Other Sister, The

San Francisco Examiner Walter Addiego

Marshall has an astounding instinct for popular entertainment. He's done it again with The Other Sister.

USA Today Susan Wloszczyna

Consider The Other Sister emotional quicksand. [26 February 1999, Life, p.5E]

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Skillfully acted, idealized, uneven.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey

The movie is, however, generous in its condescension: Given enough tolerance, cash and a good sex manual, it says, even the mentally handicapped can be just as middle-class and cute as you or me.

Chicago Tribune Mark Caro

Falls into a familiar trap, resembling a neatly wrapped made-for-TV homily. [26 February 1999, Friday, p.A]

San Francisco Chronicle Edward Guthmann

Neutralizes these characters, makes them cute and one-dimensional like fluffy dolls.

Variety Lael Loewenstein

A sweet, at times cloying confection enlivened by strong performances in the central roles.

TV Guide Sandra Contreras

Attempting to force the story into a romantic comedy template compels Marshall to gloss over the disturbing aspects his characters' disabilities, frequently forcing Ribisi and Lewis to act the part of noble fools.

Washington Post Desson Thomson

The humor works beautifully until Marshall decides to beat the comedy over the head and drum us, once again, with this relentless message: "Mentally challenged people in love say the darndest things!"

The New York Times Stephen Holden

What redeems the film…are its three outstanding performances.

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

Oscillates bewilderingly between contrived and insightful, mechanical and sincere, clumsy and graceful.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

Two agonizing hours of lifeless, mind-numbing hogwash.

Washington Post Rita Kempley

The Other Sister is sanctimonious, sanitized fare primarily preoccupied with patting its own back and plucking our heartstrings.

Austin Chronicle Russell Smith

There's little to recommend this movie, which is part and parcel with Marshall's schlock-dominated body of work.

Entertainment Weekly Gillian Flynn

Still, there's no mistaking the central message: Slow people have much to teach us. Or is it: Slow people -- aren't they funny? Either way, it's pretty vile stuff.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

Shameless in its use of mental retardation as a gimmick, a prop and a plot device. Anyone with any knowledge of retardation is likely to find the film offensive.

Village Voice Dennis Lim

Plunging headfirst into mush at every opportunity, Marshall brings out the worst in his actors.

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

By coddling viewers and micromanaging our responses, The Other Sister shows almost as little respect for the audience as Elizabeth does for her feisty, underappreciated daughter.

Film Threat Ron Wells

I'm going to beat my head into a wall until I relieve myself of the memory of this film that was, well, retarded.

Rolling Stone Staff (Not credited)

It's not the emphasis on tics and grimaces that mars their essentially well-meaning performances, it’s the sitcom crassness of director and co-writer Garry Marshall.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Nathan Rabin

Contrived, clueless, reprehensible.