Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman August 20, 2022

A lot of so-called "department stores" sadly don't even have a real "Home Electronics" section any longer where you can find items like Blu-ray discs and the like, and actual single emporia devoted to physical media and nothing else can be virtually impossible to find, or else it might be fun to think of Barb (Annie Mumolo) and Star (Kristen Wiig) at "Jennifer DVDs" (because that's what it would be called) attempting to purvey Lionsgate's increasingly gonzo collection of 4K UHD titles. This latest "standalone" (i.e., no 1080 disc is enclosed) 4K UHD release from Lionsgate would at least seem to be an apt candidate based on the almost carnival like production design and candy colored palette of the cinematography, and auguring even better is the fact that since I first wrote the review for the 1080 release, where in the absence of other verifiable information at the time I assumed a 2K DI, online datapoints have been updated to affirm a 4K DI, and this Lionsgate 4K UHD release, unlike some of the other recent standalone 4K UHD offerings, not only has honest to goodness HDR, it even has Dolby Vision.

For my thoughts on the film, please consult my original Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar Blu-ray review. I will say in passing that I actually enjoyed this film more this time through, which is typically a good sign for a comedy.

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 disc. This is the latest 4K UHD release from Lionsgate which does not include a 1080 disc in the package.

Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Lionsgate Films with a 2160p transfer in 2.39. As I mentioned above, at the time of my writing of the review for the 1080 version, I couldn't find anything that I deemed to be authoritative in terms of the resolution of the DI, and so I defaulted to 2K, but have happily been proven incorrect, at least insofar as sites like IMDb now state and frankly my eyes took in in this often really fantastic looking 4K UHD presentation. Detail levels are perceptibly improved throughout when compared to the already excellent 1080 presentation, and everything from the natty textures on fabrics to even minute items like a bug that flies behind Annie Mumalo in one scene have new precision in this version. The line art on the closing credits animation border is another good example of noticeable improvement from already pretty impeccable levels. But it's the palette that really delighted me in this version. The 1080 version was no slouch, so to speak, but the highlights in this new rendering are really remarkable, with some of the baby blues and corn yellows in particular popping beautifully and with noticeable variations in hue that simply aren't as perceptible in the 1080 version. For as much as I've made fun of Lionsgate's sometimes baffling array of 4K UHD releases, if they keep putting out things that look this good, I might (might) have to start taking things more seriously.

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 4K UHD disc offers the same boisterous DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that the 1080 disc did, and so I'll repeat my comments from the 1080 review in a moment, with a brief aside first that the closing credits roll on this film clearly offer a Dolby Atmos logo, and I'm sure some audiophiles will agree with my sentiment that just such a track should have been offered on this 4K UHD disc. That said, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar offers a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that has a nice consistency in terms of surround activity, and which perhaps unexpectedly offers some bursts of LFE now and again, as in an early scene documenting the explosion of a home belonging to a scientist Sharon has hired to do her dirty work. The outdoor scenes feature regular ambient environmental sounds, and the musical interludes also provide a good wash that spreads through the side and rear channels. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly and is well prioritized even in some noisier moments. Optional English, French and Spanish subtitles are available.

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Lionsgate continues its commendable tradition of porting over all of the supplements from the 1080 disc, something that's especially appreciated given Lionsgate's marketing strategy of not including a 1080 disc in this package.

• Audio Commentary with Director Josh Greenbaum, Writer / Actor Annie Mumolo and Writer / Actor Kristen Wiig


• Barb & Star: Making Life a Little Brighter (HD; 9:58) is the first of two frankly interchangeable EPKs which feature some fun interviews, behind the scenes footage and snippets from the final film.


• Barb & Star: Casting in Paradise (HD; 10:53) focuses on the engaging performers in the film.


• Bloopers (HD; 6:16)


• Deleted Scenes (HD; 12:41)


• Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar Fashion Show (HD; 1:29) is a goofy short with some of the women from Talking Club "modeling" the sort of clothes you'd be likely to see on a Florida beach somewhere.

Additionally, a digital copy is included.

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As I mentioned above, I actually had more of a rollicking good time on this viewing of Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar than I did when I initially watched the film in preparation for my review of the 1080 release. Yes, it's goofy and over the top and just filled to the brim with various levels of shtick, but it's also amazingly sweet and big hearted. This 4K UHD release is to my eyes easily the best looking thing Lionsgate has put out in its recent glut of standalone catalog releases in this format. Recommended.