Review of Sisters (2015) by Alailson B — 25 Jan 2016

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler in any format should be considered one of the top duos of women in comedy. Sisters is no exception, as it blends what I believe to be how they are in real life with just a smidge of fantasy. Though it doesn't always quite come off as clever, it's still laugh-out-loud funny more so than not.

What's great about sisters is the meat of the dialogue is done by Tina and Amy. You could tell Paula Pell specifically penned this script with the two of them in mind. There are a handful of cameos and inclusions from SNL, 30 Rock and the like of actors who stop by to either pay tribute or offer up some scene-stealing lines that are just as easily forgotten after they pass off screen.

The strengths of this film lie with the leads. Unfortunately, the film's cookie-cutter plot doesn't particularly make it stand out with the inclusion of a love interest to sort of make this film teeter on the edge of rom-com and buddy comedy. I'd have much rather the point of the whole film be entirely about the house party than the added side quest of love.

Not all the jokes hit, and for some of them, it's clearly shown they let the camera sit on Fey and Poehler to ad-lib for 5 minutes just so they could include every line of dialogue hoping one hits. Too easy to see.

While Sisters could have really popped the top on a house-party comedy, I'd actually venture to say this movie stayed more within the lines than I thought it would when I first saw a trailer for it. Though certain characters were overused (Bobby Moynihan) and others underused (John Cena), you'll watch this for the bulk of Fey and Poehler, and the two of them on screen is enough to warrant a watch.