Sibling Rivalry

PG-13

Released Oct 26, 1990

1 hr. 28 min.

Comedy

List

25%

12 Reviews

Tomatometer

32%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Encouraged by her sister, Marjorie Turner (Kirstie Alley) has a tryst with a handsome stranger, Charles (Sam Elliott), but it ends when he dies of a heart attack in a hotel. Marjorie bolts, but she mistakenly leaves her driver's license behind. Hotel visitor Nicholas Meany (Bill Pullman) finds the license but also accidentally whacks Charles' corpse on the head. Thinking he killed Charles, Nicholas contacts Marjorie for help, and together they try to steer clear of blame.

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M B

I know this movie falls flat in many places, and technically, it's not a good movie. But it's still worth it, because when it is funny- it's really funny. Kirsty Alley just nails her scenes, she's hilarious when she cries. And it's an all star cast- they are all terrific- it's not their fault the scenes don't work.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/24

Full Review

Trafalgar L

"Sibling Rivalry" tells the story of Marjorie Turner (Kirstie Alley), a housewife who feels neglected by her husband Harry (Scott Bakula) and is constantly overshadowed by his family who are also in the medical field. Dissatisfied with her life she takes the advice of her younger sister (Jami Gertz) and has an affair with a stranger. Unbeknownst to her she ends up sleeping with her brother-in-law, Charles (Sam Elliott), and to make matters worse he dies from a fatal heart attack while they're in the process. Now Marjorie is guilt ridden, and caught in between the drama of Harry and his family while her sister is seeing a police officer (Ed O'Neill.) She enlists the help of a jumpy curtain salesman (Bill Pullman) to stage Charles's death as a suicide. But, eventually she knows that she can no longer hide the truth and she worries that it will cost her everything. While the initial idea seems a bit farcical I personally found this movie to be a hilarious one. From Kristie Alley's orgasm to her hysterical crying and emotional breakdown. It's one of Carl Reiner's best and it's criminally underrated. A movie about a family affair that is a family affair all on its own. Highly Recommend!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/02/24

Full Review

laini f

It was funny & had an all star cast.. What more can you ask for?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A VERY funny romantic/sex farce. My wife and I have watched this movie several times over the years, and it never fails to elicit belly laughs. It may not be a critics' choice, but it is beyond me how average adult viewers could give this gem poor reviews. (I suspect they must be either prudes, or have no sense of humor.) Highly recommend it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/28/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Unfunny, unoriginal, & not romantic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A decent sitcom. here rating isn't fair...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

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Carl Reiner

Director

Kirstie Alley

Marjorie Turner

Bill Pullman

Nicholas Meany

Carrie Fisher

Iris Turner-Hunter

Jami Gertz

Jeanine

Scott Bakula

Harry Turner

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Juan Carlos Coto

Miami Herald

The movie puts its characters into one of the most hilarious predicaments we've seen in a while. But the punch line doesn't deliver.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 18, 2021

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Here is a comedy so lifeless and mechanical that the main diversion is in watching the way the pieces go together.

Rated: 1.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: F

Oct 26, 1990

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a watchable (albeit thoroughly forgettable) endeavor that feels like it could (and should) have been much, much better.

Rated: 2.5/4

Dec 10, 2022

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Inept cinema that provokes perplexity. [Full review in Spanish]

Oct 26, 2022

Full Review

Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Pleasant farce comedy with likable characters (and no sibling rivalry).

Dec 4, 2016

Full Review

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Synopsis

Encouraged by her sister, Marjorie Turner (Kirstie Alley) has a tryst with a handsome stranger, Charles (Sam Elliott), but it ends when he dies of a heart attack in a hotel. Marjorie bolts, but she mistakenly leaves her driver's license behind. Hotel visitor Nicholas Meany (Bill Pullman) finds the license but also accidentally whacks Charles' corpse on the head. Thinking he killed Charles, Nicholas contacts Marjorie for help, and together they try to steer clear of blame.

Director: Carl Reiner
Executive Producer: George Shapiro, Howard West
Screenwriter: Martha Goldhirsh
Distributor: MGM Home Entertainment, Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Nelson Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 26, 1990, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 30, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $16.8M
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR