Sisters

Image credit: Sratim

The buddy comedy is a genre that – I believe- will never get old because it will always be one that people can relate to. Over the years friendship comedies have developed from the hey days of Martin and Lewis to the now days of Poehler and Fey, but they have always followed a recognisable structure and told a story that is nice and warm and that we can walk around armed with in the real world. But while the genre might be indestructible it can definitely take a few dents.

Sisters tells the story of Ellis sisters Maura (Amy Poehler) and Kate (Tina Fey) who travel back to their hometown when they discover their parents have sold the house they grew up in. Enraged about not having been involved in the decision-making process, the girls decide to throw one last party and invite their entire high school class in an attempt to relive some of their glory days and happy memories. Switching roles for the night Maura becomes the party girl while Kate is designated Mother, but disaster soon strikes as innocent high school fun gets taken to a new level.

The foundation of a solid buddy comedy is in this movie somewhere, but it was buried for some weird reason. A story about two chalk-and-cheese sisters helping each other to better themselves while simultaneously learning how to move on with life is a very sweet and relatable story, but it just doesn’t get developed in this film. Rather it remains lying on the floor asking people very politely not to tread on it.

The warmth and tenderness that this film could have had is buried in overdrawn gags and cringe comedy that sometimes cracks a smile, but most of the time just becomes awkward. While I appreciate the social commentary and subtle send-ups of modern stereotypes, much of the cleverer humour is reserved and not pushed to its full potential.

Image credit: Fandango

And then we have the cast. To be fair, Poehler and Fey are the perfect team and their genuine chemistry as friends and sister comediennes make them very believable as sisters. But then we have all these other great comic actors who don’t seem to have real roles. It’s as if Maya Rudolph, John Leguizamo, and Kate McKinnon were just in the neighbourhood and dropped in for a drink.

Sisters is a film that has all the building blocks for a good and warm buddy comedy, but not enough playtime to make anything amazing with them. As far as girl-power flicks go this is mediocre at best and it really could have benefited from some further plot development.

Starring: Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, Ike Barinholtz, James Brolin, John Leguizamo, John Cena, Bobby Moynihan, Greta Lee, Rachel Dratch, Kate McKinnon, and Dianne Weist