#barb and star go to vista del mar review

[ankle-beez]

[agentnico]

Strays (2023) Review

Made by the director of the movie that saved cinema during COVID - Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. Now if that's not a selling point for Strays I don't know what else is.

Plot: Abandoned on the mean city streets by his lowlife owner, Doug, a naive but lovable dog named Reggie falls in with a fast-talking, foul-mouthed Boston Terrier and his gang of strays. Determined to seek revenge, Reggie and his new canine pals embark on an epic adventure to get him home and make Doug pay for his dirty deed.

It is surprising that until now there has not been a crude raunchy comedy about a man's best friend. Dogs, as adorable as they are, can also be the most filthy and disgusting creatures, with their entire thought process being dedicated to humping, bodily fluids, butt-sniffing, and food. And by food meaning they would eat literally anything, no matter how vile the edible thing may be. So yes it was only a matter of time. The trailers have looked fun and boast a solid comedic voice cast, so I thought it would be no harm to give this one a go.

Strays is very much a one-joke comedy. The main aspect that will define if you will find this movie entertaining or not is if you think dogs swearing every second is funny. That primarily is the main gag, and even though I was never bored and the film managed to keep me entertained throughout, it definitely isn't a particularly memorable comedy. There are laugh-out-loud moments though, from the hallucinogenic mushroom sequence teased by the trailers to the endless references to 2017's dog movie A Dog's Purpose with a cameo by Josh Gad as a narrating dog and Dennis Quaid appearing randomly for absolutely no reason whatsoever besides stating the fact that he is Dennis Quaid; to the climactic biting of Reggie's abusive owner's dick that is very over-the-top, gruesome yet oddly satisfying. Those moments are definitely chuckle-worthy, though I am definitely of the opinion that this is a one-time watch and the second time around this movie will lack that punch, or dare I say, bark.

The voice cast is entertaining. Will Ferrell manages to infuse Reggie with the likable innocent naivety we have seen Ferrell do before with Buddy the Elf, and Jamie Foxx trash-talking everything is, well, Jamie Foxx being himself basically. Randall Park and Isla Fisher provide amicable supporting voice turns, and Will Forte as Reggie's owner managed to realistically and despicably portray an absolute arse and a loser, and one that you wanted to see get his dick bitten off. The animation is fairly solid too. The blend of real-life animal 'performances' with the CGI mouth movements are synced for the most part well, though it was a tad uncanny. Or should I say, unK-9?? Nope? I'll get my coat.

The most surprising aspect of Strays was actually the fact it has a big heart, and the emotional outline throughout the narrative tackles themes of abuse and toxic relationships and the importance of companion animal care. Dog lovers will surely enjoy this, and overall Strays is a childish piece of silliness that is a suitable end-caper for what has been a fairly mediocre summer at the movies.

Overall score: 5/10

[moviereviews101web]

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021) Movie Review

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar – Movie Review Director: Josh Greenbaum Writer: Annie Mumolo, Kristen Wiig (Screenplay) Cast Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids) Annie Mumolo (Barbie) Jamie Dornan (Heart of Stone) Damon Wayans Jr (Big Hero 6) Reyn Doi (The Out-Laws) Plot: Lifelong friends Barb and Star embark on the adventure of a lifetime when they decide to leave their small Midwestern town…

[motherbookerblog]

Film Review - Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021)

⭐⭐ Rating: 2 out of 5. 2021 was a weird time. I’d mostly been in isolation since March 2020 and wasn’t in regular contact with anyone outside of my home. I wasn’t really in the mood to watch films and was finding other ways to occupy my time. However, I didn’t miss the absolute mania around this film. So many people that I followed on social media just raved about it. I was so close to watching…

[oneofusnet]

Highly Suspect Reviews: Strays STRAYS MOVIE REVIEW Tired of rewatching Barbie and Oppenheimer for the 16th time? Well, you’re in luck! Strays is the new film directed by Josh Greenbaum (Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar) which tells the story of Reggie the dog, voiced by Will Ferrell. Reggie is a happy-go-lucky pup that loves his human… Read More »Highly Suspect Reviews: Strays read more on One of Us

[jonbutter]

Barb and Star go to Vista del Mar (2021) Review

this movie reminds me so much of the type of movie that SNL would make based off a sketch from the mid ‘90s, that is to say it’s the dumbest thing i’ve ever seen but it’s so proud & creative in its stupidity that i love it with every fiber of my being

5/5 cinematic genius

[jointheamberclub]

Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021) | Review

i wrote for BARB & STAR GO TO VISTA DEL MAR (2021). check it out!

if you enjoyed it, please consider donating to my ko-fi.

[wiigsten]

Okay, I’ll admit it.

Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar is the most delightful thing I’ve ever watched. My soul has been rejuvenated. Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo have magical brains that I do not understand but I’m so grateful for.

And I’m getting a tattoo of “Trish”. Full back.

The end.

[rickchung]

Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar (dir. Josh Greenbaum).

Bridesmaids duo Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo have created a fairly bizarre friendship comedy about two very strange middle-aged women from small-town Nebraska who go on a random Florida vacation while getting tangled up in a diabolical plan to destroy their sunny destination. Reminiscent of other absurdist comedies led by former Saturday Night Live stars like Anchorman or Austin Powers, the silly but affable film seems destined for cult status.

[awesomefridayca]

2021 in Film: Matt's Favourite Movies of the Year!

It has been a hell of a year and a hell of a year for film. The second year of the ongoing worldwide pandemic has been a bit of a roller coaster, with wave after wave of COVID once changing the film landscape. Theatres re-opened, but people have only really gone back for the biggest blockbuster titles, and even then, the numbers are a bit soft.  That’s not to say that there hasn’t been many a…

[citizendamepod]

'Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar'...and Steal Our Hearts (Blu-ray Review)

‘Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar’…and Steal Our Hearts (Blu-ray Review)

Silliness is underrated. We often dismiss films, especially films by or about women, as “just silly,” as though all movies need to be self-serious about their projects, to show important people doing important things, or at least contain supposedly edgy humor about sex and violence. Kindness in particular gets labelled silly—what’s the point of the comedy if the friends like each other, if the…

[agentnico]

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021) Review

Is this the best summer holiday we’re gonna get this year? In form of a film? Yup, sounds about right.

Plot: The story of best friends Barb and Star, who leave their small Midwestern town for the first time to go on vacation in Vista Del Mar, Florida, where they soon find themselves tangled up in adventure, love, and a villain’s evil plot to kill everyone in town.

What a bunch of nonsense. No, really, this film is a bunch of nonsense, however in these pandemic times nonsense may just be the temporary cure we need. It’s super colourful, tropical, and ridiculously goofy… basically, the complete opposite of the pandemic. It’s super random and honestly I’m not too certain how to progress with this review, as it feels like writers Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo (who also star as the two leads) must have been on some strong shrooms as this film is absolutely absurd. One moment you have two midwest middle-aged culotte-wearing besties chatting on a couch about how one used to have a crush on Mr Peanut with his top hat and monocle, the next you’re in a talking club eating hot dog soup (its as disgusting as it sounds), then you’re on a beach with a Morgan Freeman impersonator voicing a crab called Morgan Freemond referencing his Shawshank days and spreading some nonsensical wisdom, and to finish it off it’s American singer Reba McEntire emerging from the ocean as an angel mermaid or whatever for absolutely no reason. Oh, and there’s also a terrorist plot involving genetically modified mosquitoes, you know, just cause. None of it really makes sense, yet that is kind of the main charm of the whole thing. Its one of those movies that is so stupid, you’re either going to like it or hate it. Think along the lines of Wet Hot American Summer or Zoolander.. It’s stupid to the point where you roll your eyes at first, however if you get into it, you end up laughing at the complete chaotic set of events that is thrown at you, and honestly its a jolly good watch. With some musical numbers! Yes, there are musical numbers in this film, for some reason. I don’t know why. No really, I don’t why, I’m not really certain what I’ve just watched.

Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo are on top form as the lead two characters, bringing life and energy to their respective roles, and if you’ve seen anything of their previous SNL work, you know the two share solid chemistry. But its in fact Jamie Dornan that somehow steals the show. Yes, I know, it feels weird for me to give the stand-out performance to Christian Grey of Fifty Shades. Someone who’s usually really stiff (now now, stop it ya filthy animals!) and wooden, turns out to be a natural born clown. See, Jamie Dornan still gives a bad performance, but its Dornan being fully aware that Dornan is giving a bad performance, so Dornan takes advantage of Dornan’s knowledge of Dornan’s bad performance and churns out Dornan’s best parody of Dornan, Jamie. You catch my drift? In a nutshell, he embraces the stupidity of the entire film and rolls with it. As such, now I can say that seeing Jamie Dornan prance about a beach singing off-tune a cheesy power ballad to some seagulls in the sand is the second best thing I’ve seen this year following Bernie’s mittens!

In terms of negatives, with the movie’s randomness comes the truth that a lot of jokes don’t land. Also the science fiction side-plot comes off as tedious and the movie does drag a bit, but at the same time there’s also so much enjoyable bizarre goofiness to it all that you’re still guaranteed to have a good time… though maybe you should watch it drunk. Probably.

Overall score: 6/10

[rickyvalero]

Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar Review

Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar Review

Take a trip and break out of your shell with Barb and Star. From the gals who brought you Bridesmaids (co-stars and co-writers Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo) comes BARB & STAR GO TO VISTA DEL MAR. Lifelong friends Barb and Star embark on the adventure of a lifetime when they decide to leave their small Midwestern town for the first time…ever. We open with Barb and Star chatting it up on a couch…

[katiecarter]

BARB AND STAR TO GO VISTA DEL MAR is the sort of blatantly absurd comedy that isn't made very often anymore; if you're on board with its brand of humor from the start, you'll have a great time with it. Read my review here.

[flickfeast]

Barb & Star Go to Vista del Mar (2021)

Starring Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo and Jamie Dornan, Barb & Star Go to Vista del Mar (#BarbAndStar) is available on demand today - check out our #review here:

In 2006, comediennes Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo started to work on a female-led comedy called Bridesmaids. Starring the former, the 2011 film landed the duo with BAFTA and Academy nominations for Best Original Screenplay. Ten years later, the pair are back with their latest collaboration. Directed by Josh Greenbaum, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar not only stars Mumolo and Wiig, but they…

[shortgirlwrites]

Movie Review: Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar

Movie Review: Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar

Lifelong friends Barb and Star embark on the adventure of a lifetime when they decide to leave their small Midwestern town for the first time – ever. Have you been having a bad day or week or what have you? Do you need a few good belly-laughs to get you through it all? Do you like things that are very, very cheesy? Then you’re gonna love Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar. I watched this movie…