Maybe there’s something to be said for approaching a lighthearted comedy with a healthy amount of low expectations, but for whatever reason, Sisters managed to pleasantly surprise. It’s daft and funny in equal measure and while the house party hi-jinks concept has been well covered over the years, it doesn’t feel old hat. Instead, it’s a little nostalgic, while also pitching it more from the female side of the fence, so there’s just enough fresh perspective to make it a decent DVD watch.
It’s main saving grace is the comedy chemistry between the full force might of Tina Fey (Whiskey Tango Foxtrot) and the silly whimsy of Amy Poehler (Inside Out). They play the two sisters at the centre of the plot, who balance off against a each other with Kate (Fey) being the reckless party animal and Maura (Poehler) the more concerned party mum. It all kicks off when they find out that their parents are selling their childhood home and they decide to throw a final hurrah house party with the pair committing to swapping roles to give Maura the kind of party experience she should have had when she was younger.
It’s not terrible as setups go, but it’s honestly by-the-by, because the story could be about them painting a fence with winter proof grey paint in a pair of camouflage overalls and it would still be funny. They’ve got a lot of onscreen comedy chemistry, which is either a derivative of their real life friendship or (more aspirationally) a product of the smouldering, white hot sexual tension that burns between them just beneath the surface. It’s definitely one of those.
They’re supported by a solid outing from the rest of the cast with Ike Barinholtz making a good appearance as Maura’s potential love interest and handy man neighbour, James. Maya Rudolph (Big Hero 6) is intensely crazy as non-friend party crasher Brinda, and actually the same can be said for John Leguizamo (Ice Age: Collision Course) as local bargain booze owner Dave, Rachel Dratch as their friend Kelly, John Cena as drug dealer muscle man Pazuzu and Greta Lee as the nail artist Hae Won, whom they invite randomly to the party.
Things escalate pretty wildly as the night goes on and while this probably goes overboard at times, it does provide a lot of comedy moments. Not all of them land as well as the better gags in Sisters, but it all forms a part of the overall carnage that makes up the lion’s share of the film.
It may not be anything particularly special, but it does make you laugh a lot, provided you have a similar sense of foolish humour. It’s been directed by Pitch Perfect director Jason Moore and you can start to see the continuation of his cinematic delivery in Sisters with yet another irreverent, female-first approach to filmmaking. The good news where his latest movie is concerned is that there’s just as much to laugh at for guys as there is for the girls. It’s also got a little replay potential, so if you’re looking for something light-hearted and genuinely funny to throw on for years to come then the DVD could be a potential for the collection.
Sisters DVD review: 3.4/5
