MOVIE REVIEW

“Barb & Star Go to Vista del Mar”

RELEASE DATE:  February 12, 2021 (streaming)

MPAA RATING:  PG-13 (for crude sexual content, drug use and some strong language)

Every so often, a comedy captures the hearts of movie audiences, not only because of its performers, but also due to the type of humor that I prefer to describe as being “stupid funny.”  Such is the case of Barb & Star Go to Vista del Mar.

This silly romp is engaging from the opening credits right on through to the end.  With some overtones of the Austin Powers franchise and influences of Bridesmaids, this is a buddy flick with laugh-out-loud characterizations by the film’s co-writers, Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, as Barb and Star take a trip to a coastal town in Florida for an adventure of a lifetime.

The duo become entangled in an evil plot of revenge and a love triangle with a reluctant bad guy named Edgar (Jamie Dornan).  Additional comic elements are provided by an inept secret agent named Darlie Bunkle (Damon Wayans, Jr.) who is incapable of keeping anything secret.

Director Josh Greenbaum has a field day with settings as colorful and wild as the cast.  The dialogue is fast-paced and filled with witticisms, and there are some random cameo appearances, including a talking crab voiced by Morgan Freeman.

This film has no socially redeeming value aside from the fact that it comes at a time when we can all use some belly laughs.  This is a feel-good flick; just don’t feel bad about enjoying “stupid funny.”