Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar

A hard to describe fleeting parody about a middle-aged redneck couple who go on a trip to a beach resort in Florida. In addition, there's a plot about a mysterious villain and her devilish plan with genetically modified venomous mosquitoes, and many other bizarre atrocities. :D The ratio of cringe-worthy and cringe-funny madness is about 50-50, which is quite OK considering their frequency. It’s one of those films that will entertain you, but also make you feel a little ashamed. (19/02/2021)

For a film about two verbose middle-aged women (which is normally unbearable and unimaginable to watch or listen to), it's surprisingly good fun with cool ideas (a talking crab like Morgan Freeman, a mermaid), funny dialogue and a fine villain. The humor is carried more by the supporting characters than the protagonists, but it's fine. Jamie Dornan shows he has talent in a comedy as well and his song on the beach is probably the highlight of the film. Damon Wayans is also brilliant as a spy who gives away just about everything he can (more room for him and I would have been thrilled). It's got an overall interesting backstory too, with a well reasoned plan about poisonous mosquitoes. I wouldn't have minded at all if the last twenty minutes of the movie had switched from comedy to horror and showed us a beach massacre with mosquitoes like Piranha, but I guess that's too much to ask :D Funny and cute movie. Story****, Action>No, Humor****, Violence>No, Funniness****, Music****, Visuals****, Atmosphere****, Suspense*. 8/10. (25/02/2021)

Barb and Star is a half-dried-up SpongeBob for people in their forties who make fun of people in their sixties, where imagination is replaced by gossip about tits and where the greatest transgression consists in the realisation that you are watching a movie about your mom. (05/12/2021)

Compared to the mostly straightforward Bridesmaids, Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo's second screenwriting collaboration is a much more bizarre affair in which almost anything can happen, with some scenes chaining together almost like a more accessible version of Mulholand Drive. After Zoolander 2 (and last year's WW84, for that matter), Wiig reprises her role as a villain, but this time she's more palatable and believable. Atmospherically, it strongly evoked the aforementioned Zoolander 2, with a mix of any of the Austin Powers movies. At times it's genuinely funny, while a scene later it's an awkward oddity, with the two positions alternating with almost regular cadence throughout the film. (21/12/2021)

I'm a fan of comedies and I've got a soft spot for Kristen Wiig, so this movie seemed like it should hit all the right notes for me. Turns out, it fell flat. When the credits finally rolled, I realized something was missing — I hadn't had a proper laugh throughout. Sure, there were a few moments that brought a smile to my face, and I can't say I was bored (that would've been a challenge in that chaotic whirlwind), but it just didn't deliver the experience I was expecting. What's more, the creators seemed determined to make Kristen Wiig appear unattractive, and while they achieved that to some extent, at times it felt like an uphill battle. Which I guess is a good thing. Whether it was my mood or simply not being the target audience for this film, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. / Lesson learned: If you're going on vacation, pack some culottes. (22/02/2022)