Laid off from their dream jobs as part-time layabout furniture salesmen, two chatty middle-aged Nebraska women splurge on a trip to gulf coast Florida. One last chance to take a risk and try something exciting before easing into their golden years. Groundlings alumni Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo (the duo behind 2011's _Bridesmaids_) are the titular gossips, all decked out in a series of outfits delivered direct from the 1996 Sears spring catalog, recklessly throwing caution to the wind and partying far past their bedtimes.

There's something silly, yet entrancing, about watching that happen; a pair of picture-perfect squares suddenly empowered to let it all hang out, no matter how ridiculous they might look. Much of the well-targeted humor plays upon that theme, culminating in an unlikely romantic rivalry over a handsome-but-sensitive beau (Jamie Dornan). It's goofy and absurd, maybe a bit on the light side, but good for at least as many chuckles and snickers as a strong modern _SNL_ skit. The screen gets too crowded in the later chapters, though, with a rush of competing sub-plots and bit roles elbowing in on the ladies' extravagance. Those might be good for a one-note laugh here and there, but they're also involved enough to demand some sort of future resolution, and dutifully punching those out during the climax is a chore that weighs down the whole ship.

While the going is good, _Barb and Star_ is loose fun with a few fleeting sharp points, but many of its bits are derivative (Wiig basically plays Dr. Evil in an unnecessary villainous turn) and the home stretch is a drag. Don't let it keep you awake, should you find yourself nodding off: all the best material is in the first hour.