just in the background doing the craziest things that made me laugh as hard as if I'm watching his drunk uncle character on SNL [whose on cocaine]. There are an abundant amount of comedians in this, and some of them have more screen time than others. We know Jon Glaser from Parks and Rec as the villainous Jam, but in here he's just here and there and around in the background. The same goes to Kate McKinnon from SNL and other actors. The movie is entertaining, but seriously during this time of the year where we got December blockbusters and Oscar contenders, there is no reason to see this in a theater when you get down to it.

LAST STATEMENT: Poehler and Fey's comedic chemistry is charming to look at, but Sister's generic plot and long running time makes this a party film one you don't mind you skipped.