This week, Mrs. BMAF had chosen Sisters for our regular Sunday night film to watch. This comedy starred probably 2 of the funniest women about today, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
Best known for their television hits 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation, that success has maybe not given them the same amount of screen success, the 2 did star together in the very funny Mean Girls but in smaller roles (although Tina did write the script). The funny twosome first big screen starring vehicle was Baby Mama, which was OK, but not hilarious.
Sadly, Sisters falls in the same category as Baby Mama, and it’s hard to know how it went so wrong, as the film screenplay came from regular Saturday Night Live writer, Paula Pell and was directed by Jason Moore, who had recently made Pitch Perfect.
Sisters starts well enough, we see the organized Maura (Poehler) who learns that the house that they grew up in, is to be sold by her parents, Bucky (James Brolin) and Deana (Diane Wiest) as they are downsizing. The parents, knowing how badly Maura has taken this, have asked her to tell her sister, Kate (Fey)
Kate is the opposite of Maura, her life is a bit of a mess, going from job to job, with no settled home, things have got so bad, her daughter, Haley (Madison Davenport, we know her mostly as Kate in From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series) is even secretly living with Maura.
The two sisters plan a road trip to see their parents, and on arrival, Kate finally learns the house is to be sold from the SOLD sign outside the house. After some major arguments with their parents, the 2 sisters set to clearing their room, during which time reminisce on their past through old journals, and plan to have one last party before the house is sold.
At the party, it is decided they will reverse roles, Kate will be the sensible one and not drink, Maura will drink and party like she’s never done before.
Needless to say, the party goes completely out of control, and we see even more great comedy talent not used, Maya Rudolph plays Brinda, who is not invited, but tries to gatecrash the party. As a love interest for Maura, we have Ike Barinholtz who you may know as Morgan from The Mindy Project. Also in a small role as Sam is one of the newest Ghostbusters, Kate McKinnon.
Also at the party, and best known as a wrestler and action star, most of the best laughs come from John Cena, playing a no-nonsense drugs dealer.
The film’s main issue is at 2 hours, it actually feels way longer, the party sequence seems to go on forever. Events at the party are also no different from those college comedies you have seen in the past, from National Lampoon’s Animal House to American Pie.
Walls and ceilings get broken, couples try to sneak off for sex, a washing machine is over filled to the extent they can have a foam party, drugs are heavily misused and blue paint is put into the swimming pool turning its swimmers into potential smurfs. The only difference is these party goers are in their 40’s not teenagers.
The film reminded us in some ways of Will Ferrell hit, Step Brothers, in that its 2 leads should maybe be more grown up and making better life choices. We are sure this could have been toned down and made into a great Romantic Comedy, rather than the gross comedy this seems to want to be!
Some smirks are had during the film and some genuine laughs, including one involving a ballerina music box and also when Kate is told some of the profits from the house are going to her to help rebuild her life, at a time when the house has almost been completely destroyed.
I am sure this could have been made into a great 90-minute comedy, a shorter cut rather than the extended cut we watched, may have helped as Poehler and Fey are genuine, great fun to watch but this film feels so long, that jokes can feel ages apart and it’s a real shame.
If we exclude their supporting roles in Mean Girls, maybe these 2 funny ladies can get together and make a film that for a third time lucky will be truly hilarious.
Have you seen Sisters? What is your favourite party gone out of control film? We would love to hear from you here at Barking Mad About Films.
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