Sisters (2015)

Summary

Sisters is a raucous comedy directed by Jason Moore. It stars Tina Fey as Kate Ellis and Amy Poehler as Maura Ellis, two wildly different adult sisters who receive a phone call from their parents announcing they are selling their childhood home and need the sisters to come back and clear out their bedroom. Maura, the responsible, recently divorced nurse, and Kate, the chaotic, unemployed hairdresser with a difficult teenage daughter, reluctantly return. To cope with the impending loss of their family home, they decide to throw one last, epic high school-style party for all their old classmates, which quickly descends into absolute mayhem.

Plot

Maura Ellis is the overly responsible sister, always taking care of everyone else, while Kate Ellis is the free-spirited screw-up who can't hold a job or a relationship. When they arrive home, they find their parents, Bucky and Deana, have already sold the house and moved everything out of their room, leaving the sisters with only a small pile of belongings and a tight deadline.

Maura, feeling nostalgic, suggests throwing a small, tasteful gathering to say goodbye to the house. Kate, eager to relive her glory days as the "cool sister," twists this idea into a full-blown party, inviting all their former high school classmates, declaring it the "Ellis Sisters' Last Hurrah." They quickly realize they've switched roles for the night: Maura attempts to finally let loose and enjoy a flirtation with a handsome neighbor, James (Ike Barinholtz), while Kate tries to act mature and keep the increasingly destructive party under control.

The party starts awkwardly but explodes into chaos when one guest accidentally turns on the sprinkler system inside the house. The damage escalates, eventually resulting in the destruction of the house's second floor and a giant sinkhole in the yard.

Amidst the destruction, Maura and Kate finally address their complicated sibling dynamic and the resentments they've harbored since childhood. By the time their parents arrive home, the party is over, the house is a wreck, but the sisters have reconciled and Kate has committed to getting her life together. The film ends with the family adapting to their new normal, with Kate living in an apartment and finally taking responsibility for herself and her daughter, with Maura's loving support.

Cast

• Amy Poehler as Maura Ellis

• Tina Fey as Kate Ellis

• Maya Rudolph as Brinda (Maura’s rival from high school)

• Ike Barinholtz as James (Maura’s love interest, the neighbor)

• Dianne Wiest as Deana Ellis (Mother)

• James Brolin as Bucky Ellis (Father)

• John Leguizamo as Dave (High school classmate)

• John Cena as Pazuzu (Drug Dealer)

• Kate McKinnon as Sam (High school classmate)

Crew

• Director: Jason Moore

• Writer/Screenplay: Paula Pell

• Producers: Tina Fey, Jay Roach, Amy Poehler

• Music Composer: Christophe Beck

• Cinematography: Brandon Trost

• Editor: William Kerr

• Production Company: Universal Pictures

Release Info

• Release Year: 2015

• Release Date: December 18, 2015 (United States)

• Running Time: 118 minutes

• Language: English

• Genre: Comedy