Review of The Skeleton Twins (2014) by Schwinn D — 29 Dec 2014

If you're looking for a comedy don't watch this movie. Despite the leads being known as the recent comic legends of SNL there is surprisingly very little humor to be found in this "dramedy". Any signs of such are already seen in the trailer (which will advertise a much more uplifting film). There are sparse moments of genuine humor, which--while a welcome addition--are a black and dry far cry from the off the wall zaniness you'd expect from the pairing of Wiig and Hader.

With all that being said Skeleton Twins is a thoroughly moving flick. More emotional than it has any right to be, probably only true being well acted on all fronts--not that the roles are especially demanding. I particularly enjoyed Wiig. The film as a whole is incredibly dry (with the exception of an interesting cross-dressing scene), which is something that's always difficult to watch. I don't see dry as boring, but I could make comparisons to Fargo and Nebraska in that the utterly plain presentation. All fine movies, but are all also quite dry, which ultimately just emphasizes the strengths of the movies.

Another reason the movie is difficult to watch is because of how the leads continue to derail and take self-destructive actions. You see these characters acting like idiots and the characters themselves see it, but they stand helpless and hopeless. It's kind of like watching a person stabbing themselves in the hand. You want to tell them to take it out, but instead they twist the blade. You urge them to stop, but they just take another knife and stab in their thigh. It's an equally engaging and painful movie.

The one thing that this movie--and most subtle dramas like it-- suffer from is finding a good resolution. Without giving too much away you will feel like things are not necessarily better, just maybe on the right track. This kind of ending hurts otherwise moving films. The impression I get from this kind of ending is "Well okay. All of this happened... so what?". What was the point? The point is usually there, but it tends not to be significant or explained well enough to make an impression, or more to the point make a 90 minute film about it.

Apart from a feeble resolution it's still a film that holds its own in the dramatic impact department.