THE SKELETON TWINS (R )
Released by Roadside Attractions
Review by Adam Mast
The very idea of seeing two of the funniest performers on the planet jump into dramatic roles was intriguing enough. The fact that Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig totally knock THE SKELETON TWINS out of the park, is the icing on the cake.
In THE SKELETON TWINS, Hader and Wiig are Milo and Maggie – a pair of estranged twins who are ultimately brought back together by way of a near tragedy. When Milo agrees to move in with his sister and her sweet-natured husband, Lance (wonderfully played by a slightly aloof Luke Wilson), it proves to be a bit contentious at first, but as the siblings begin to sort through their differences and reconnect, they realize how much they truly missed one another.
THE SKELETON TWINS certainly has humor—with Wiig and Hader at the center, how could it not–but this film doesn’t shy away from getting serious. In fact, THE SKELETON TWINS is surprisingly dark around the edges.
Wiig plays Maggie as a dysfunctional woman with serious issues but it’s near impossible to not root for her, even when she’s exhibiting questionable behavior, and that’s a testament to Wiig’s natural likability as a performer. Hader is an absolute revelation here and it’s truly impressive how he manages to resist every urge to turn Milo into a silly stereotype like his hilarious SNL club hopper, Stefan. Instead, Hader digs deep and fashions a real three dimensional character–one with emotional issues every bit as deep as his sister’s. Together, Wiig and Hader form one of the strongest cinematic duos of the year. The ex-SNL players generate real chemistry. Furthermore, they bring genuine warmth and humor to the picture. Look no further than a scene in which Milo and Maggie lip-sync to the smooth stylings of Starship’s “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”. It’s positively adorable.
Director Craig Johnson has fashioned an incredibly entertaining dramedy here, and while stars Wiig and Hader are primarily know for their comedic chops, THE SKELETON TWINS shows both performers in an entirely new light. They’re funny yes, but it is the emotional weight that they bring to the table that impresses most.
THE SKELETON TWINS opens in limited release on Friday, September 12th. It’ll roll out to more cities in the coming weeks.
