Grade: B
I want to be related to Amy Poehler and Tina Fey.
That was the thought that ran through my mind most during “Sisters,” the new comedy starring Poehler and Fey. The movie was a pleasant mixture of inappropriate humor and heartfelt themes that made me feel like I was getting an inside view of the two comedians’ friendship, as well as the relationship between their characters.
The best part of “Sisters” was how relatable it was, even though the majority of the main characters are twice my age. The scene in which Poehler’s character, Maura Ellis, Skypes her parents and struggles to teach them how to both fit into the screen could’ve come straight from Facetimes with my own technologically-challenged parents. And any emotional scene regarding the fight against time sparked my own bittersweet emotions about growing older and getting further from my childhood.
It was initially difficult for me to believe Fey could be as reckless and promiscuous as her character, Kate Ellis, but she pulled off the role. She balanced Poehler’s conservative and nerdy character, making jokes that brought out the inappropriate teenager in both women.
Sure, “Sisters” is vulgar in parts and would probably cause my mom to cringe or roll her eyes, but there were also scenes full of sentiment and ethos. The character development between Poehler and Fey, while predictable, benefited greatly from the off-screen friendship between the women. I could believe these two were so close and cared greatly for each other.
The movie’s downfall was definitely its aforementioned predictability.
There were a few times throughout the movie when I could almost see the screenwriter and director planning out the irony and serendipity of the moments. These cheesy moments brought down the overall humor of the movie and took it from a great comedy to a good one.
I also could’ve done without John Cena’s appearance.
Overall, the strength of “Sisters” was the combination of Fey’s wit and Poehler’s quirkiness that created a film rooted in comedy with some relatable, emotional value. I wanted to be the third sister in the film, dancing with the comedians and adding on to their vulgar dialogue.
I would not categorize “Sisters” as a comedy the likes of "Stepbrothers" or “Bridesmaids,” and it was not quite as clever as “Baby Mama.” But it was a movie I enjoyed, start to finish, and I would definitely recommend it as a light-hearted option for a movie night with friends.
