When it comes to comedy, you usually can divide those who dabble in humour into two groups. The first are those that stay true to the well-worn conventions of the genre, following the guidelines set down by decades of comedy filmmaking, essentially playing solely by the rules. The second group are those that take it upon themselves to break every rule imaginable, even if this means that their work isn’t appreciated, and can often be the subject of derision by audiences who just don’t understand their intention. Kristen Wiig has been one of the most important voices in contemporary comedy over the past two decades, whether through her iconic work on Saturday Night Live, or her forays into feature films, with an array of wonderful performances being comfortably under her belt, showing her to be an actress who can do both comedy and drama (albeit the former being an area she is obviously far more prolific in, since it is where she thrives the most). As both a performer and a writer, Wiig has proven herself as a beloved figure, and along with professional partner Annie Mumolo, she created one of the most important comedies of the past few years, Bridesmaids. A decade later, they’re back in the saddle, and just as outrageous as ever before, this time working on Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, a deliriously funny comedy rooted heavily within absurdism, in a way that only someone who has honed her craft of surreal humour to an art could’ve possibly be done convincingly. There is so much to adore about this film – whether it be on the superficial level, with the bizarre comedy and delightfully artificial design of the film being something that will enthral viewers, or the underlying story of friendship and individuality that adds much-needed nuance to a film so strange, its very existence seems implausible, even after having watched it.

If you’re going to make a comedy that goes against all known rules of logic, then you’d better be prepared to go all the way, since there is very little room for stopping short when it comes to outrageous comedy. Playing it safe is popular because it follows familiar patterns and allows the filmmaker some guidance in what entertains audiences. Taking a risk isn’t always optimal, but with the right approach, you can easily leave the audience howling in laughter. This was absolutely the case with Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, a film that has such a bizarre sense of humour, one needs to wonder if it would’ve been made without the knowledge that it hailed from the mind of one of the most fascinating contemporary voices in comedy. Throughout her years in television and film, the work that has always drawn attention to Wiig as a performer has been those that are slightly off-kilter, accessible enough to not alienate casual viewers, still sufficiently strange to draw our attention. This film is essentially what would have happened if any of her Saturday Night Live characters had been given their own film – a surreal sense of humour, a clear origin in the realm of improvisational comedy, and an otherwise devil-may-care approach to narrative conventions are all the baseline of Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, which goes in so many different directions, its simply impossible to keep up unless we’re willing to surrender to the madness embedded in the film, and simply fall into the wavelength that the film is operating on. For those who find Wiig’s style grating or unpleasant, this film may not be particularly appealing (especially those who go in expecting something along the lines of Bridesmaids, of which this film could not be further) – but anyone who appreciates her eccentric style, as well as the incredible chemistry she has with Mumolo, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar will be nothing short of a thrilling, entertaining adventure that knows how to take itself seriously – meaning, not at all.

The great joy of a film like Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is that it may appear like nothing but surrealist nonsense on the surface, but there is absolutely some depth to the madness, which becomes increasingly clear as we see the film make some bold strides towards something resembling a message, even if it is only a small aspect of the film, and used solely to give context to the deranged nature of the comedy surrounding it. In their previous collaboration, Wiig and Mumolo wrote one of the definitive texts on friendship, and their reunion proved that it’s perfectly possible for lightning to strike twice, granted it comes in a slightly different form. Romance abounds in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, but this is more a love story between friends, a beautiful manifesto on the extents to which we go for those we love, but may not have a romantic attachment to. There is something so innocent about how this film perceives the two titular characters, making them lovable, goofy middle-aged women who genuinely care for each other, and support one another through the various challenges they come across, always with a smile and bursting with positivity. There’s a lot of value in constructing characters that have such cheerful dispositions and placing them in a story that draws focus to the trials and tribulations of their friendship. It narrowly avoids becoming too sentimental – on a purely narrative level, the film does follow some common beats, with the same mid-film tension that threatens to derail the friendship that we’d expect occurring right where it should. However, where it differs is that Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar seems to be fully aware of these tropes, and instead of avoiding them, instead plays directly into them, using them as a platform to show how bizarre these conventions are, while still demonstrating exactly why they’re so utterly delightful as well.

There are some very common tropes embedded into this film, particularly in how it focuses on the characters and their relationship – but Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar playfully subvert all of these ideas by layering on some truly bizarre concepts that just elevate this film far beyond just a likeable comedy, turning it into a dizzying array of ideas that come at the viewer at breakneck speed, becoming an assault on the senses in the best way possible, which results in a film that may bewilder viewers who aren’t accustomed to this new movement in comedy to be as weird as possible (made popular by the rise of sketch television shows and networks such as Comedy Central and Adult Swim, which often prioritized absurdity over intelligence, although they’re not mutually exclusive), but for those who either already have an appreciation for this kind of comedy, or are open-minded enough to embrace it, you’ll find this film to be an absolute delight. Going into this film, you may not know what to expect – and by the end of it, you’ll likely find that very little of your expectations had been met, but rather than this being indicative of disappointment, its more a sign that Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar goes in some truly demented directions, using every resource at its disposal to be as weird as it possibly could be. Whether it be in the multiple musical numbers (one of which is directed towards seagulls, and yet comes across as so authentic and oddly moving, which is certainly not something any of us would have expected), or in the general artifice present throughout the film, both in how these eccentric characters behave, or how the titular resort is constructed (the production design in this film is absolutely impeccable), Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is a film that seems to be existing in an entirely different reality. It gives so much value to the film, since this was clearly a labour of love for all involved, since it wasn’t just a quick comedy put together for the sake of earning a profit or for the stars to keep busy, but a well-composed film that puts effort into every moment, whether on the narrative, tonal or visual level. It’s wonderful to see so much meticulous detail being put into something that could have otherwise just been ridiculously asinine and pointless, but is instead just so wonderfully optimistic and entertaining.

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is certainly not going to be the most popular comedy of the year, since its weirdness and off-kilter demeanour will repulse just as many people as it attracts. However, this was never going to be a film that appeals to everyone, with the very nature of the work being marketed towards those with a taste for the alternative. It means that the film may not be a resounding success today (even though it should be), but rather that its well on its way to becoming a future cult classic, since it has all the trimmings needed for a great cult film. There’s a collision between bawdy blue comedy and highbrow satire that makes the film’s humour so distinct, and gives it an intelligence that many may not have predicted would’ve come from such a thin premise (although the synopsis quite rightly doesn’t give away exactly what the film is about, but it’s far more than just a silly comedy about two friends going on vacation), and the intricate details woven into the film are incredibly entertaining. It also helps that everyone in the film are giving spirited performances, with Wiig and Mumolo proving once again to be equally hilarious on-screen and off, and Jamie Dornan poking fun at his own overly-serious image with one of the most hilariously odd comedic portrayals of the past few years (once again, the highest praise possible – he is quietly giving the best performance in the film). There is not enough effusive praise that can be heaped on Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, a film that may have some interesting intentions, but above all else, exists solely as an exercise in having fun. It’s not a major work, but its one that I suspect will be truly cherished in the coming years, since it has a timeless quality that makes it almost universally resonant, and combined with its heart and wonderful sense of humour, it’s doubtful that this will fade into obscurity, with the film destined to find an audience that loves it, whether it be today or in the future. Whenever it is, viewers will certainly be enthralled, amused and perhaps even slightly confused by the masterclass in the madness that is Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar.