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The Skelton Twins (2014)

Cast includes: Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids), Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live), Luke Wilson (Legally Blond), Ty Burrell (Modern Family), Joanna Gleason (The Wedding Planner)
Director: Craig Johnson (True Adolescents)
Genre: Drama | Humor (93 minutes)

“Maybe we were doomed from the beginning… Dad wasn’t exactly Mr. Sunshine,” says Maggie. We’re watching as Milo is trying to muster the determination to commit suicide. With music blasting… his note so far just says, “To Whom it May Concern.” Maggie doesn’t appear to be in such great shape either… she has a hand full of pills, trying to muster the courage to take them… but her damn phone is ringing! [Unknown caller] “This is LA Presbyterian Hospital. Your brother Milo was admitted after attempting suicide. He’s OK, but…” Maggie gets on a flight to LA, but the reunion is a bit cold. “You changed your hair,” says Milo. “I’m around if you need me,” she says. “You should go,” he responds. Maggie and Milo are twins but they haven’t seen each other in 10 years. [Backstory to follow] Maggie wants Milo to come stay with her for a while. “I have an aquarium full of fat beloved goldfish,” he says. “You can get new goldfish in New York,” she answers.

“It’s the mysterious Milo… in the flesh!” says Lance. Maggie’s husband Lance is as cheerful as Milo is morose. At dinner, he asks for a drumroll to announce, “We’re trying to get pregnant. Notice how I say ‘we are’… that way, it’s not sexists.” “I can’t wait to be the creepy gay uncle,” says Milo. The next day, Milo goes to the bookstore hoping to maybe see Rich… he does, but it doesn’t go well. [Another backstory] Oh well, there’s the local gay bar… except it’s Dyke Night. Milo’s life seems to be one long string of failures. Even his suicide note was pathetic… “To Whom it May Concern. See ya later.” The only one who’s happy to have Milo around seems to be Lance, who even offers him a job on his trail project. “I’m not really an outdoorsy kind of guy,” says Milo. But that doesn’t dampen Lance’s enthusiasm. When Maggie gets home from work, Milo is apologizing… “I didn’t think she’d come.” It’s Mom… espousing “peace and tolerance.” While there’s another backstory, we see instantly that Mom’s specialty is fake love. “Really… you’re not that good of an actress. Why can’t you see, there are worse things in the world than being a shitty mother,” says Maggie.

“Sending both of you the light,” says Mom as the twins practically throw her out. Clearly this “gruesome twosome” could use some light, but the fake kind is not what they need. Milo thinks he’s the only one with issues, but as the story unfolds, we find out that they’re more alike than different. The Skelton Twins is a humorous take on the serious topic of passing dysfunction from one generation to the next. The choice of Saturday Night Live veterans, Kristin Wiig and Bill Hader as the twins gives the characters amazing screen synergy. This isn’t a laugh-out-loud kind of comedy, but there are many humorous and poignant moments. The film’s narrative is mostly about revisiting the backstories. But what can you do with a “blast from the past” if you don’t use going forward? “You’ve gotta get your shit together, Milo.” “Yeah. Totally.” “I told you a secret. Now you have to tell me a secret.” “Landmines, man!”

3 popped kernels

Adult twins try to patch up differences and turn out to be more alike than they realized

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