Sisters gets a lot of mileage out of its surefire premise: when their parents downsize from their childhood home, adult siblings Kate and Maura (Tina Fey and Amy Poehler) feel betrayed and emotionally regress, to the point of throwing a raging party just before the sale on the house closes. (I’ve been on both sides of this experience and can attest to the conflicting feelings that are comically put into play.) Written by Paula Pell and directed by Jason Moore, the movie revs into high gear with the party—which escalates from a boring “grownup” get together to an embarrassing bacchanal—but there is no doubt the material is elevated by the interplay between Fey and Poehler. Their awkward sexual harassment of a landscaper who turns out to be a neighbor (Ike Barinholtz) is a highlight. Fey is especially good, playing against type as the wild sister who encourages her uptight sibling to finally let loose. Dropping in for amusing bits here and there are Maya Rudolph, John Leguizamo, and Bobby Moynihan (stick with him; his long bit as the self-appointed class clown from high school eventually pays off). Kudos, also, to Dianne Wiest and James Brolin as the parents, the only ones who know how to act their age—and enjoy it.
(10/11/2024)
