We’ve got a quick little review dump, to cover some pretty good movies 2021 has had to offer so far, including one of the greatest things I’ve seen in a long time, at least since Parasite (high praise, I know, but deserved). I’ll hopefully get back to a more regular review schedule – already starting with Raya and the Last Dragon– but I’ll probably mix in a few of these bulk reviews here and there as well.
Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar
Distributed by: Lionsgate
I’ll be honest, when I first saw the trailer for Barb and Star, I penciled it in for one of the worst movies of the year. And that mindset held strong right up until its release. But then the reviews starting coming. And they were…good? Lots and lots of positive reviews, to the tune of 79% on Rotten Tomatoes (a flawed metric, of course, but still).
When best friends Barb (Annie Mumolo) and Star (Kristen Wiig) embark on a big trip from their small Midwestern town to Vista Del Mar, they find themselves embroiled in a sinister plot to kill everyone in their swanky vacation spot. If that sounds ridiculous, it is. And while Barb and Star is at times a little too silly for its own good, it’s mostly a very fun time, surprise song and dance numbers (especially) included.
Wiig and Mumolo highlight a hysterical cast, while being aided by Jamie Dornan, who is responsible for some of the movie’s biggest laughs. It’s truly a goofy movie among goofy movies. Unfortunately it is still a $20 rental. That’s a steep price for an at-home rental. But if you’re looking for a comedy that’s a little off the beaten path, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar could be just what you’re looking for.
Score: 72/100
The Map of Tiny Perfect Things
Distributed by: Amazon
The Map of Tiny Perfect Things is another time loop movie, coming right on the heels of last year’s excellent Palm Springs. And while it definitely feels familiar to that – and several of its time loop predecessors – but still finds a way to stand out.
Map follows teens Mark (Kyle Allen) and Margaret (Kathryn Newton), who we meet well into their time loop journey. They both have their routines, slightly changing things up here and there. One day Mark notices Margaret, where he eventually realizes that she must be stuck in the same loop. They begin to hang out and bond over their extremely unique shared experience.
It’s part comedy, part drama, part rom-com, and it manages to strike a great balance between all three, helped in great parts by its two charismatic leads. I’m as big a fan of Kathryn Newton as there is, so she’s always a welcome sight to see. She’s legitimately fantastic in everything she’s in, so I’m more than happy to see her get a role like this that she can really sink her teeth into. Allen is more of a newcomer to the scene, but he is effortlessly charming and he draws you into his story from minute one.
Where the movie falters a little bit is with the supporting characters. Outside of Mark and Margaret, nobody else gets any real characterization or great material to work with. But with Allen and Newton getting the vast majority of the screen time, that only detracts so much.
Most time loop movies follow a fairly similar path, at least in broad strokes. And Map is no different, but still manages to slip in a few unique takes to set it apart just enough. It’s ultimately a cute little movie that should be added to anyone’s watch list.
Score: 85/100
In & Of Itself
Distributed by: Hulu
Folks, this is perfect. Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself is a hard one to describe without giving away what makes it so compelling. It’s truthfully more of an experience than anything else. DelGaudio’s show blends so many performance styles, it’s difficult to assign any one description to what his show is. Documentary. Magic show. Illusions. Journey of self-discovery. Existential exploration. It’s honestly unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I would plead with you to watch it without knowing anything else; don’t even watch a trailer. But if you must, go in knowing nothing more than what the trailer shows. The less you know going in, the better and more powerful your own experience will be.
