Review: Barbie Infuses Plastic Fun With Real World Dilemmas

I regularly played with Barbies growing up. Granted, a lot of those play dates ended with their heads ripped off, but that’s another story for another therapy session. Nonetheless, as much as I rejected everything pink throughout my formative years, I still enjoyed transforming my Barbie into a spy, ninja or secret agent, as opposed to a mother, nurse or whichever profession I considered too… feminine. 

Still, once I heard the news about the Barbie movie, I was curious about what route the film was going to take, especially because Greta Gerwig was attached as director. 

Also, given that Warner Bros told the marketing team that they had NO BUDGET, I was now wholly invested, and I’m glad because the Barbie film is ridiculous, and also the greatest thing I’ve ever watched.

Barbie Gives Real-World Laughs and Freshness

In the film, stereotypical Barbie played by the gorgeous Margot Robbie (brilliant choice) enjoys a fun and carefree life in Barbie Land with the other Barbies, Kens, Skipper, Alan (who the hell is that?), and other discontinued Barbies that never should have hit the market (a pregnant doll, really?).

She and her Ken (played by Ryan Gosling) have an interesting relationship that reeks of unrequited love on Ken’s side. Yet, this does make for an intriguing dynamic later on in the film.

Anyway, soon the perfect life Barbie lives is disrupted once impending thoughts of death and despair cause her to develop flat feet. Urged by Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon), stereotypical Barbie travels to the real world, with Ken, to speak to the human that’s been playing with her so that she can get her feet up.

Is Barbie a feminist?

Granted, going from the perfection of Barbie Land to the real world can definitely be an adjustment. This is especially true when your actual existence has been accused of perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards and encouraging shallow consumerism. 

Yet, with the help of America Ferrera – who plays a human mom working at Mattel – Barbie goes on a journey that’s anything but plastic, but rather heartfelt and genuine. 

Speaking of Ferrera, the Ugly Betty star gives an award-winning monologue that speaks to the contradictions of womanhood, which raises the question of if Barbie is a feminist movie. No, it’s not. But it’s also not not a feminist film. 

In fact, through her real world and Barbie Land antics, Barbie finds herself caught between staying perfect forever and, well, growing up into something real. 

Is He Really Just Ken?

While Ferrera and Robbie give phenomenal performances, as do Issa Rae, Will Ferrell, Emma Mackey, Simu Liu, and Michael Cera, it wouldn’t be right to not mention Ryan Gosling’s amazing performance as Ken. While some were sceptical about the casting, no one could have pulled off being just Ken as well as the former mouseketeer. 

The chemistry between him and Robbie is electric. In fact, Gosling almost steals the entire show with not only his perfectly timed comedic chops, but also by showing the many layers of a character that’s considered the most famous sidekick. 

Barbie Rips Meta Out The Plastic

The Barbie film trailer told no lies when it said that this movie was both for Barbie lovers and haters. 

In a society that’s seemingly attempting to define what is real feminism, the film works to praise the doll’s advocacy for inclusion and call for young girls to be whatever they want, all while critiquing its promotion of unattainable European beauty standards. 

It’s ironic that Mattel is so heavily involved in the film, especially because Gerwig does not shy away from dunking on them a few times (just how many women are part of the Board of Directors at Mattel?). 

Then again, considering that this film will help the toy brand likely rake in millions from merchandising, being self-aware may be the company’s best financial decision to date. 

On the surface, “Barbie” is a shiny, pink and sparkly unicorn-fest. Yet beyond the glitter comes a movie that lifts the mirror and forces you to look past the plastic. It encourages one to examine the imperfections of archaic societal norms, gender inequality and toxic masculinity. 

It’s a fun, sparking, emotional and self-reflective ride that shows that we all have a little Barbie in us, and that makes us anything but plastic but instead, truly human.

Rating: 4/5

WATCH THE TRAILER BELOW:

MAIN IMAGE CREDIT: warnerbros_sa/instagram