When two friends decide to embark on an adventure to Florida, one may have a few ideas of how things will go. Perhaps a day at the beach, dinner at the hotel restaurant, and some sightseeing and other fun summer activities. Well, this is all true in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, but it is also so much more.
When our protagonists Barb (Annie Mumolo) and Star (Kristen Wiig) get fired from their jobs at a local furniture store, the duo is a little down on themselves. Unsure of what to do next, a run-in with a friend (Wendi McLendon-Covey) puts them onto the idea of visiting Vista Del Mar, Florida. While Star is initially taken by the idea, Barb needs a little convincing. However, in the end, the two set out for a raucous adventure that is extremely weird and messy, but ultimately hilarious.
If you’ve seen the trailer for Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, let me just say that nothing prepares you for the madness that ensues throughout the film. With a script from Wiig and Mumolo, the movie is zany and ridiculous, and yet, it completely works. There is a lot that is crammed into the film’s funtime, with one nonsensical thing coming after another, but it’s sure to keep you laughing. Aside from writing the script, Mumolo and Wiig also play our main protagonists in the film, and their chemistry with one another is once again great. You’ll likely fondly remember the pair seated beside each other on a plane in the film Bridesmaids (making for one of the film’s most hilarious moments) and this is the kind of hilarity that ensues in Barb and Star.
Adding to the humour is Jamie Dornan as Edgar, a role that sees Dornan flex his comedic chops. As my only previous knowledge of Dornan’s work are serious characters, such as Paul Spector in The Fall and Jack in Endings, Beginnings (no, I haven’t seen the 50 Shades films), I wasn’t exactly sure how Dornan would fair alongside Wiig and Mumolo. However, Dornan is surprising in the role and manages to pull everything off with ease, including a little musical number that might get stuck in your head. Another welcome addition to the cast is newcomer Reyn Doi as Yoyo. As Doi’s Yoyo opens the film, his character sets the tone for the film, all while making you laugh Yoyo pedals down the street, tossing papers in lackadaisical fashion on his paper route. As young as Doi is, his comedic timing is impeccable and I look forward to seeing him in many more things in the future.
A plethora of comedies exist, but I cannot recall one (at least not recently) that has fully committed to so much insanity in one sitting. It’s likely that you’ve never seen a story about friendship that goes through so many twists and turns and this is what makes Barb and Star unforgettable. There is absurdity abound in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, a healthy dose of hilarity and a wide array of surprises to keep the audience entertained. Pairing all of this with great performances by the entire cast, Barb and Star is a memorable movie that will likely leave you wondering “WTF?!” but in the very best way possible.
While I don’t know if Barb and Star will be a hit for all audience members, I do believe it will strike the right chords with the right viewers to become something akin to a cult classic comedy. Regardless, it is still a film that everyone should check out – even if it is just for the wackiness of it all.
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