A lot of famous people say goofy things just for the response they get, which could be anything from making people hyperventilate to getting them to vote for you. For instance, Jerry Lewisfamously said, " Women aren't funny." (To be fair, he carved out exceptions for Lucyand Carol Burnett.)
Never mind that no one ever anointed Lewis the Beautiful Mind of comedy (OK, France, maybe). In other words, who really cares what he thinks. Still, it got the legendary chucklemeister precisely what he wanted, attention. Scores declared their indignation, most of the complainers only marginally funny themselves, unintentionally helping to make Lewis' case.
Lewis was wrong, at least to make a blanket statement. There are a lot of funny women, two of whom star in the comedy "Sisters."
Siblings Katie and Maura ( Tina Feyand Amy Poehler) come together, ostensibly to clean out their old rooms, when their parents ( Dianne Wiestand James Brolin) announce they're selling the property to move to a senior community.
In the process, the two take turns reading from their old diaries: Fey's recorded teenage trysts alternate with Poehler's mundanities ("I changed the grit in my rock tumbler today"). Because Poehler "never had her night" at the house, Fey talks her into co-hosting one last epic party with all of their grown childhood friends.
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But this is what Tom Wolfemeant when he said, "you can't go home." "Grown-up parties suck," Fey says of their low-key attempt. "We need less 'Forever 21' and more 'suddenly 42'." The pair's impassioned speech ("The young-you lives inside you, just like Shingles y'all!") has the desired effect and before long the place is trashed and it becomes a race to restore order before their parents find out.
Like duos of old — Abbott & Costelloand Hope & Crosby— there is bankable synergy between Fay and Poehler. But there is a danger in what they do, their serial banter. Too much for too long. Like the works of their predecessors, this one frequently feels self-indulgent. You get the idea it was knocked out in a few weeks. Well, kudos to them, they are comedy factoriesand there are more than enough laughs for a ladies' night out. (A few are mean-spirited, maybe more, I am not sure how to take the Big Lots and Kohl's cracks.)
I hoped for better but got what I expected.
John Cena, Ike Barinholtz, Bobby Moynihanand underrated personal favorites Maya Rudolphand John Leguizamoco-star.
3 Honks
Comedy A-listers Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are "Sisters," but there’ve been more famous brothers on the big screen like these:
Turk and Virgil Malloy. These arguing twins (Scott Caan and Casey Affleck) were the comic relief in the "Ocean’s Eleven" heist trilogy that starred George Clooney.
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Raymond and Charlie Babbitt. Dustin Hoffman won an Oscar for his titular role in "Rain Man." But for my money, Tom Cruise as his younger scheming brother was definitely the better performance. Definitely.
Fredo, Sonny, and Michael Corleone. When the "Godfather" is your father, it’s unlikely the neighbors will holler at you for playing on their grass.
Vincent and Julius Benedict. Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger were unlikely "Twins" in this Ivan Reitman comedy. Schwarzenegger singing "Yakety Yak" is priceless.
