THIS REVIEW is brought to you by KATHY KAISER @matineechat.com
DIRECTOR: Josh Greenbaum
WRITERS: Annie Mumolo, Kristin Wiig
STARRING: Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo, Jamie Dornan, Damon Wayans Jr., Reyn Doi, Patrick Bristow, Phyllis Smith, Vanessa Bayer, Rose Abdoo, Fortune Feimster and Reba McIntire
Part musical, part drama, yet with all the comedic flare that Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo could muster up this time around, we meet Barb (Annie Mumolo) and Star (Kristin Wiig), living out their perfect friendship, comrades in life, and in career, hanging out, oops…I meant working away at their local furniture store.
When life throws both Barb and Star a curve ball of epic proportions, they find themselves floundering in life…that is until, at the suggestion of super cool girlfriend Mickey (Wendi McLendon-Covey), they decide to take the trip of a lifetime to Vista Del Mar, an escape oasis in Florida, where they are in hopes that all their dreams will come true!
As their fabulously fabulous vacation evolves, it seems that Barb and Star are really remembering how to live…especially when they both meet the man of their dreams, the super sexy Edgar Pag’et (Jamie Dornan), but not so fast ladies, as can this smooth and debonair hottie, with all the moves and then some be trusted, or is he in Vista Del Mar with his accomplice Darlie Bunkle (Damon Wayans, Jr) to pull off the most diabolical disaster to hit the shores of Vista Del Mar, in like, forever…???
Guess you’ll have to watch this very funny film to find out for sure, as Wiig and Mumolo’s literal friend chemistry shines throughout every inch of this one, but if you were hoping that this film was going to be another “Bridesmaids” kind of film, you might be disappointed, as Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar is totally funny throughout, including the inclusion of the fabulous original song, submitted to the Oscars this year for Best Original Song, “I Love Boobies”, also penned by Wiig, Mumolo and Mark Jonathan Davis, aka Richard Cheese, who also performs it in the film. I smiled profusely when I heard it, and then when I found out it had been sent in for consideration, it made me smile too, as it just goes to show that the film industry has evolved since Seth McFarland was bashed for his own original masterpiece “I SAW YOUR BOOBS” at the 2013 Academy Awards, being ostracized for days following, at how offensive it was, when in reality, I thought that his hosting of the Oscars, was one of the best I had seen in years! But even though this film isn’t near the caliber of film that BRIDESMAIDS turned out to be, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, is another really good writing and acting collaboration between Wiig and Mumolo, just he same. You might also be happy to know that this film, and it’s hilarious storyline touches generations of viewers too, as my 30 year old happened to laugh even harder than I did as she viewed all the antics, and fabulous “old fart” costumes as she stated, showing up on screen, thus bringing me to rate Wiig and Mumolo’s latest “Chick Flick” excursion a very strong 3.5 out of 5 stars, as all the funniness, music and happiness throughout will most definitely manage to touch your funny bone, and then some!
3.5 out of 5 Stars
MATINEE CHAT with Kathy Kaiser 