Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are known to be best buds in real life, almost as close as sisters. So it is no wonder they wanted to make a movie in which they play sisters. They are both gifted comediennes so a movie featuring them both would be twice as funny as a film with just one of them. At least I am sure that is the way it looked on paper. But what ended up on screen is another story. Sisters, the movie, is a dud of a film and presents both women in the worst light possible.
Fey plays Kate Ellis, a short-tempered, shrewish woman who can't hold down a job and who is on the verge of completely alienating her teenager daughter (Madison Davenport). Poehler is Maura, her "everything is beautiful" sister. All Maura wants to do is solve the world's ills one victim at a time. Both are immature and not particularly likable.
When their parents (James Brolin and Dianne Wiest) decide to sell the family home in Orlando both women are upset. With their parents away, they decide to throw one last big party. If the house gets damaged in the process so be it.
Both Fey and Poehler produced this movie and it looks like a vanity project from beginning to end. They gather a group of their buddies from "Saturday Night Live" and let them have a few moments in the sun. Then they let themselves spend an inordinate amount of time being silly, profane, stupid and raucous. It is a self indulgent display of star power that will not do either of their professional reputations any good.
If you are going up against Star Wars: The Force Awakens opening weekend you had better bring your A game. This is their Z game. The movie just isn't funny overall. There are a few bright spots here and there, but not a lot. Plus the two leads needed to show some endearing qualities and they don't. As far as the rowdy, raucous party goes; careless destruction like this is sometimes understandable when it involves irresponsible teens, but these women are portraying adults.
Ike Barinholtz plays a neighbor Poehler tries to seduce. He has the potential to be an enjoyable part of the film but it never happens. He gets caught up in the silliness and all interest in him fades. The same is true for John Cena; you expect some fun and get zip. The talented Maya Rudolph is wasted, as is Rachel Dratch. You even end up disliking Brolin and Wiest because their characters raised these two women to be the losers they are.
The film is rated R for nudity, violence and raucous humor.
There are bound to be comparisons to Kristin Wiig's "Bridesmaids" but there shouldn't be. The movies are as different as day and night. Everything that went right for "Bridesmaids" goes wrong for Sisters.
I scored Sisters a sobbing 3 out of 10.