Tina Fey drives Sisters. Amy Poehler steals it. Sisters is a film starring women about women, but is for everyone. (Well, maybe not the teenies.) The most brilliant scene is between Poehler and an Asian manicurist, Greta Lee, and has to do with the language barrier created when relating to someone from Asia. Poehler tries to pronounce this manicurist's name, but fails repeatedly though she earnestly tries. Poehler's sincerity, focus and never once breaking concentration make Sisters her film.
The plot of Sisters is Fey and Poehler's parents, James Brolin and Diane Weist, suddenly sell the home that they all have been raised in. Fey, loose and childish, and Poehler, uptight and divorced, are horrified and give one farewell party inviting all their vintage high school friends. While these sisters are cuties are in their early forties, their former chums have aged to wrinkle city and to the point where they are barely recognizable. The party begins with a dull thud and ends... Well, you have to see it. While the plot is not original, the dialogue is.
Maya Rudolph is a highlight as one of the unwanted guests who invites herself and tries to create havoc but fails. John Leguizamo is great as that vulgar friend from high school who always wanted to have sex with you, but whom you would rather forget. But it is the Asian manicurist, Greta Lee, who matches Poehler in comic timing, who shines.
James Brolin and Dianne Wiest are genuine and as usual charming as parents who still 'get it on' in a scene that is over the top when Fey catches them in the midst of heated passion.
While not all attempts at humor work, one must respect the courage of writer Paula Pells (SNL) and director Jason Moore (Pitch Perfect). Welcome to the world of comedy. Moore directs Sisters smoothly though there are some scenes that work better than others. Pell's writing is on target most of the time and when it isn't Fey and Poehler carry it with panache.
The jokes are so clever and often over the top that seeing it a second time is recommended. The audience's laughter was so loud that some of the subtler throw away lines which were gems were unable to be heard which the audience's applause at the end accentuated.
Poehler is a sex starved and focuses on getting laid at this final farewell party. Her target is to attempt to bed boy next door, Ike Barinholtz (Mindy Project). This passionate female heat is one of the most raucous encounters of sex that goes awry with a man from a woman's point of view that has made it to celluloid.
Meanwhile, muscle bound- tatoo ridden John Cena is great as a visual male prop, a hunk whom Fey wants to bed, but fails miserably in getting past go.
Refreshing is what Sisters is. For all its raunch and charming vulgarities, it touches on issues and themes that only women have endured and for that it is a must see by not only women. Better than Bridesmaids but geared for that audience and with that kind of power, Sisters hits the bullseye and will leave you laughing and wanting more.
Star Wars is for the kiddies, Sisters is for adults who want to have a good time.