Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar
Starring Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo, Jamie Dornan, Damon Wayans Jr.
Directed by Josh Greenbaum
There are films that were supposed to be funny, but managed to take themselves so seriously that it took the comedy out of it entirely. Then there are others that were supposed to be serious but was so haphazardly done that it turned into an irreverent comedy. Rarely is there a film that's supposed to be a comedy, and actually achieves its goal due to the fact that no one takes it seriously enough to dampen the mood, but seriously enough to maintain a sense of real humor throughout without missing a beat or even breaking a sweat, making it feel effortless. "Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar" is one such rarity, a film that seemed totally stupid in the trailer, and proved itself to be just as stupid as the trailer, but in the most intellectual way possible.
Lifelong friends Barb (Annie Mumolo) and Star (Kristen Wiig) live together in their small Nebraska town after loosing their husbands, and haven't really experienced the outside world at all. They're content with their job, their friends, and their little humdrum lives - until they lose their job, and their friends kick them out of their talking club. Wanting a change, they take up the advice of another friend and head to Vista Del Mar, Florida, for a week-long friends excursion.
Meanwhile, the evil Sharon Gordon Fisherman (Kristen Wiig) is hatching a diabolical plan - to unleash poisonous mosquitoes on the town of Vista Del Mar after a traumatic encounter there as a child. She enlists her top agent Edgar (Jamie Dornan) to deliver the poison to the town before the mosquitoes arrive, and he eagerly obliges due to his infatuation with her. However, when he runs into Barb and Star at the bar one night, he becomes enamored with Star, causing a rift between the two friends and threatening Sharon's evil plan from coming true.
"Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar" is one of those films whose plot isn't really necessary, or doesn't even have to make sense at all, to fully accomplish its goal. It's downright hilarious from start to finish, a feat that's hardly achieved anymore, and any small moment the entire movie could've fallen down a dark, un-comedic path, but it never faltered. There was never a moment of pure seriousness throughout, even as the two middle-aged women fought for their lives, the laughs remained constant.
This comes from the indelible styling of Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, co-writers of the Oscar-nominated comedy "Bridesmaids," and who also co-wrote this film as well. The two have been friends for decades, and their real-life friendship shows with every scene between Barb and Star, making you fully believe in their unbreakable friendship while also showcasing each of their comedic talents on their own separate adventures as each try to woo the handsome Edgar behind each others' backs, but not in a malicious way. In fact, these two are such good friends that they each feel bad about lying to the other over the most trivial things, and you know that their bond will continue throughout their small bumps in the road, such as both falling for the same man or facing certain death at the hands of a mad-woman. Through it all, they maintain their silliness and wild antics, walking the fine line of comedy that's so rarely done where you're completely engrossed in their tale and find yourself laughing gut-enchantingly several times, especially as they embark on their Bond-style adventure with instant cutaways to their former friends' talking circle.
Yet the standout star is Jamie Dornan, who finally manages to escape his more serious roles in films like "Fifty Shades of Grey" and "Robin Hood" to fully let loose and be as silly as he can be. Then there's Damon Wayans Jr. as the most inept spy in history, who accidentally let his name and home address be known in their first meeting, and continually proving his own incompetence.
A film like this is something that we all need more today than ever, in a world filled with stress, anger, division, and hatred. A film that's wildly colorful in aesthetics and performances, a film that doesn't take itself seriously nor allows the audience to do. A film that isn't an exceptional, Oscar-worthy piece, but one that's highly satisfying and a sweet surprise in its own right. A film that doesn't let up on the comedy and heralds back to the classic styling of Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett. A film that will make you forget your real-world troubles for a bit and enjoy the wild, zany antics of two forever friends that you wish you had yourself.
Featuring hilarious performances and a zany, nonsensical story, "Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar" never lets up on the comedy, providing laugh-out-loud moments from start to finish that'll help take your mind away from the real-life problems you're facing in your own lives.
The Score: B+
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