Movie Breakdown: Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar

Pre-Screening Stance:

The movie looks like a discarded SNL sketch, but hey, I dig Kristen Wiig.

Post-Screening Ramble:

Because Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar didn’t exactly look like a winner, I decided to pop an edible a couple of hours before hitting play on the screener. And well … I’m really glad that I did because this movie is entirely bonkers. I don’t know why it exists, or how it ever even got put into production. I couldn’t figure out what year the movie takes place in, or why Barb (Kristen Wiig) and Star (Annie Marie Mumolo) look or act the way they do. Musical numbers break out randomly and have no explanation. There’s a subplot involving a villain who wants to unleash killer mosquitos on Vista Del Mar. Why? Like the entirety of this movie – I have no idea. To be honest, if my wife hadn’t also witnessed the insanity of Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar, I would be very inclined to believe it was a product of the edible I consumed, or possibly a wild fever dream.

And yet, I didn’t hate it at all. Barb and Star are supremely likeable goofs and – even though some of the jokes just don’t work at all – there are parts of this movie that are really funny. There’s even what I would consider a Ted Lasso-type feel to it (granted, it’s dirtier and less clever), in that its characters are pleasant, good-natured people just trying to find love and make new friends. I don’t know. My brain wants me to tell you to run away from this movie, but my heart says you should pour a big drink and let it play. Good luck!

The movie will hit VOD this Friday.

One Last Thought:

I kept trying and trying to figure out where I’d seen Annie Marie Mumolo before, and then it dawned on me that she’s the crazy lady from the plane scene in Bridesmaids.