Sisters is funny. Let's begin with that. It's a funny movie. It may not be laugh out loud every scene funny, but there is something there for someone to laugh at throughout. Sisters is also kinda dumb... but not the dumb that ruins a movie. It's the dumb where you don't have to think for two hours. You can sit back and watch two goofy characters get into goofy situations and hijinks ensue. It's the kinda dumb that we're not exactly used to with our female leads: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Fey we've seen in the smart kind of comedy both with her political satire in SNL and industry satire 30 Rock. Poehler we've also watched on SNL but have seen her on much smarter television with Parks and Recreation, a very funny and underrated show. No, Sisters is much like a female Superbad except take out the first two-thirds of them trying to get to the party and make the entire movie the party.
Simple plot to the film goes thusly: Fey and Poehler are sisters. Their parents are deciding to sell the house that they grew up in. So, whilst cleaning out their childhood bedrooms, they decide to throw one more epic party so that Poehler's character can finally let her freak flag fly and Fey can say goodbye to the house properly (and hopefully ruin the chances of selling it). That's legitimately it. The rest of the movie is the party. It begins slow with everyone acting as adults, sitting in chairs, sipping wine, awkwardly discussing their children. Then, once the party livens up and everyone gets drunk off their asses... it becomes a teenage house party movie of the good ole days. There's several familiar cameos and SNL alums. There's a lot of funny moments and it's just a good time had by all.
It's nice to see a role reversal here for both ladies. In most films and shows, Tina Fey is always the clean-cut, anal retentive, goody goody, while Amy Poehler is the loud, dirty, disgusting, crass, funny one. This time, it's Poehler who turns in the role of neurotic and proper and Fey is the Jonah Hill of the two. It's also a very vulgar film in terms of sexual humor. They've clearly shown that even though they're a couple of little ladies, they can stand and play with the big boys of the Apatow crew. In fact, an integration of the two, I think, would make a stellar combination. Then, finally, there's Bobby Moynihan. He's the poor man's Horatio Sanz currently still a cast member of SNL. Him and, once again, John Cena (as a tattooed drug dealer) steal most of the scenes they're in, especially Moynihan. He had me laughing in almost every appearance throughout the party that he made. And Cena is strangely showing America that he's got some serious comedy chops with his work in this and summer's Trainwreck.
There's a strange thing about Fey and Poehler. Clearly, they're good friends in real life and thoroughly enjoy working together. They've hosted awards shows together, they've acted together, they've cameo'd in the same film together. I do have to wonder why the two haven't sat down and written something together for them both to star in. Their first starring roles together was the abysmal Baby Mama and now this. And while Sisters is far superior to Baby Mama, it still doesn't feel like it lives up to the full potential of its leads. I'd like for them to sit down and write something for themselves because, while I'm sure there is a good amount of improvisation on set, there is just that magic Fey/Poehler touch that's missing from the films.
The movie isn't life-changing, and unfortunately due to some terrible planning on the studio's part, probably isn't going to make a lot of money. If you're a female-driven R-rated comedy going up against the seventh Star Wars film, chances are you're going to unintentionally forgotten. However, I believe that this will be a Redbox success (too bad there aren't video stores anymore... that's another thing that'll take away from the film). So, if you're looking for something to see that's kinda dirty, pretty funny, and after the sixth time you've watched Star Wars... Sisters isn't exactly a bad choice.
B-
No comments:
Post a Comment