Film: Your Sister’s Sister (2011)
Cast includes: Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada), Rosemarie DeWitt (Rachel Getting Married), Mark Duplass (Humpday)
Writer/Director: Lynn Shelton (Humpday)
Genre: Comedy | Drama | Romance (90 minutes)
Opens: June 15
“It’s been a year and I thought it was important that we do this for Tom.” Al tells a moving story about Tom’s generosity. Tom’s brother, Jack has another story to tell… one that doesn’t go over well at all. Oops. “So how’d that go for you?” Iris asks. Jack’s had a hard time getting his act together since Tom’s death. Iris was Tom’s former girlfriend. She thinks it’s about time Jack pulls himself together. “You’re a mess. Whatever it is you’re doing… it’s not working.” Anyway, Iris has a plan… Jack can get his bicycle, take the ferry out to the island and spend some alone-time at her dad’s place… sit, look at the water and think about things. Iris tells Jack where to find the key… but when he gets there, the key’s not there. That’s when he notices a scantily clothed young woman through the window. It’s Iris’s sister, Hanna, who just broke up with her significant other and thought she’d have the house to herself. Introductions are awkward at best, but it’s too late for Jack to get a ferry back to Seattle. As a peace offering, Hanna proffers some dehydrated bananas. Jack would rather just go to bed.
At 3:00 AM, Jack finds Hanna up drinking alone. That’s the kind of thing Jack can relate to… “the self-aware lush factor.” Oops! Has he offended Hanna again? “I’m not good at small talk.” Before long, they’re toasting each other and downing shots of tequila. It’s perfectly safe because Hanna’s a lesbian, and Jack’s not the kind of guy to take advantage of his “best friend’s sister.” But things do take a surprising turn, and the next morning when Iris arrives unexpectedly, Jack sobers up quick. Jack tries to coach Hanna into inventing a different account of their evening together, but Hanna isn’t convinced it’s necessary. It makes for an awkward but interesting threesome.
Your Sister’s Sister is a charming, naturalistic story about relationships… partially dysfunctional, but mostly humorous and endearing. This is an improvised film… the story development was written in advance, but the dialog is improvised as they’re filming. The goal is to portray realistic relationships. When it works, it’s very engaging… and this one works. The only strange bit is that one sister has a British accent and the other doesn’t. After they explain the back story, the two seem believably sisterly. The performances are quite good, especially Mark Duplass as the messed-up friend who gradually becomes plausible as a possible love interest. “My best friend is your sister. So I guess that makes us in-laws…” and possibly more after the week’s over.
3 popped kernels
Sweet and fun… a threesome with crisscrossed love interests
Popcorn Profile
Rated: R (Sexual content)
Audience: Young adults & Grown-ups
Gender: Co-ed
Distribution: Mainstream limited release & Art house
Mood: Neutral
Tempo: Cruises comfortably
Visual Style: Nicely varnished realism
Character Development: Engaging
Language: True to life
Social Significance: Pure entertainment
