THE SKELETON TWINS DVD (2014)

SYNOPSIS: When estranged twins Maggie and Milo feel that they're at the end of their ropes, an unexpected reunion forces them to confront why their lives went so wrong. As the twins reconnect, they realise the key to fixing their lives may just lie in repairing their relationship.

MOVIE REVIEW:

Putting two renowned comedians in a grim drama can be a risky decision. But rest assured, Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids) and Bill Hader (Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs) managed to pull it off beautifully in the end.

After ten years without any contact, Milo Dean (Hader) and his twin sister, Maggie (Wiig) manages to reunite at the unlikeliest place- the hospital where Milo is recuperating from his apparent suicide. Maggie offers her place for Milo to stay despite their past quibbles and what happened next are a series of events that threaten their fragile relationship and the unleashing of their skeletons from their closets.   

The Skeleton Twins opens with our two leads committing suicide on the same day though at different locations. Not exactly the kind of movie you usually associate Wiig and Hader with. Yet Hader provides the character of Milo with such tenderness and a delicate amount of heartbreaking hopelessness that you can’t help rooting for the guy who couldn’t make it big in life and still sadly holding on to an unrequited relationship with his ex-English teacher, Rich (Ty Burrell).

Like his brother, Maggie is also a damaged soul. She simply can’t say no to casual sex despite being married to a loving husband, Lance (Luke Wilson). And Wiig easily nailed the character of the troubled Maggie, demonstrating she possesses enough acting chops for the next mainstream drama.

Ultimately, it’s the performance of our two co-stars that make us believe in their sufferings. Suicidal issues are dark and emotionally draining but you won’t exactly find the perfect answers right here. The story co-written by director Craig Johnson and Mark Heyman (Black Swan) lacked the insight and punch to allow the audiences to fully grasp the tough issue on hand. Perhaps Wiig and Hader shouldn’t be allow to improvise on their own too much as a couple of dramatic instances end up too goofy to be engaging.

Nevertheless, this indie drama, which took seven years to materialize, is an unusual drama about tormented people, dysfunctional souls and sibling rivalry. Anchored by the sizzling rapport between Wiig and Hader, The Skeleton Twins is one intimate drama worth more than a peek. 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Commentary with Director/Co-writer Craig Johnson, Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader is an enjoyable piece especially when you have Wiig and Hader onboard clowning around.

Commentary with Director/Co-writer Craig Johnson, Co-writer Mark Heyman and Producer/Editor Jennifer Lee is the more businesslike with the filmmakers discussing the story aspects and the process of making the film.  

To Whom It May Concern: Making The Skeleton Twins is a 15 minutes making of feature that has the cast and crew talking about the tone of the story and casting

Sweet Moves mostly assembled the footages of Bill Hader dancing.

Gag Reel and Outtakes basically shows us the incredible improvisation talents of Wiig, Hader and Wilson.

13 scenes which didn’t make to the final cut including an extended ending are discussed by Johnson in Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Director/Co-writer Craig Johnson.

AUDIO/VISUAL:

This digitally shot indie title looks soft with plenty of natural lighting, images are clear even though most of the scenes are set indoors. Dialogue and music tracks are strong though this is not a title to showcase an active surround soundtrack.  

MOVIE RATING:



DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee


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