Fresh off her stint as Wonder Woman’s nemesis in ‘WW84‘, Kristen Wiig is back! She’s paired up with her ‘Bridesmaids‘ co-writer friend Annie Mumolo to write and portray Barb and Star. Two middle-aged women on the verge of … something?
Trying to write a synopsis for this movie is somewhat pointless. Is it a funny musical? A parody along the lines of Austin Powers or just a goofball comedy that fits in snuggly with the likes of Zoolander? The answer to all those questions is a confounding yes!
Barb and Star live together, work together and are basically weird together. When they lose their jobs, a friend suggests they take a trip to Vista Del Mar to get their groove back. Both women have been single and afraid to mingle since their husband left, slash, died and decide to go for it. Unbeknownst to them, a pale skinned supervillain (also played by Wiig) is planning a vicious mosquito attack on the Florida beach resort.
Going “huh, what” yet? So was I. Don’t watch this movie if you need every little plot detail to make sense. None of it does. It’s as if Wiig and Mumolo found and used a container of recreational drugs moments before writing this movie. There’s an oddball joke crammed into every second of the screenplay. You never knew you wanted Jamie Dornan singing a ballad to a seagull until this duo unleashed it on you.
For every hilarious joke that sticks the landing there are just as many that don’t even come close. But you have to commend this duo on going full tilt crazy. The oddities add up to something unflinchingly silly that wins you over, whether you really want it to or not.
Review – ‘Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar’
Reviewed online, February 14 2021, Rating: MA15+. Running Time: 107 min.
PRODUCTION: A Lionsgate release of a Gloria Sanchez Productions, Lionsgate, Stellie production. Producer: Jessica Elbaum (p.g.a.), Will Ferrell, Margot Hand, Adam McKay, Annie Mumolo (p.g.a.), Kristen Wiig (p.g.a.). Executive producer: Jonathan McCoy.
CREW: Director: Josh Greenbaum. Screenplay: Annie Mumolo, Kristen Wiig. Cinematography: Toby Oliver. Editing: Steve Welch. Music: Christopher Lennertz, Dara Taylor.
CAST: Annie Mumolo, Kristen Wiig, Jamie Dornan, Reyn Doi, Vanessa Bayer, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Fortune Feimster, Phyllis Smith, Rose Abdoo, Michael Hitchcock, Damon Wayans Jr..
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