Many have been quick to posit that Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is exactly the light and funny antidote we need in this current period of doom and gloom, and frankly I couldn’t agree more. The latest comedic creation of Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo following their comedy masterpiece blockbuster Bridesmaids is perhaps a far more niche beast when it comes to a general audience viewing it I imagine, with its comedy lying often in varying fields of dry wit, slapstick, parody and much to my excitement, multiple musical numbers. However in this change of comedic styles, I am distinctly happy to claim that only the most minor level of humour was lost, making Barb and Star certainly one of the better new release comedies that I have seen in some time.
What makes Barb and Star nothing short of a pure comedic delight is the level of constant surprise that occurs at almost every turn in the film, sometimes to the level of genuine bafflement, for the film really is a lot more than its two main hilarious characters. Barb and Star for the most part lies more so in an Austin Powers vein, not just with its plot relations to the world of spy’s, but in its overall tone and approach to comedy, imbuing extended sequences with frequent moments of slapstick and even some bizarre absurdist elements – all of which repeatedly land, some naturally more than others, but with nothing ever falling dangerously flat. For as much as Bridesmaids had a cohesive character journey and arc, in regards to plotting and structure (even at its most absurd) Barb and Star takes the lead. In many ways it feels weird to compare the two, for beyond their writers and stars, the two films really couldn’t be more different. For this film Wiig and Mumolo have written a hilarious script with two astoundingly quotable, watchable and loveable lead characters in Barb and Star, played by themselves simply terrifically. Wiig, also pulls double duty as the films villain, in a more straight performance one might say, with her natural voice being used. This villainous creation is humorous too, but the true winners of the film, understandably so are our titular heroines. Wiig and Mumolo are just on fire for the entire running time, which despite being just short of 2 hours doesn’t ever lag or slow down at any point. With Barb and Star, Wiig and Mumolo have heightened a collection of stereotypes about mid-westerns, middle aged women and the generally kooky and taken it the most brilliant and delightful extreme, whilst chiefly never losing touch upon what make the character likable in the first place; their deep friendship. It’d be a touch ridiculous to comment on the pair as wholly realistic, but they are certainly believable and enjoyable within the world that has been created.
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Wiig and Mumolo however are not the only talents in our cast, whereas you wouldn’t say that Barb and Star has the large comedic ensemble of Bridesmaids, focussing instead on two central main characters, it does have an array of wonderful smaller roles filled out by great talent whose comedic chops sometimes surprise and sometimes just solidify what we already knew. Jamie Dorman as the love interest for... well, everybody a little bit, is marvellous tapping a far less serious vein than we have seen tap before. It really is refreshing to see him just plain have fun in a film, playing with his own desperately self-serious persona in an absolutely up-raucous musical number. Josh Greenbaum has directed a slick and effective comedy which never once rests on its laurels in the filmic department, where so many modern comedies rest on two-shots and excessive improvisation, failing to understand the joys of a visually well crafted comedic sequence, Greenbaum excels here in making a film that is reminiscent at its best of the sort of comedies that we have loved from bygone days now it feels. The visuals of cinematographer Toby Oliver are obscenely pastel and glorious, befitting the film beautifully. The editing of Steve Welch keeps the pace at the aforementioned ever-moving rate, whilst never letting any scene or set-up go on for too long. It is so unbelievably refreshing to comment that there was not a single joke in my opinion that overstayed its welcome. Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar may very well be the most refreshing film I have seen in some time. In fact in the writing of this review, my appreciation for the film has only grown and it has already upped itself one point. Watch this marvellous film as soon as you bloody well can, you’ll thank me. Trust me.
An absolutely delightful 8/10, with a certain amount of rough edges that pass by very quickly and are seriously sparring. For the core of Barb and Star is a genuinely hilarious romping adventure with two ingenious comedic creations at the heart of it. Wiig and Mumolo have made a script and offered performances that are so clearly in tune with a very specific style of comedy, that plays very well. Director Greenbaum has managed to key this specific style into a big screen comedy and has incredibly led to a whole ensemble keying into it also. All in all Barb and Star is a triumph if nothing else of an extremely specific comedy film that one quite frankly struggles to not find something to love in, and if not love, laugh frequently and often with.
P.S. This will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me, but I think I bizarrely dislike having one musical number over none. For it feels to me like a cruel form of teasing. The musical numbers we got here were splendid and very funny, but give me more. Just make it a full musical! Please! Why not? Comedy film musicals are few and far between nowadays and it upsets me deeply. Everybody loves comedy, everybody loves a musical; so come on studios and please this crowd!
P.P.S. Speaking of musical numbers, I was so wonderfully pleased to see Richard Cheese, a musical comedian that I have loved for many years. But again, give me more.
- - Thomas Carruthers
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