“The Skeleton Twins” feels like a long hike through the forest with good friends. You have a lot of fun along the way, sharing stories and secrets, but in the end you don’t really end up anywhere important.
The story begins with Milo Dean – played to perfection by Bill Hader – being reunited with his estranged Twin Maggie – played equally well by Kristen Wiig. Maggie and Milo used to be extremely close, but spending 10 years apart has driven a pretty large wedge between the two. Now the two siblings must navigate life together, all while dealing with heavy baggage they’ve both accumulated throughout the years.
I have to say that I’m really not sure how to feel about this film because in the end I was equally surprised and disappointed. The biggest surprises to me were the stellar performances by Hader and Wiig. Both SNL alum have become known for their outlandish comedies: “Superbad,” Men in Black 3,” “Bridesmaids,” and “Paul” to name a few. So, to see these two take a shot at more dramatic roles, I was excited and curious. Hader and Wiig both beautifully bring their characters alive, and add the perfect mix of humor and self-loathing.
One of the best scenes comes from Maggie and Milo performing a dance number together. This scene perfectly represents the animosity and resentment that each sibling harbors for the other, but in the end, both parties are able to push these feelings aside. It also is the perfect metaphor for the movie itself, because this scene acts as more of a bandage for their relationship than an actual fix.
What I was most disappointed with in this movie was the lack of a strong supporting cast. Ty Burrell and Luke Wilson feel utterly wasted in their roles, and both feel more like caricatures than actual people. That is one of the biggest missteps of the film.
The story itself never feels like it hits the right notes, either. We’re barely given any story on the siblings’ father beyond his suicide and affinity for Halloween. We’re also never given any real reason for these siblings to have parted ways for so long. Not a lot is really needed, but at least something would’ve been nice.
“The Skeleton Twins” will be sure to make you laugh and cry, but ultimately feel let down in the end. It’s the perfect movie to pick up at Redbox.
The upside is that the Blu-ray release of “The Skeleton Twins” is as strong as its stars. There is a fantastic gag reel, deleted scenes with optional commentary, “To Whom It May Concern: Making The Skeleton Twins” and more.
Film: 3 Yaps Extras: 3.5 Yaps