Barbie movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Barbie

This controversial movie is now showing in theaters.

RATING: PG-13

LENGTH: 1 hour 54 minutes

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: I’m so conflicted!

IN A NUTSHELL:

After many iterations and transfers to different studios, Barbie finally found her dream home at Warner Pictures. The story is about Barbie who suffers an existential crisis. The film was written and directed by Greta Gerwig with writing help by Noah Baumbach.

Already, the film has been nominated for “The Next Big Thing” by Queerty, and won “Most Anticipated Film” by HCA Award.

On a personal note, I absolutely loved Barbie when I was a little girl. She was my favorite toy ever and I played with her for hours, changing her outfits and accessories with every outing I took her on. For me, it was all about her gorgeous clothes. My angel mother hand-sewed even more clothes for me and Barbie to enjoy. I had it all: her house, camper, car, etc. She could do anything and had such a hot boyfriend, Ken, who really was just another accessory as portrayed in the movie.

I wanted this movie to just be fun and sweet, but there is a serious anti-male undertone throughout and it’s being labeled as angry feminist propaganda. Are those two things true? Sadly, yes.

THINGS I LIKED:

Margot Robbie is a goddess. She’s the perfect “stereotypical” Barbie. Her only request to the director was to create a swimming pool that went from her bedroom to her swimming pool. Great idea! I would love that too! We even get to hear her sing a tiny bit. Young children and grown adults are now donning all things pink and celebrating feminine power while lining up to watch this movie in theaters.
Ryan Gosling gives a fantastic performance as Ken. His perfectly tan texture looked exactly like the doll I had while growing up. When he saw his daughter’s Ken doll tossed into the mud next to a smashed lemon, he immediately texted director Greta Gerwig the message, “I shall be your Ken. His story must be told.” Ha ha We get to hear him sing and see him dance. He is Kenough.
Ariana Greenblatt is such a natural. I fell in love with her when I first saw her in the movie Love and Monsters. You can see my review of that cute movie at https://moviereviewmom.com/?s=love+and+monsters
The cast is filled with fan favorites like Kate McKinnon, Will Smith, John Cena, Issa Rae, Dua Lipa, America Ferrera, Michael Cera, Rhea Perlman, and all narrated by the legendary Helen Mirren. It’s entertaining to see the cast list because there are so many actors listed as “Barbie” and “Ken.”
I had a brunette Barbie that looked just like Emma Mackey. Emma is such a doppelganger for Margot Robbie in real life! I also had a Skipper like the one in the movie!
The music is fun, peppy, and energetic.
I thought it was fascinating to learn about Allen and Midge dolls. I had no idea they ever existed.
The set designs look perfectly Barbie with that pink, plastic texture. So much attention to detail was given, such as the exact font that was used in the movie to match the font we see in her marketing in real life.
There’s so much visual and spoken humor.
America Ferrera’s speech about how difficult it is to be a woman in today’s world had a lot of truths in it that most women have probably experienced.
I always get a kick out of movies that reference other movies. That happens several times in this film.
I love Birkenstocks! Ha ha
The film definitely celebrates womanhood, but there are darker themes in the mix that cast a shadow over what could have been a perfectly gentle movie for little girls and their mothers.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

At times, the movie feels like an infomercial to buy Barbie and other Mattel products while, at the same time, bashing the Mattel company.
Why do movies and women think they have to demean men in order to empower themselves? One of the movie’s messages is that men are idiots and only tolerated when it serves women.
There are some random musical numbers. Don’t get me wrong; I liked them. It’s just that they didn’t seem to fit the rest of the movie.
Part of me really loved seeing the female empowerment element of the movie, but part of me was really felt bothered by some of the subtle messaging that the patriarchy is evil.
Some of the Barbies are actually Trans actors. One of those actors said the movie is “candy with a little poison” and another said that this movie would end the gender debate forever.
Some of the humor doesn’t land.
Who is the target audience for this movie? If it’s supposed to be for mothers and their young daughters, then why are there so many sexualized jokes?
I’m really bothered by the line that said, “Women hate women, and men hate women. That’s the one thing they can agree on.” The movie makes the message that men and women are better off without each other. I disagree.
The movie portrays Mattel as being completely run by men; however, the CEO of the company for 30 years was a woman. Today, the Board has 5 women on it. The message seems to be that women should turn men against one another to save our society from the patriarchy. “Make the men complacent and then you can take the men’s power.”
I hate it when people use the term “fascist” because it’s always used incorrectly.
Some of the characters also bash capitalism, while the film studio continues to sell movie tickets and merchandise like crazy.
There are some plot points that have serious holes in them.
There is a lack of consistency. For example, sometimes Barbie moves stiffly like a plastic doll and other times, she moves like a normal human.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

This movie is not really for kids. The humor and message are more for adults.
Some humor about genitals and gay masturbation
Some profanity including an F-bomb

THEMES:

Woman power
Jealousy
Society
Consumerism
Existentialism
Sexualized capitalism
Patriarchy
Respect
Change
Identity
Power
The male ego
The difficulties of being a woman

FUNNY LINES:

“Barbie has a great day every day, but Ken only has a great day if Barbie looks at him.” – Narrator (Helen Mirren)
“I’ve never seen this malfunction before. It’s usually hair related.” – Barbie (Emma Mackey)
“Ken isn’t something we’re worried about…ever.” – Mattel CEO (Will Smith)
“Does the term ‘low-commitment, casual, girlfriend mean nothing?” – Ken (Ncuti Gatwa)

INTERESTING LINES:

“Because Barbie can be anything, women can become anything.” – Narrator (Helen Mirren)
“I have no difficulty holding both logic and emotion at the same time and it does not diminish my power.” – Barbie the attorney
“I’ve never wanted anything to change.” – Barbie (Margot Robbie) “Oh honey. That’s life. It’s all change.” – Gloria (America Ferrera)
“You have to try. Even if you can’t make it perfect, you can make it better.” – Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt)’
“I’m not smart enough to be interesting.” – Barbie (Margot Robbie)
“It’s not just about how they see us, but how they see themselves.” – Barbie (Margot Robbie)