Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar: A Joyous Celebration of Friendship and Absurdity
In the midst of the pandemic, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association recently held a theatrical screening of "Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar," a cult comedy film that graced streaming platforms in 2021. The film, starring Kristen Wiig, Jamie Dornan, and Annie Mumolo, has found a cherished place in the hearts of cinephiles who stumbled upon its eccentric brilliance amidst the grayness of lockdown.
For many, "Barb and Star" became an unexpected Valentine’s Day treat in 2021, offering a much-needed dose of laughter amidst the social isolation. Its sheer absurdity, featuring mutant killer mosquitos, a romantically inclined leading man singing "I Want" ballads, talking crabs, and water spirits on vacation, defied all expectations. It was a cinematic cocktail of Golden Girls friendship, Austin Powers spy action, Muppets silliness, and Looney Tunes chaos, topped with a sprinkle of elaborate showtunes about breasts and a delectably Disney-esque villain.
The experience of watching "Barb and Star" with a crowd of laughing fans was like stepping back into that magical Valentine’s Day movie night. The gags, one-liners, and the infamous "Edgar’s Prayer" elicited joyous arm-flailing ruckus. It was a reminder of the film’s central theme: the unbreakable bond between its titular heroines.
Barb and Star, played by Wiig and Mumolo, are two unlikely surrealist heroes who navigate the mundane and the extraordinary together. From the social judgment in their small town to a determined villain armed with a swarm of mutant mosquitos, their love and trust for one another anchors the film. Their friendship is the grounding point that propels us through the absurdist delights that keep rolling and laughing.
Wiig and Mumolo have created a pair of unforgettable characters, and it’s a shame that this comedy gem has remained relatively underseen. It stands as one of the most original and hilarious films to emerge from the hallowed halls of Saturday Night Live in recent memory, inspiring future generations of comedy writers and actors to embrace their own quirky visions.
"I hope it inspires the next generation of Kristen and Annie’s to be like, ‘we should just make the movie we want to make,’" director Josh Greenbaum said in a Q&A after the screening. "It just hit me tonight while I was sitting here, of how important and powerful really good friendships are. So I hope it just celebrates that."
Mumolo echoed the sentiment: "I think that we need so badly to laugh and I feel like we’ve almost forgotten. And when we made this movie, we laughed so much, and we all had a shared experience. We wanted to just do something joyous and so I would hope that people felt joy from it."
"Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar" is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+, offering a perfect opportunity to turn it into a Valentine’s season tradition. It’s a film that celebrates the power of friendship, the importance of laughter, and the unbridled joy of embracing the absurd.
