And while Pell’s script also succeeds in injecting some heart into the chaotic proceedings, the chief reason to see “Sisters” is the endlessly entertaining escapades of Fey and Poehler, whose almost two-decade collaboration reaches a high point here.
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In the video, delinquent sisters Abbi and Ilana report to New York’s Supreme Court to be charged for a slew of crimes.
Not to mention their stellar individual achievements, most notably Fey’s “30 Rock” and Poehler’s “Parks and Recreation”. Asked to remove their old belongings, Kate and Maura rebel by throwing a ludicrously lavish house party, during which Maura attempts to make up for lost time by “going wild” and Kate struggles to belatedly learn how to be a fully functioning adult. That’s an effusive way of saying I would have enjoyed Sisters even if it was very bad, so I’m happy to report that it isn’t!
There is that one scene, though, in which Barinholtz gets a music box playing “Fur Elise” stuck in a most embarrassing place, a bit so filthy and so amusing that even Beethoven would have to laugh.
The party takes up much of the film’s duration, which at almost two hours is far too long for a project this lightweight.
It’s nearly here, guys – your fave women of Saturday Night Live are making their grand return to legendary Studio 8H, Rockefeller Plaza.
Fey stars as elder sister Kate Ellis, a constant disappointment to her family, often between jobs and someone who pursued, shall we say, all the pleasures high school had to offer. It’s a miscalculation that does more to doom “Sisters” than anything else. “They play these kind of messed-up sisters who are in their forties, and when their parents sell their childhood home, they have to go back to clean out their stuff”. At least Poehler has a cute romantic subplot when Maura flirts with Ike Barinholtz’s Jack. “I’m going to squeeze you until the candy comes out”, she says, sending a stream of what we hope are Skittles from his rear.
Ultimately, if you shove this aspect aside, you have an otherwise amusing, predictable Tina Fey and Amy Poehler vehicle that lets the pair be as vulgar as they want.
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I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Sisters director Jason Moore to talk about the upcoming comedy, and part of our conversation centered on the dynamic created between Tina Fey and Amy Poehler in the movie. So sure, pour me a red Solo cup of Poehler and Fey dancing to Snow’s “Informer”.
