Review of Your Sister's Sister (2011) by Christopher Llewellyn R — 10 Dec 2012

I think the poster says it all. The film is actually better than its advertising would suggest, but it's not great, and the ending feels as forced as the awkward poses on that poster. There is some decent writing, direction, and acting, however, and if you like Emily Blunt as much as I do, then this film just might be worth watching.

"Your Sister's Sister" comes out of the mumblecore indie film movement, which for me is a distinct minus. I do not generally enjoy the navel-gazing fixation of so many of this movement's directors. Too often we are asked to share in the plaintive wailings of whiny people who just aren't that interesting. Some people like this. I generally do not.

Still, Shelton does a fine job photographing the Washington state locations, and the beauty of the cinematography goes a long way towards lending the film some sense of importance. So, too, do the fine performances from both Blunt and Rosemarie DeWitt, as her sister. Mark Duplass doesn't ruin it for me, but he does not succeed in making me understand why Emily Blunt's character would find him interesting.

Duplass plays Jack, a man still grieving over the death of his brother one year prior. This brother had once dated Iris (Blunt), who has been Jack's best friend since college. Iris decides to pack Jack off to her father's house on an island somewhere in Puget Sound so he can clear his head with some alone time. Only problem is, once he gets to that house, Iris's half-sister Hannah (DeWitt) is already in the house, also looking for some alone time. Jack and Hannah get drunk, stuff happens, Iris then arrives the next day, and the rest of the film sees the three of them wrestling with the (earth-shattering) consequences of that one drunken night.

If intimate dramas like this, sprinkled with comedy - a dramedy - are your thing, that you might really enjoy the film. If you like movies where a lot of things happen, then you'll probably hate it.

But after seeing this, I would definitely give Shelton another look. She's good with the performers, and knows what to do with the camera, mumblecore roots notwithstanding. A mixed bag, for sure, but not terrible, either.