Sisters: Movie Review

Director Jason Moore’s 2012 feature film directorial debut, “Pitch Perfect”, was an absolute smash. Rather than helming the sequel, Moore chose the Tina Fey/Amy Poehler comedy “Sisters”. As funny as the two leads are, I wasn’t a fan of 2008’s “Baby Mama”. It was terribly unfunny. Thankfully, Fey and Poehler deliver the laughs this time around. It also helps that they went for the raunchy R-Rated humor. “Sisters” is not great, but it is by far the funniest movie of the holiday season.

Kate Ellis (Fey) is a flakey single mother who can’t keep a job. Her daughter Haley (Madison Davenport) is fed up with not being able to count on her own mother. Maura Ellis (Poehler) is the complete opposite of Kate. Maura has a job, has savings, and make sure everyone around her is taken care of.

When Kate and Maura’s parents (played by Diane Wiest and James Brolin) decide to sell the family home after moving into a senior community, the siblings decide to throw a major party, inviting everyone from their high school class. The one person they don’t invite however is their high school rival Brinda (Maya Rudolph). The one catch however is that Kate (who is usually the party animal), must remain sober and look after the house, so that her usually reserved and uptight sister Maura can finally let her hair down and have some fun. Maura also wants some alone time with James (Ike Barinholtz), the guy she just met from down the street. Needless to say that plan does not work out too well.

“Sisters” is raunchy but not overly raunchy. With the exception of some crass language, it is pretty tame. Much of the humor here is thanks to the supporting cast. Bobby Moynuhan plays the annoying former classmate that always needs to make people laugh. Things get cranked up quite a bit when his character gets his hands on some powerful drugs. former SNL castmember Rachel Dratch is a welcome addition but John Cena proves once again that he can be absolutely hilarious while playing it dead-pan serious. Someone needs to give this guy a part in a potential reboot of “The Naked Gun”. Rudolph has some of the film’s best moments, including one in a grocery store with the Ellis sisters.

With all the awards bait, Hollywood blockbusters and family films, many will be looking for something to make them laugh. “Sisters” should do the trick.

By: Marc Ferman