Search - Sibling Rivalry on DVD

Pretty Darn Funny

Scott FS | Sacramento, CA United States | 08/29/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

""It must have made an impact!" (Marjorie Turner explaining her affair to her husband.)



Kirstie Alley plays Marjorie Turner, who is married, somewhat unhappily, to Harry Turner (Scott Bakula), a physician in a family of physicians. She is very much the repressed housewife, running the household while hubby is more interested in his work than her.



Her wacky sister, Jeanine (Jami Gertz), suggests an affair (is this ever a good idea in films?). Marjorie is susceptible, and meets a handsome older man in the grocery store. They have a one-time only affair, and the movie is set in motion.



Directed by Carl Reiner, the movie is funny, enjoyable, and well-acted. Alley gives one of her better efforts here, alternately playing a frazzled housewife, a contrite adulteress, a co-conspirator, an advice-giver and a fabricator of ever-increasingly tall tales. Bill Pullman plays Nicholas Meany, an akward, failed salesman, who's desperate for one last chance. He just picks the wrong hotel room to ply his wares.



Bakula isn't on screen much, and given his character of an up-tight, nerdy gastroenterologist, he doesn't have a chance to display much range. Jamie Gertz does a good job playing the ditzy sis, and Ed O'Neill does equally as well as the law enforcement half of the Meany brothers.



Recommended. An all-around above-average effort."

Sibling Rivalry - A Family Tree Becomes A Family Bush

Scott FS | 03/05/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I found this movies so funny and mind-bending. About a women, who is bored with her husband, is persuaded to have an affair by her sister. Marjorie does have an affair: unwittingly, with her husband's brother. Talk about loving someone to death! A salesman, Nick, enters the hotel room, with the body under the covers. He tries to install vertical blinds, and they fall on the head of the dead chap in bed (Charles Jr.). Nick thought that he killed Charles. He manages to call Marjorie, to tell about the news of the death of what he thought to be her husband. Both of them find themselves in a sticky-wicket. Neither can contact the officials (for Marjorie's husband [Harry] and his family are doctors, and Nick's brother is a policeman.) So they try to make it appear that Charles committed suicide. Brothers and sisters of Marjorie, Harry, Nick, all get involved somehow or another. It's difficult to give details without either confusing you or giving too much information away. The cast is good. Kirstie Alley as Marjorie Turner; Bill Pullman as Nick; Scott Bakula as Harry Turner (who, by the way, looks absolutly gorgeous with longer hair and beard at the end); Sam Elliot as Charles Jr. Turner; Jami Gertz as Marjorie's sister, Jenenne; etc. Three families intertwine so much that they are no longer family trees, but a family bush. Enjoy!"

A Family Tree Becomes A Family Bush

mary wahl | Canada | 03/08/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I found this movie so funny and mind-bending. About a woman, Marjorie Turner, who is so bored with her husband, Harry Turner, is persuaded to have an affair by her sister, Jeanine. Marjorie does, indeed, have the affair (which is against her character): Unwittingly, with her husband's brother, Charles Turner Jr. Talk about loving someone to death! A salesman, Nick, enters the hotel room, with the body under the covers. He tries to install vertical blinds, and they fall on the head of the dead chap. Nick thought that he killed Charles. He manages to call Marjorie, to tell her about the news of the death of what he thought to be her husband. (Marjorie tripped over Nick's blinds, things spill out of her purse. She hurries into the lift before Nick discovers her wallet.) Both of them find themselves in a sticky-wicket. Neither can contact the officials (for Marjorie's husband and his family are doctors, and Nick's brother is a policeman.) So they try to make it appear that Charles committed suicide. Brothers and sisters of Marjorie, Harry, and Nick all get involved somehow or another. It's difficult to give details without confusing you (as I said, it's mind-bending) and/or giving out too much information. Kirstie Alley is Marjorie Turner; Bill Pullman is Nick; Scott Bakula is Harry Turner (who, by the way, looks absolutly gorgeous with longer hair and beard at the end); Sam Elliot is Charles Turner Jr.; Jami Gertz is Jeanine; etc. Three families intertwine so much that they are no longer family trees, but a family bush! Enjoy!"

Rolling on the floor laughing

California Dreamin | San Francisco, CA United States | 03/31/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are not many movies I can watch 6 times and enjoy every
time. Kirstie Alley, Sam Eliott, Ed O'Neil, and Carrie Fisher
are all at their best, and this commedy does not hold back any
opportunity to score laughs."