Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar Review: A Goofy, Bizarre, And Wholly Entertaining Buddy-Comedy
- naterichard98
- Feb 16, 2021
- 3 min read
DIRECTED BY: JOSH GREENBAUM STARRING: KRISTEN WIIG, ANNIE MUMOLO, & JAMIE DORNAN
RATED PG-13 FOR CRUDE SEXUAL CONTENT, DRUG USE AND SOME STRONG LANGUAGE
LENGTH: 107 MINUTES
It's a bit crazy to think that despite how big of a hit Bridesmaids was, it has taken nearly ten years for writers/actresses Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo to write another comedy together. Especially after their big breakout earned them an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay (a rare feat for a studio comedy), the pair haven't worked together on a film since 2011. Wiig has certainly been building up quite the resume since her SNL and Bridesmaids days starring in high profile films from the likes of Paul Feig's Ghostbusters redo, the Despicable Me franchise, Ridley Scott's The Martian, Ben Stiller's The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and most recently she took on the role of the villainous Cheetah in Patty Jenkins' superhero sequel Wonder Woman 1984. Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar marks Wiig and Mumolo's first collaboration since the film that made them household names, a film that was initially set to debut in theaters late last summer, which was then pushed back to late this summer, and then was finally pushed up to Valentine's Day weekend, opting out of a theatrical release and banking in on a digital one.
Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar finds Wiig and Mumolo playing the titular duo; two middle-aged best friends living in the Midwest, who find their quaint and happy-go-lucky life tested when they lose their jobs at the local furniture store. After hearing about the magical Vista Del Mar, Florida from their friend Mickey (Wendi McLendon-Covey), the culottes loving pair decide to take a vacation which leads them being unknowingly entangled in the evil plot of the villainous Sharon Gordon Fisherman (also Wiig).
For most audience members, Barb & Star is either going to work for them or it's going to fail miserably. It's a comedy that harkens back to the days of goofy PG-13 comedies from the likes of Mike Myers' Austin Powers trilogy, as well as the Bill & Ted franchise. It's the kind of comedy that is completely unafraid to get bizarre and will never turn away from having the occasional random musical-number. Wiig & Mumolo remain completely committed to their characters and both share great chemistry with one another. Though the film's true scene-stealer is Jamie Dornan, who proves that comedy may just be his calling, in the role of Wiig's love interest. Dornan also makes way for one of the film's most memorable and funniest moments in a song and dance number about seagulls (yes, you heard that right).
One of the most surprising elements of this sun-soaked comedy is the visual flair of Josh Greenbaum's direction. In what is easily one of the best-looking studio comedy in quite some time, Barb & Star uses it's tropical setting to it's advantage, there's rarely a dull shot in the film.
Barb & Star isn't a perfect comedy. There's quite a few of the jokes here that fall flat and many of film's talented cast-members outside of Wiig, Mumolo, and Dornan, feel underused. That being said, when the humor works, the jokes without question hit hard. It'd be none to surprising to see this become a cult-comedy in the coming years.
Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar is one of the biggest surprises in awhile, it's a film that could have easily have been built around a central schtick, but the film's cast, direction, and sense of humor are really what make this as memorable as it is.
3.5/5 Stars
Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar is now available to rent on Premium Video On Demand.
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