Hiya!

I was never a huge Barbie fan. I did have a bunch of dolls as well as accessories but I was never super big on collecting them. However, when it was announced Margot Robbie would be starring in the live-action version of Barbie, I was somehow excited. Maybe it was the idea of how perfect the casting was as she does look like what the doll would look like in real life. So, I was actually eager to go see Barbie and, while it was better than I expected it to be, it was how they tried to weave real life issues into the story which keeps it from being an excellent film.

By the way, this review will be a SPOILER FREE review. I know it may seem weird as you wouldn’t expect a whole lot of plot or surprises from a Barbie film, but there are a few twists here and there. So, yeah. SPOILER FREE review for the live-action Barbie movie.

The plot involves Stereotypical Barbie living a pretty blissful life in Barbieland with the other Barbies and Kens. However, one day, she starts having feelings of dread and her body starts to slowly change, such as getting flat feet. This sends her on a quest with her Ken to the real world to try to figure out what’s happening to her and fix the issue.

First things first. I would like to get the thing I really didn’t like about the Barbie movie out as early as now. Yes, this is a movie about how hard it is to be a woman living in a man’s world. You would think, as a female, I would be the target demographic of this kind of messaging. I normally am, but the problem is there’s no nuance in delivering the “lesson to be learned.” There were times when Greta Gerwig, the writer and director of the movie, just wants to really drill it into your noggin that the world is unfair to the fairer of the sexes. Yes, I get it. Now will you untie me and stop hitting me over the head with the message? If it were done in a more clever and subtle way, I wouldn’t have cringed whenever they went in that direction.

I also have a minor issue with the overall plot as it seems to go all over the place, partially because of the “lesson to be learned” steering the story. I would say the first half of the film is pretty good but it kind of loses its direction in the second half. As this is a SPOILER FREE review, I won’t go into great detail but the story takes a really sharp turn for the worse.

It doesn’t help that the real world characters come off as, well, kind of annoying. America Ferrera is good but she has to rapidly shift from goofy mother to serious female and it didn’t really work for me. That goes double for Will Ferrel as the CEO of Mattel. He does have his moments to shine but he becomes too much of a goofball to take seriously. That sounds really weird from a movie about a Barbie entering the real world but, since he’s from the real world, I think he should behave like he’s from the real world! However, despite this, I still enjoyed their performances.

Still, this is a Barbie movie so I’m happy the best performances do come from Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken. Margot Robbie manages to play the way I would think Stereotypical Barbie would act in the real world. I also do love how Ryan Gosling’s Ken comes off as rather dimwitted but there is a layer of humanity in him as well. When the film is focused on them, the movie is magical.

I also have to commend them for the soundtrack as some of the songs are actually a strong part of the film. The songs seems particularly curated to really go well with the story and the mood, such as Matchbox 20’s “Push” and, of course, the remixed version of Aqua’s “Barbie Girl.” Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night Away” is a bop. I also do have to mention the duality of Lizzo’s “Pink” as, if you listen to the lyrics, it’s really funny. I think I was the only one who noticed because I was the only one who laughed while the more depressing version’s lyrics were sung. Of course, the standout is obviously Ryan Gosling’s dramatic “I’m Just Ken.” I hope to see this performed at the Oscars alongside with “Peaches” from the Super Mario Bros. Movie!

The production design of Barbie is, well, exceptional. Greta Gerwig and her team did a fantastic job with Barbieland as there’s a deep understanding of how that world would work. Pink and pastel houses are everywhere and the use of really bright and soft hues really makes it look like Barbie’s Dream House come to life. When they do get to the real world, things do look a little bit more drab but they smartly set everything in the morning so everything still feels bright and perky. The costumes also look like they took inspiration from Mattel’s Barbie clothing line as they do look outlandish but would fit right in at Barbieland.

The biggest reason why I enjoyed Barbie is, well, the movie did its job and it made me laugh. Not the usual chuckle or snicker I would give during most comedy films I watched. No, there were multiple times when I actually laughed out loud! I appreciate it when a comedy doesn’t just rely on slapstick but really good humor in the writing and Barbie really surprised me on that front. The film is self-aware enough to poke fun at itself and even breaks the fourth wall a couple of times in smart ways. As Barbie is a comedy, it has to do one thing and make me laugh. It did just that so, well done, Barbie!

Overall, I enjoyed Barbie enough to give it, well, one thumbs up. I can’t really raise my other thumb because the messaging does kind of overwhelm at times. However, when it does focus on the characters and the idea of what would a Barbie Girl do in a Barbie World, the film does hit all the right notes. I say give it a watch but be aware it’s going to try to hammer in a lesson you already know into your head over and over again.

Byee!

Have you seen the Barbie movie? What did you think of it? Let me know in the comments section below!