The onscreen chemistry of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler has always been undeniable. Their real-life relationship and rapport has always been an asset to any project they worked on together. Sisters benefits with their complete understanding of one another’s comedic style and how effortlessly they can successfully play off each other. Their relationship adds a layer of authenticity to their characters because it transcends mere friendship and comes off as a deeper bond, more like a sisterhood.
Director Jason Moore has had experience with a powerful, female centered ensemble cast as he’s proven with his successful comedy Pitch Perfect. His equal parts respect and irreverence of females, and playing into these character’s redeemable self-destructive natures make this film a hilarious adventure. Even his experience with music videos helped enhance the aesthetic of the raging party scenes that dominated this film by giving them an undeniably intoxicating energy that easily made your body involuntarily move to the beat of not only the music, but also the story.
Veteran Saturday Night Live writer Paula Pell probably penned this piercing comedy with our favorite comedienne dynamic duo in mind. Her grasp of humor and comedic pacing are so in line with Fey and Poehler’s style that there is absolutely no disconnect with any of the character’s actions or even punchline delivery. As with most of the comedies starring Fey and Poehler, their oftentimes rapid-fire joke system sometimes ends up with more misses than landings, like Baby Mama. Luckily, this film has what most of their previous film’s don’t, and that secret ingredient is an R-rating. This gave them an opportunity to explore other jokes previously unavailable to them, and also new characters. This is especially true with Tina Fey’s crass character that is a daredevil compared to the typical mild-mannered victim of circumstance.
The most successful part of the film is how it subverts the party genre usually reserved for teenagers or college students. They’re usually a vehicle for a coming of age story, and in a very odd way this film is about moving past some arrested development that took place in high school. These types of film’s are usually very testosterone driven, but Sisters refreshingly swaps the genders. The entire party proves to be an existential mid-life crisis personified, and each person deals with their personal demons and fears. Their catharsis is of course fueled by alcohol, drugs and liberating sex.
Aside from solid performances from Fey and Poehler, they are accompanied and complimented by performances from past friends from SNL and 30 Rock and some newcomers. This includes favorites like Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch, Dianne West, and John Leguizamo. Sisters proves that Fey and Poehler still have a commanding presence on screen, and the surgical precision needed to find and manipulate our funny bone with just a look. Even through all the flaws, this party rocks on for a solid two hours of side-splitting hilarity.
RATING: ★★★★★★★ (7/10 stars)
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