Awww… The comfort of ‘Middle Age’ life soothes as you settle into your 40’s. What can beat a good job, good friends, and a comfy pair of culottes? So, what could possibly could make ‘Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar’?
Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo answer that very question as they write and star in their brand new Comedy!
The Plot
Barb and Star have their group of friends, their jobs with a comfy couch, and their shared house. Life is comfortable in Soft Rock, Nebraska.
It would take a lot for our Middle Aged gals from the MidWest to drop everything and head out on vacation!
Soon enough, Barb and Star find themselves with a lot less to lose. Barb, played by Annie Mumolo, and Star, played by Kristen Wiig, run into an old friend who just got back from vacation. Mickey Revelet, played by Wendi McLendon-Covey, had such a blast at Vista Del Mar, she’s practically glowing.
What follows is a fun romp to South Florida while inadvertently fighting Kristen Wiig’s version of Dr. Evil, Sharon Gordon Fisherman, and her evil henchmen.
One of those henchmen, Edgar Paget, played by Jamie Dornan, is dispatched to Vista Del Mar to carry out her evil bidding. Edgar must plant a homing device so genetically manipulated murder mosquitos finally, FINALLY, get Sharon her revenge!
The Good – Barb And Star
In a dual role as credible as Mike Myers in Austin Powers, Wiig shines as both our heroine Starbra, and our rather pale villain, Sharon Gordon Fisherman. Equally adept at adding depth to the simple Star, and gravitas to the Bond-villain-esque Sharon, Wiig jumps both characters off the screen.
Barb and Star’s more than slightly co-dependent relationship and sheltered existence get tested quickly.
As they arrive in Vista Del Mar, a ‘Soul Douche’ musical number and drinking challenge bring our duo into Fifty Shades-style contact with Jamie Dornan’s Edgar. Our henchman is bad at being bad, and soon must deal with another henchman, who’s even worse at being bad.
Both, Barb and Star, seem to have feelings for Edgar after their tryst, but their paths diverge as their vacation goes along. Star spends more and more time with Edgar, and Barb realizes all of her vacation fantasies she and Barb had day dreamed about back in Nebraska.
By the time Sharon gets to Vista Del Mar to carry out her evil plan, herself, Barb and Star must confront their own issues, and each other.
The Bad – Barb And Star
There’s very little bad about this movie. Most of the usual pitfalls of comedies like this seem to be avoided.
The story is kept simple, with most of the focus kept on our central relationship/characters. The outlandish comedic moments all work within the context of the story and point of view of our characters.
The only real critique I have is with the character of Yo Yo, played by 12 year old Reyn Doi. Doi’s performance is perfectly fine, it’s just the usage of his character that seems off.
Yo Yo is the first character we meet in the film, and walks into Sharon’s evil lair as one of her henchmen. But, he disappears for much of the film. It feels like he may have originally had a bigger part to play in the film, but may have been largely cut out for pacing, timing, and streamlining the story.
Not a huge critique, but given his big presence in the beginning, his absence feels missing.
The Review
Our Co-Writers and Co-Leads, Wiig and Mumolo received Co-Oscar Nominated for their Co-Screenwriting on Bridesmaids a Co-Decade ago. While Barb and Star is a solid comedy, it’s not in the same category as Bridesmaids.
Strong from beginning to end, ‘Barb and Star’ lets the little moments of Barb and Star’s friendship breathe. We follow the intimate minutia of their shared little world, and get to feel the pain of their shared history.
The smaller character moments fit perfectly with the increasingly superlative comedic scenes. The teased out hair and culottes shine just as bright as the murder mosquitos and villains shot out of a cannon.
Definitely worth a watch! You’ll be speaking with an over-the-top MidWest accent by the end of this film. AND, you may even try on some CULOTTES! Lol…
Rated PG-13, 107 Minutes.
Additional Information
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3797512
Other Comedy Reviews by Dragon Movie Guy
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Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo write and headline 'Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar.' The duo play friends from Nebraska on vacation in Florida in this PG-13 Comedy.
