Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar
review by Bobby Blakey
In 2011 Kristen Wiig and Anne Marie Mumolo teamed up to write the hit film Bridesmaids that Wiig also starred in. Now the two are teaming up once again to write and both star in the new comedy Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar co-starring Jamie Dornan, Damon Wayans Jr., Fortune Feimster, Wendi McLeandon-Covey, Rose Abdoo, Vanessa Bayer, Phyllis Smith, and Kwame Patterson with Josh Greenbaum in the director’s chair.
Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar follows lifelong friends Barb and Star embark on the adventure of a lifetime when they decide to leave their small Midwestern town for the first time…ever. Romance, friendship and a villain’s evil plot…hold onto your culottes. The trailers for this movie have been fun and hilarious, but like most you can often be deceived by the way trailers are put together. I was looking forward to the cast and idea presented here and right out the gate there was a lot more to the story than I expected and have to admit I loved it.
This is a ridiculous silly movie in the best possible way. It screamed thinks like dumb and dumber and Austin Powers to me with a touch of soccer mom thrown in for good measure. Wiig and Mumolo are hilarious together bringing these two silly characters to life with so much innocence, love, fun and all around confusion that makes them people both annoying and lovable all at once. The film kicks off with the young boy delivering papers and singing as in the trailer, but then goes in a unexpected direction I won’t mention here just know there is more than Barb and Star’s vacation at work.
Jamie Dornan steps in the leading man role as well as you might expect and while I am not a huge fan he chews up the laughs pretty well here. The rest of the cast carry their weight as well to bring the laughs coming with some of my favorite and not enough, sequences with their talking group that is funny and
strange in its own right. Most notably the always hilarious Fortune Feimster who is toned down but sporting a great new hairdo and bringing the laughs per usual. Make no mistake this is an over the top silly and often times dumb comedy that just kept me smiling throughout. Whether it is the genius of Wiig and Mumolo’s performanes, writing or just the clouded judgement of Covid quarantine I for one had a great time and think this is exactly the kind of movie we need right now to bring more joy into the world.
This release not only includes the film but bonus content including commentary, bloopers, deleted scenes, and featurettes takin you behind the laughs. Head out for a fun filled vacation and grab your copy of Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar available now on Blu-ray and DVD from Lionsgate Home Entertainmen.