Your Sister's Sister (2011)

"Your Sister's Sister" (90 min.) starts off with an eye-popping 5 min. prologue: we see a group of people mourning someone's passing, and just when one of them is giving a eulogy on how great a guy that person was, Jack (played by Mark Duplass) interupts and gives his own (less idyllic) version of that man, who turns out to be his brother. Iris (played by Emily Blunt), who is Jack's best friend and was the girlfriend of his brother, eventually talks to Jack to control his emotions.

Flash forward: at Iris' suggestion, Jack agrees to retreat to the country house of Iris' family, to 'clear his head' and some much needed 'me time'. Much to Jack's surprise, it turns out that Iris' sister Hannah (played by Rosemarie DeWitt) is also there, also in need of some 'me time' after just coming out of a 7 year relationship. The next 20 min. or so nothing happens, other than Hannah and Jack sitting at the dinner table and talking, talking, talking (it's done brilliantly). Things develop from there, as Iris then shows up as well. To give away much more of the plot would really ruin your viewing experience.

This is a talk movie (filmed theatre-like) about relationships. There are no pyrotechnics, no special effects, no CGIs. Instead, this movie centers on 3 acting performances, and each of them is as good as the other. Emily Blunt continues her impressive streak of recent performances (just this year we've seen her in Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, The Five Year Engagement, and now this). But the ultimate credit must go to writer-director Lynn Shelton, who brings it all home. This is MILES away from your standard Hollywood fare. If you are in the mood for a good indie movie that has no action whatsover but focuses on relationships, come on over, you will very much enjoy this. Meanwhile "Your Sister's Sister" is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

If I'd heard the plot of this before seeing it, I'd have passed. It's tough to summarize--the magic is in the watching. So I'd have missed this little marvel of writing, acting, and directing. Jack is unsettled a year after his brother's death, and his best friend Iris (the dead brother's ex-girl friend? wife? doesn't really matter)sends him off to her family's cottage in the woods to regroup in peace and quiet. But Iris' sister Hannah has also taken refuge there, and Jack and Hannah console each other. At least we think that's what we saw. When Iris shows up next day, a lot of unsaid things float around, only some of which the audience knows. Because each of the three has a secret, because almost all the action/drama takes place in a short time, in a small place, and because the acting and directing are top-notch, this study in the complex relationship between three decent, though often confused, people, commands the viewer's interest. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next once one of them knew something else about the other two. Nor did I see the various secrets coming (all right, I'm a little slow). Everything you need to know to understand and appreciate it is included, but not a smidgen more. The filmmaker gives you credit for being quick on the uptake--I loved that.

Many a big-budget film would kill for the kind of hold this movie casts on an audience, for what looked like not much money. Just goes to show, explosions and special effects are no substitute for a compelling human interest plot and great execution.

Note: if you steer clear of movies with lesbians or occasional strong language, you should probably skip this. But you'll miss something really good.

Buy Your Sister's Sister (2011) Now

The movie had a few brilliant twists and turns, and I was laughing through a lot of it. It was really a rather perfect movie for what it was trying to do. I went into it not expecting much, but I left grading it a 9 or 10 out of 10. I only have a handful of movies that rate that highly on my list. Your sister's sister is actually a great movie to watch with a significant other as it shows a lot of different kinds of relationships. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys just a very entertaining movie where the acting and directing were matched well together.

Read Best Reviews of Your Sister's Sister (2011) Here

I don't like telling too much of the story in any of my reviews, because who likes a spoiler. I have to say I thought the movie was good. If you enjoy indie flicks, then you might enjoy this one. I wouldn't watch it over and over again, but I didn't regret renting it. I, however, get annoyed with movies that end on a note where I think.... seriously? I will not explain that, for as I mention I do not like to tell the story. I also found some of the story unbelievable and not in a good way. If your in a mood for a indie love story flick with no action, then you might enjoy this one.

Want Your Sister's Sister (2011) Discount?

This is an indie chick flick. It is about "the relationship." After a whole year, Jack (Mark Duplass) can't get over his brother's death, an indication this has written by a woman who believes men think like women. At the recommendation of his brother's ex-girlfriend Iris (Emily Blunt) he utilizes a remote cabin on an island in Washington state. As he arrives late at night Iris' sister Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt) is also there. She just broke up with her girlfriend and they hit it off well, in fact a little too well.

Iris, for some unexplained reason, arrives and confesses to her sister her love for Jack, one that is mutual but never spoken. We wait for the moment.

The movie starts out with a bunch of pretentious dialouge, including the old, "remember when he stole a wheelchair" flashback. The dialouge was written badly. The acting was good, and I admit Lynn Shelton did a better job at directing this formula than writing it. Can we stop with a guy riding a bicycle with beautiful scenery to an acoustical accompaniment? It is time to move on.

Parental Guidance: F-bomb. Brief sex scene. No nudity.

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