Title: The Skeleton Twins
Lionsgate
Director: Craig Johnson
Writers: Craig Johnson & Mark Heyman
Cast: Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Luke Wilson, Ty Burrell
Running time: 93 min, Rated R (Language, Sexuality, Drug Use)
Special Features: Gag Reel; Outtakes; Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary with Director/Co-writer Craig Johnson; “To Whom it May Concern: Making the Skeleton Twins” Featurette; Sweet Moves (cast dancing); Feature Commentary with Director/Co-Writer Craig Johnson, Kristen Wiig and Billl Hader; Feature Commentary with Director/Co-Writer Craig Johnson, Co-writer Mark Heyman and Producer/ Editor Jennifer Lee
Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and On Demand on December 16th
Maggie (Kristin Wiig) and Milo (Bill Hader) are estranged twins who haven’t seen each other in over 10 years. Their father had committed suicide when they were 14 and their mother became a neglectful self help guru which shaped their lives not for the better. Milo lives in Los Angeles, Maggie and her husband Lance (Luke Wilson) live in New York. Milo writes a suicide note with only two sentences, “To Whom it May Concern, See you later.” and then slits his wrists in a bathtub. On the east coast, Maggie is in her bathroom holding a handful of pills when her cell phone rings; it’s the hospital telling her that her brother just attempted suicide. She quickly gets on a plane to LA and goes to his hospital to beg her brother to come live with her and her husband until he “gets better.” Reluctantly Milo agrees.
Milo soon discovers that while Maggie seems to have her life together, she has secrets of her own. Lance thinks they’re trying to have a baby, when Maggie is sneaking birth control pills. Maggie is also having an affair with her scuba instructor Billy (Boyd Holbrook). Milo looks up his old high school teacher Rich (Ty Burrell) that he had an affair with years ago, and whom also still has feelings for Milo, but wants to focus on his life with his wife and child.
Pretty soon the twins’ lives are going back to where they were at the beginning of the film; helpless and alone. Milo has to go to Maggie and save her this time. They both realize that in order to get their lives back in order, they need to repair their relationship and be there to support one another.
The Good: Not to sound pretentious, but the acting and cast is superb. Comedians usually deliver when it comes to serious drama. Director Craig Johnson stated in the featurette that he was apprehensive about casting SNL alum in a semi-serious drama because he thought it might be gimmicky – but it works. Hader and Wiig’s chemistry (as they’re close friends in real life) is great and they’re believable as siblings even though they’re 5 years apart. Their best scenes showing their chemistry have got to be the “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” lipsync/dance scene and where they dress up for Halloween. So natural and fun to watch.
Ty Burrell isn’t a villain, but his character is questionable – it’s definitely a stretch from his Modern Family role that most of us are familiar. He does redeem himself when his character tells Milo that he still loves him, but they just can’t start up again…even after they sleep together. Luke Wilson is a lovable, yet tragic character. He’s too good for Maggie and thankfully he realizes this before it’s too late.
The Bad: When hiring comedians for a serious film, you sometimes forget what you’re watching. I found myself wondering, “When is something funny going to happen?!” I really can’t find anything I didn’t like about this film, so that’s that.
The Skeleton Twins is one of the best films I’ve seen this year. It’s funny, heartwarming and wonderfully tragic at the same time. After feeling a little morose when the film is over, switch over to the gag reel and dentist office improv scene for a hysterically good pick-me-up.
Acting: A
Writing: A
Technical: A
Total Rating: A
Reviewed by: JM Willis
