Review of Your Sister's Sister (2011) by Manny C — 20 Sep 2012

Everyone knows the strains of relationships, but seldom are such strains mined for such brutal laughs like this romantic comedy from writer-director Lynn Shelton (Humpday). After his brother passes away, Jack (an outstanding Mark Duplass) takes his friend Iris (Emily Blunt, just great) on her offer to spend time at her family's island cottage. Jack looks forward to some solitude. What he gets instead is a meeting with Iris' older sister, Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt), who is dealing with her own emotional wounds, a breakup with her girlfriend of seventeen years. A night laced with tequila results with Jack and Hannah in bed and then trying to shield any and all evidence of the one-night stand from Iris.

It may sound sitcom-contrived, but stay with. Your Sister's Sister is digging for something deeper. Shelton is well attuned to the things that divide friends and lovers and families. It's evident Jack has intense feelings for Iris, but Hannah's motives are what's unclear, and that's a surprise no review should spoil. Shelton lucks out big time with three superb actors. Duplass, already terrific in Safety Not Guaranteed, is just all kinds of great at allowing us to pierce Jack's heart.

And Blunt and DeWitt are just remarkable. They play sisters like they've known one another for a lifetime. Blunt is all warmth and sweet humor and DeWitt is a marvel with Hannah's sharp edges. It's a trifecta of amazing performances that anchors a plot that hinges on pent up secrets. You won't know just what hit you.