Do the first crowds of people to see cult films know their seeing something special? Did audiences who flocked to see “Shaun of the Dead,” “Anchorman,” or “PopStar: Never Stop Never Stopping” think “Oh, this is a moment people will talk about for years!” Because that’s how it feels watching Kristen Wiig (“Bridesmaids,” “Saturday Night Live”) and Annie Mumolo’s (“Bridesmaids,” “About a Boy (2014)”) latest collaboration “Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar”: like watching a cult film being born.
Wiig and Mumolo are the titular Barb and Star, two lifelong best friends who decide to go on a trip to sunny Vista Del Mar, Florida. That’s the barest of descriptions for two reasons: one, the film is so absolutely bonkers that to explain what the plot is would ruin it and two: even if you were to explain the plot, it’s the kind of thing that only really works in motion.
Fair warning, this is not a movie for everyone. While a phrase like that is normally reserved for gruesome horror flicks or overly long dramas, “Barb and Star” need that warning because things are just that gleefully silly and wacky. It’s less of a sense of humor and more of a vibe.
One of the crowning achievements of that sense of humor is the sweetness at its core. Despite the overwhelming wackiness on display, at no point does it ever feel meanspirited. Neither Barb nor Star are ever the butt of the joke, despite the seemingly massive targets on their backs. Wiig and Mumolo clearly care about these two and that care extends to the audience. By the time the film ends, there will likely be a spot in your heart carved out for these two middle-aged goofs.
Jamie Dornan (“Fifty Shades of Grey,” “Once Upon a Time”) seems absolutely liberated after years of playing Christian Grey. His role as the attractive and slightly daft Edgar is delightful. He leaps and prances, singing to seagulls and falling in love. Dornan seems far more committed to this silly movie than he ever did in the “Fifty Shades” series. Wiig also plays his possible girlfriend Sharon Gordon Fisherman with virtually the opposite attitude of Star with understated success. The other two major cast members, Damon Wayans Jr. (“New Girl,” “Happy Endings”) and newcomer Reyn Doi are both good, but the film simply seems far less interested in them, with Wayans borderline being wasted.
Quotes flow freely and constantly from ever moment of the film. From little “blink and you’ll miss it” ones to entire set piece moments, the entire adventure seems custom designed to be as comedic as possible. Even if a joke doesn’t land, in less than 5 seconds another one will come along that likely will. Its also a great example of the broadness of the comedy spectrum. This isn’t just people telling jokes; “Barb and Star” employs a lot of cameos, musical jokes, physical gags, etc. Hell, there are even jokes using the film’s sets.
One could easily damn “Barb and Star” will the comedic equivalent of the “jack of all trades” cliché, and it does have faults. Things don’t really launch into comedy nirvana until they reach the titular Vista Del Mar, and things do slow down a bit for plot to happen about an hour or so in. But it almost doesn’t matter because at the end of the day, the goal “Barb and Star” doesn’t seem to be about being a comedy.
Its about the sweetness. That sugary center of goodness that lets us kick up our feet and give in to the ridiculousness. That’s where Wiig and Mumolo’s adventure really shines. From the tips of their wigs to the bottoms of the culottes, this is a hysterical adventure with a duo you’ll want to spend many, many more vacations with. Barb and Star forever. A hundred years, Barb and Star. 4.5/5
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