Sisters review: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler party hard in this bawdy Bridesmaids-esque comedy

Frat-boy humour gets a refreshing feminine spin in Sisters, where Saturday Night Live alumni Tina Fey and Amy Poehler get back in touch with their party-hardy youth. You may recognise them as the hosts of the Golden Globes for the last few years - and doing a fine and funny job of it, too - so a big screen showcase for their double-act feels long overdue, and even if this one runs low on ideas, the girls bring it home.

In classic odd couple style, Fey is the fun but irresponsible type as Kate Ellis, traits clearly signified by the plunging necklines, short skirts and a notice of eviction from her landlord. She's also a single mum, which was inevitable having spent her high school years mostly "studying" male anatomy. That's in contrast to Poehler as Maura Ellis, the shy awkward one who always puts the needs of others first.

Both, however, are bent out of shape when their parents (a chucklesome James Brolin and Dianne Wiest) announce that they're selling the family pile in Florida to enjoy a new life of leisure. Fey conveys her displeasure by rolling around on the front lawn, shrieking, but even if she plays it a bit too broad sometimes, Poehler balances her out with a dazzling array of goggle-eyed deadpan expressions.

With the folks already moved out, the girls are back in town to clear their old bedroom, but unable to resist one last hit of nostalgia, Kate puts the word out on Facebook that the Ellis girls are gonna party like it's 1989 - and everyone is invited. Everyone, that is, except Maya Rudolph (fellow SNL alumnus and the bride from Bridesmaids) playing Kate's old nemesis. There isn't much plot to speak of, but Rudolph adds a bit of spice with her determination to crash the party, or ruin it for everyone.

The other big mission is to get Maura laid. She has her eye on the hunk down the road (Ike Barinholtz) but her brilliantly blunt chat-up skills - "Did you see your parents die?" - may mean she hits a dead end. His fondness for gardening ensures a lot of "bush" jokes too, but a scene where he ends up sitting on a twirling ballerina music box isn't eye-watering for the right reasons.

It's the verbal jockeying between the girls that gets the most laughs - more than the in-your-face American Pie stuff - plus the big barrel of fun that is Bobby Moynihan, bouncing off the walls on a mislaid bag coke.

Pitch Perfect director Jason Moore indulges in a few too many tangents as well, dragging out the final third act when the party eventually comes to an end. But even though the movie is very loosely plotted and slightly outstays its welcome, Fey and Poehler have perfect comic timing and it's the ripe and racy patter between them that keeps the energy levels up when most people would just call it a night.

Director: Jason Moore; Screenwriters: Paula Pell Starring: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, John Cena, Maya Rudolph; Running time: 118 mins; Certificate: PG-13