I watched this because I really like Kirstie Alley, not thinking it'd be too good. But the laughs kept coming. Just when you think things couldn't get more awkward another silly scenario comes along. Like the TV show Three's Company, but actually funny. Not a bad hour and a half, I give it 7 out of 10.
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EmptyLeo30 March 1999
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If this movie had stuck with its black comedy premise all the way to the end it might have been a memorable film, as. e.g., the later "War of the Roses." As it is there is some marvellously funny dialogue in the first 2/3 of the movie, as well as some hilarious slapstick in the hotel room when Allie's and Pullman's characters are deciding how to deal with the corpse. The portrayal of the husband's all-doctor family is pretty good, too. Unfortunately all of this is wasted in pursuit of the prized Happy Ending, wherein Marjorie's infidelities are seen as a stepping stone to a fuller relationship with her chastened husband. Puh-leez.
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Cinemaginarium14 November 2023I re-watched this film recently because it was directed by Carl Reiner. I knew that I had seen it before on VHS, but I couldn't remember a thing about the plot - or even if I liked it or not. I assumed that I must have liked it, because Carl Reiner directed some of my favourite movies from the late 1970s and.early 1980s: The Jerk (1979), Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982) and The Man with Two Brains (1983).
After rewatching 'Sibling Rivalry' I understood why I didn't remember any plot details; the film turned out to be utterly forgettable. It clocked in at not even 90 minutes and.it was bookended by a voice-over by Kirstie Alley at the beginning and the end, explaining the main plot points instead of showing them. Perhaps they should have given that task to Sam Elliott or another member of the promising cast (Carrie Fisher, Bill Pullman, Scott Bakula, Ed O'Neill). After all, Kirstie Alley's strongest asset isn't her voice...
The re-watch didn't give me a lot of enjoyment - but it DID make me realise something. The reason that I loved those 3 earlier 'Carl Reiner' films I mentioned might have been mostly due to the fact that they al had Steve Martin on top form in a starring role.
Ah well - live and learn... -
boggajons14 February 2004Sibling Rivalry is one of those typical late 80´s early 90´s movie that came along. Some people saw it in the theater and some people rented it but never came a cult hit or a box-office smash and has now been forgotten.
This does not mean that this movie is bad or movies of this sort are bad. On the contorary these films are actually quite entertaining and help you to get into good mood and this film falls into that category.
It is short, funny, exciting and has some great acting. Jamie Gertz and Kirstie Alley are great as the sisters and the supporting actors and actresses to a good job.
One of the things that bothers me is that they don´t show the cover that was used on the tape where I live where you see Kirstie Alley covering up her face with a blanket or a sheet. It is one of the all time greatest movie posters I have seen. -
laurakay7616 March 2007Hands down, one of the worst movies I've ever seen. The premise was lousy, the script was dull, and the performances were mediocre at best. At no time did I feel like I had been pulled into a believable excerpt from the characters' lives, the way a good movie's story should make the viewer feel. I was always aware that I was watching a group of actors trying to work with some of the worst material in Hollywood history, and not succeeding.
On a deeper level, it simply annoyed me. Adultery is not the solution to marital problems; it just makes more problems. Yet to watch this movie, you would think that the best way to combat boredom in your relationship is to have an affair. Then everything will be all right again! It doesn't work that way.
Overall, I was profoundly disappointed by the entire thing. I watched it in the dollar theater and I felt like I had been overcharged. -
merklekranz20 February 2008Enjoyable on several levels, "Sibling Rivalry" is the type of black comedy that can withstand the test of time. In other words the lively script will never seem dated. The cast is uniformly excellent, and the dark subject (adultery caused death cover-up) is terrific material for this type of comedy. Bill Pullman absolutely steals the movie with a character similar to the one he played in "Ruthless People" If you enjoy dark comedy then this is a must see. Carl Reiner has come through with another winner that is perhaps under the radar, but deserves to be seen. It will definitely hold up to multiple viewings, which is only one sign of "Sibling Rivalry"'s excellence. - MERK
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caspian197813 February 2005Starring Kirstie Alley at her funniest, this comedy has what it takes to be a future classic. The cast alone makes this a perfect comedy which includes Scott Bakula, Ed O'Neill, Bill Pullman, Sam Elliott and Carrie Fisher. Not your typical female "chick flick" movie, Sibling Rivalry is the story about a housewife who has an unlikely affair with her husbands brother. Sounds like a Greek tragedy, but it is not. Sibling Rivalry plays on the coincidence factor and does it successfully. The cast of characters are as funny a the lines they say. Taking place in a small community, the events all take place in a number of days and in a small number of locations. With the feel of an independent, low budget movie, Sibling Rivalry is also a typical Carl Reiner film where everything blends together by the end. Not your typical romantic comedy like When Harry Met Sally, this is one of Carl's classic and it is just as good if not better.
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macpherr20 January 2001This movie reminded me a lot of "Arsenic and Old Lace." I don't really know why. Except for the dead body. I am a big fan the Carl Reiner and his son Rob Reiner.. I believe that their contribution to the America Cinema is incommensurable. Bill Pullman (Zero Effect) does a wonderful job playing really clumsy people. Carrie Fisher (Sleepless in Seattle) is great playing the snobbish pain in the neck sister in law. The script is funny! I ran into this movie by coincidence. One of those on sale type things and I found a great little funny movie. I recommend it!
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Regardless of the negative comments about this film I think Sibling Rivalry is a brilliant comedy. The all-star cast were fantastic and hilarious in their roles and boy was it really funny and entertaining throughout. This is a really great movie that will keep you laughing although there are some serious drama in between this is an enjoyable film. Scott Bakula is the only reason I watched this film in the first place and I thought he was just brilliant. Scott plays Harry who's from a family of doctors with Carrie Fisher as Iris she plays his sister and Harry's brother is played by Sam Elliot as Charles. Kirsty Alley is beautiful and fantastic as Marjorie she's just married to Harry and happy for a while until she grows bored and frustrated that they never make love. Unhappy and unsatisfied she meets a man in a shopping store this soon leads them both to a hotel room where she spends the night with him. After that what happens is through funny consequences and it's completely funny. The whole cast do a brilliant and are all great fun to watch. I'd give this film a try if your just looking for laughs because I certainly enjoyed this film very much.
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skallisjr16 June 2007This is not a profound film, nor is it intended to be. The story starts off simply: a housewife, Marjorie, is married to a doctor, Harry. Harry is part of a family of doctors that is so close-knit that there should have been adhesions among its members. Marjorie is such a dedicated wife that she stifles her inclinations to be a writer to help bring harmony to her husband's family, particularly when they have "family meetings." Marjory has a younger sister who is something of a free spirit, and she tells Marjorie that the best thing for a marriage like hers would be if she had an affair.
Harry's older brother, also a doctor, to be sure, is returning to the United States after acting as a missionary-style physician in a third-world country. Naturally, the family wants to hold a welcome-home party, and, naturally, Marjorie is supposed to take care of preparing it. When she's in a market making arrangements for the party, she's picked up by a man who is very sympathetic with her stifled life, and in time, they take a hotel room and have sex multiple times.
Spoilers follow.
After their last encounter, Marjorie discovers that her bedmate has died. Flustered, she gets dressed and leaves the room with haste, bumping into a salesman. The salesman has been unsuccessful in selling window appointments, and is determined to make a sale to the hotel. Naturally, he sneaks into the room where the corpse is, and after trying to trim a window, thinks that his actions have caused the man to die. Previously, he found Marjorie's identification, and contacts her. She speeds back to the hotel to pick up the incriminating evidence, not realizing that the salesman thinks he was the agent of the victim's demise.
As the picture progresses, like any good comedy, the harder people try to rectify things, the further enmeshed they become.
There are some fine lines in the picture, and a few plot twists as good as anything from the screwball comedies of the 1930s and 1940s, even though this film wouldn't have passed the Hayes office back then.
It's not a great film, but it is a lot of gentle fun. -
DPerson62628 June 2003If you like Kirstie Ally you will enjoy this movie. You wont go away any smarter than you were before, but that isn't what I watch movies for. It is about a repressed wife (Kirstie) of a doctor who is more married to his family than to her. Her irrepressible sister (Jamie Gurtz) convinces her that she should have an affair to spice up her life. When she follows that advice it sets off a chain of events that, if you have any sense of humor at all, will bring on the chuckles. I would recommend this picture to anyone wanting to fill in an hour and a half with some light and uncomplicated entertainment. 6/10 would be about right for the genre.
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whitneywilde8 March 2011There are times when I just need mental popcorn, so If you are looking for a silly movie, this is it. I love this movie - it's got some great lines and Sam Elliott. This amazing cast is a trivia lover's dream: Rebecca from Cheers, Princess Leia, Beckett from Quantum Leap, Al Bundy, Muffy from Square Pegs, the husband from Maude and more. Bill Pullman is a great supporting actor.
I want Sam Elliott's voice to make love to me. To this day, there are times I remember that line "It wasn't sex, it was GOOD!"
I give it 8 out of 10 stars for it's genre: chick flick romantic comedy. -
B-movie comedy that starts well but wraps up weak towards the end although if one is a big Alley fan,you won't really mind for she is so funny and sexy here.Below average screenplay,directing and cinematography.Only for the actors fans and big romance situation comedy fans......
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quietblackbelt4 February 2003This movie is the worst thing one could waste their time on. I have to disagree with the people who call this film 'good entertainment' and 'funny' for my friend and I do not feel quite the same way. We too 'ran into the movie by coincidence' but we were walking around or local video store looking for a random movie rather than shopping the bargain bins at the local K-Mart. We took the movie home and watched it, but did not happen to find 'a great little funny movie.' In fact, if the video hadn't been property of the video store, my friend and I would have taken the tape out back and burned it in effigy right at the credits started to roll. This movie was that bad.
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purduegrad-4765318 July 2023Kirstie Alley was a great comedic actress. (Outside of her controversial off camera image.). She was very natural on the screen. She is dearly missed.
Kirstie plays a very naive house wife (Marjorie). She's married to a v self absorbed doctor (Scott Bakula) who is completely controlled by his family - parents and sister (Carrie Fisher).
Kirstie (Marjorie) is repressed and unhappy. She has a v open minded, free spirited sister, Jami Gertz.
One day Kirstie meets a v distinguished gentleman (Sam Elliott) at the grocery store and they hit it off. Kirstie goes out to lunch w him and opens up about her life.
It turns out this gentleman is related to her husband. After getting involved w him, Kirstie manages to take a risk and "mess" up her life.
She finally wakes up and realizes she's free from her repressed life and her controlling in-law's and their family.
Her husband realizes he loves her over his family. This movie is a comedic delight. Showcases Kirstie's comedic naturalness and timing. Also she looks so pretty in this movie. Funny, zany, light hearted, cozy and cute movie about suburban living. -
Bernie444428 January 2024Marjorie (Crystan Leas) started life with a rebel attitude. After getting married her (Kirstie Alley) life was defined as "the wife" of Harry Turner. Harry is one of many doctors in the Turner family and he is ignored for the most part. With encouragement from her sister Jeanine (Jami Gertz) and a chanced encounter with a stranger, Marjorie is persuaded to break out of her shell. She does and so sets many strange relationships in motion.
You may guess the plot, but you will never keep up with the twists and turns in this comedy. Overshadowed at first by the other actors and the plot, it is Bill Pullman that pulls this all together as the "blind salesman." He becomes the catalyst for all the other subplots.
Ed O'Neill plays Capt. Wilbur Meany, an aspiring police officer, and a downright good guy. It takes a little time to not think of him as Al Bundy in Married with Children (1987).
There are more interesting parts to this movie, but something that I keep remembering is after Marjorie Turner played by Kirstie Alley confesses to her sister that she took her advice and starts down stars she pushes her way through the crowd saying, "I'm saying excuse me!" With that "Kirstie" voice. -
alexpeychev23 March 2024"Sibling Rivalry" (1990) is a comedy film that assembles all the wheels, pistons, and gears, but somehow fails to produce a satisfying ride. Here's a review:
Plot Summary: The film follows Vinnie Verducci (played by Matt LeBlanc), an intellectually-challenged man, and his chronically-unemployed father, Charlie Verducci (played by Joseph Bologna), who share an apartment. When Vinnie gets involved in a fling that ends disastrously, he unwittingly sets off a chain of events involving love, deception, and cover-ups.
Review: "Sibling Rivalry" is a black comedy that can withstand the test of time. The lively script remains relevant, and the cast delivers uniformly excellent performances. Matt LeBlanc's portrayal of Vinnie balances humor and vulnerability, while Joseph Bologna adds heart to the film. The dark subject matter (adultery leading to death) provides terrific material for this type of comedy.
Director Carl Reiner, however, fails to make the mechanism purr. The film lacks the manic frenzy and timing of the best screwball comedies. While the plot unfolds in revolving-door situations, the energy level remains low. Certain scenes, like the nearsighted surgeon, cry out for the twisted spin that Blake Edwards would have provided.
The lesson here is that screwball is not just a series of events; it's a state of mind. The best screwball comedies involve allegedly serious people trying intensely to accomplish something important while oblivious to the chaos around them. Unfortunately, "Sibling Rivalry" lacks that manic energy.