Sisters 2015 * * 1/2 Stars

Director: Jason Moore
Year: 2015
Rated R
Rating: * * 1/2 Stars
Cast: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph

Unless you've been living a real sheltered life, you'd know that actresses Amy Poehler and Tina Fey are real-life best buds. It's obvious. They host the Golden Globes together, do interviews together, and star opposite each other in many a flick. Their latest collaboration in which they perform synchronized, dance moves together (not once but twice), is 2015's Sisters (my latest review). In truth, this is the definition of hit-or-miss comedy people. It's crass, vulgar, cringeworthy, and pretty thin on plot. I laughed heartily a few times but also felt sorry (and/or ashamed) for all the troupers (mainly in their early 40's or late 30's) plastered on screen. Just think of this thing as a poor man's Bridesmaids or a fitter version of 2008's dreadful, Step Brothers. That will set your mind straight.

Directed by Jason Moore (he shot Pitch Perfect), co-starring Oscar winner Diane Wiest (ah-huh), taking place in sunny, Orlando, Florida, and improvised to the max, Sisters had the unfortunate task of competing with the new Star Wars movie (I'd say it did pretty good overall). As a guilty girl's farce, its film score is straight out of a bad 80's pantomime, the F word runs rampant throughout, and one character actually says, "get your peanut butter out of my sister's chocolate". Interesting.

Anyway, the story goes like this: Maura Ellis (Poehler) and Kate Ellis (Fey) are middle-aged losers. Maura has poor social skills and is divorced. Kate is an unemployed stylist who lives on someone's couch and can't connect with her teenage daughter (Hayley played by Madison Davenport). When their childhood home is being put up for sale by their tolerant parents (played by Wiest and the slumming James Brolin), Maura and Kate decide to throw one last party there to summon old memories (and holistic traditions). That's basically the whole kit and caboodle. Everyone at said party is part of their high school crew. They all get hammered, drugged up, and act like unhinged buffoons. Look for solid thespians embarrassing themselves in bad cameos (we're talking John Leguizamo, Maya Rudolph, and John Cena). Also, be on the lookout for a coked-up guest painting a wall with his penis, a sinkhole that results in sisterly mud wrestling, and another party visitant accidentally getting a sharp object stuck up his keister (ugh). To quote the veritable Garth Algar, "I think I'm gonna hurl". Yup.

All in all, I've never been a fan of Tina Fey in terms of her dramatic work (see my review for This Is Where I Leave You). However, I do think she has a few comedic chops up her sleeve. In jest, it's pretty evident that her and Amy Poehler had a ton of fun making this pronounced pet project. It's just a shame that that fun can't quite be shared in the same vein as your typical cinematic audience. Rating: 2 and a half stars.

Written by Jesse Burleson