Parents' Guide to Sisters

Movie R 2015 118 minutes
Sisters Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

S. Jhoanna Robledo By S. Jhoanna Robledo , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

Fun but predictable comedy has swearing, drinking, sex.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 14+

Based on 7 parent reviews

age 15+

Based on 15 kid reviews

Kids say that this film, while featuring well-known comedians, is filled with crude humor, excessive swearing, and inappropriate content, making it unsuitable for younger audiences. Although some reviewers found it entertaining and funny, others criticized it for being overly vulgar and poorly written, suggesting that it may appeal more to mature viewers or fans of the main actors.

  • inappropriate content
  • excessive swearing
  • crude humor
  • mixed reviews
  • entertaining for adults
Summarized with AI

What's the Story?

Kate Elllis (Tina Fey) and her sister, Maura (Amy Poehler), find themselves plunged back into their high school years when they discover that their parents (James Brolin and Dianne Wiest) are selling their family home. Maura, a disciplined nurse with a big heart and a need to take care of everyone, is overwhelmed by nostalgia and realizes she spent much of her teenage years not taking any risks; for Kate, a trip back home could be just the reset she needs after a string of job misfortunes -- some of which is of her own doing -- and an estrangement from her daughter. But being home reminds Kate of just how long she's been irresponsible. Can the sisters host one last big party and reinvent themselves at the same time?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 7 ):
Kids say ( 15 ):

It wouldn't be fair to say that SISTERS is a disappointment, because it's plenty funny; but it wouldn't be right to say it's a proverbial home run, either. No question, Fey and Poehler elevate the film with their spectacular chemistry, which may be the best reason to see the movie in the first place. But there's nothing much here that we haven't seen before. Audiences will spot the ending a football field away. And the jokes, though funny, aren't really surprising, save for a few gags that escalate into true can't-stop-laughing hilarity. Go for the the stars, not for transcendent comedy.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Sisters depicts drinking and drug use. Are they glamorized? Are there realistic consequences?

  • Is Maura and Kate's relationship a healthy one? How does it change over the course of the movie? How is Sisters different from -- or similar to -- other films about sibling relationships? Teens: If you have siblings, how do you think your relationship will change as you get older?

  • Is Kate an irresponsible mother or just one who's having a hard time? How does the film characterize her relationship with her daughter?

Movie Details

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