Nice guy Robert Strong (a fine and charming performance by John Savage) returns home after traveling all around America. Robert is reunited with his fiercely competitive failed writer and compulsive gambler brother Edward (a solid turn by Will MacMillan). Robert gets involved with Edward's sassy estranged wife Joanna (winningly played with saucy spirit by the stunningly gorgeous Anne Saxon). Things get more complicated when Edward asks Robert to do him a favor by driving to Canada and delivering a special package for him. Edward's adorable mistress Deborah Holt (an endearingly sweet portrayal by the extremely cute Meredith Baer) tags along for the ride. Writer/director Joseph Ruben, who later did such excellent thrillers as "The Stepfather" and "True Believer," concocts a decidedly offbeat and laid-back character-driven feature that's essentially about sibling rivalry and loyalty. Fortunely, the strong acting from Savage and MacMillan carries the film and keeps things engrossing throughout. Savage in particular is outstanding; he projects a very engaging sense of purity and naiveté as the wide-eyed Robert. Moreover, Savage also composed the neatly eclectic score and sings several terrific songs on the soundtrack. Bruce G. Sparks' polished cinematography likewise does the trick. The brutal surprise downbeat ending is absolutely devastating. Granted, this picture does deliver the expected tasty female nudity and a few hot soft-core sex scenes, but it's by no means your standard sleazy serving of 70's drive-in exploitation trash. Instead it's a satisfyingly idiosyncratic affair which qualifies as a real unjustly neglected sleeper.
Review of The Sister in Law
