Don’t waste your holiday time or money on “Sisters,” a sad attempt at familial comedy starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. While the relatively funny movie trailers entice viewers to shell out upwards of $12 in expectation of an entertaining experience, audiences will leave dissatisfied. The trailers capture only the bearable and slightly humorous scenes of “Sisters.”
The illustrious careers of Fey and Poehler also falsely promise comedy gold in “Sisters.” Fey stars as Kate Ellis, the older sister of Maura, who is played by Poehler. Kate is an unemployed beautician who prefers partying over providing a stable life for her teenage daughter. On the other hand, Maura is a steadily employed nurse who cleans up Kate’s messes. The lack of character depth is the first sign of disappointment in this film. The contrast between the two characters is cookie-cutter, and writers rely on the sisters’ dynamic to keep the film’s plot somewhat alive.
“Sisters” reuses many predictable formulas with little room for the actors to showcase their skills. Despite the wealth of comedic talent featured in the film, including that of other “Saturday Night Live” favorite Maya Rudolph, the picture exhibits a scarcity of funny moments. Considering Fey and Poehler’s past triumphs in screenwriting, the failure of “Sisters” can be attributed to screenwriter Paula Pell rather than the star-studded cast.
For instance, the main premise follows Kate and Maura as they throw a party in their childhood home. Using a party to symbolize a character’s new beginning is tirelessly overplayed, especially in teen flicks. As middle-aged women, Kate and Maura have clearly outgrown this phase and their actions come across as desperate. Throughout, the writers try too hard to manufacture hilarity, and the end result falls flat.
The weakly developed characters and plotline hinder Fey and Poehler’s overall ability to shine. Fans of both actresses know they have impressive repertoires when it comes to entertainment. A U.Va. graduate, Fey starred in and wrote hits such as “30 Rock" and the now-classic "Mean Girls.” Poehler wrote for and starred in the award-winning show “Parks and Recreation" and similarly accumulated a loyal band of followers. Both clearly displayed their comedic writing and acting chops in previous works, which is why “Sisters” is such a letdown in its failure to deliver.
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