Barbie
★★★★1/2
Mild Spoilers
Directed by Greta Gerwig
Written by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach
Barbie is the first film adaptation of the popular doll of the same name from toy maker Mattel. The film is basically a comedy not unlike a live-action The Lego Movie, having similar themes and humour, and there are sequences where the inhabitants of the Barbie “world” crosses into the real world, and hijinks ensue. Barbie: The Movie is clearly an endeavour with the primary goal of selling more Barbie toys and accessories. But because renown indie filmmaker Greta Gerwig was assigned the role of the film’s director, the attention of the film community including film fans were piqued, and with the alignment of the film’s premiere date with Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon emerged, and the rest is history.
I thought Gerwig was going to be yet another unwitting indie director about to be disillusioned by Hollywood fortune and glory and come out of Barbie feeling betrayed and creatively curtailed, but she handled the material here with such aplomb, delivering an effective traditional entertainment while still managing to get away with some cleverness and meaningful themes. Incredibly, Mattel okayed her script that was primarily about the deconstruction (and reinvention) of Barbie, long perceived to be a regressive female role model despite numerous attempts to remedy the issues of inclusivity and body image. I disagree with many male critics who felt that the feminist messages were unsubtle; the movie worked really well per se as a fish-out-of-water comedy. Its plot isn’t about feminism per se; it just finds things to laugh (and sometimes cry) about that relates to the female experience. I actually felt that it could have gone a lot further, but it stayed within the confines of its genre. There is no leftfield, mould-breaking filmmaking or screenwriting here.
At the same time, it is also a surprisingly loving ode to all things Barbie, with many references to toy editions, popular accessories and even some funny jabs at controversial figurines that were swiftly discontinued but apparently have not yet been forgotten. Although not an expert in Barbie merch, but I get the feeling that the costume and production designs must be exceptionally accurate to the source materials. They made Barbie World such a visual delight, and despite many stuff coloured in pink here, it never felt like sensory overload. Just the sights alone are worth the price of admission.
Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are excellent as Barbie and Ken, and these might become the defining roles of their careers. There are two other roles played by America Ferrera and Ariana Greenblatt who make up the other half of the four core characters in the film. They each have their own grandstanding monologues that are highlights of the movie. I decked half a star because I think it was a mistake that their characters got a little sidelined in the final act. This is also a movie filled with many minor supporting roles occupied by familiar faces, notably Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, Will Ferrell, and Michael Cera. I cackled when I realised one of Robbie’s famous doppelgangers was in the movie, and it was also hilarious to see Nick Fury’s nemesis from Secret Invasion being so deadly serious in that one, but acting silly here. The new Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa also has a small role here, but it’s likely you’d remember him better as Eric from Netflix’s Sex Education. Also, try to guess who voiced the Narrator if you haven’t checked the cast list; it’s an easy one.
Entertaining, visually arresting, great comedic and dramatic performances, with some meaningful lessons for all and not just the ladies, plus I came out of it with my manhood intact and remained un-gay, so don’t worry you macho, macho religious men out there. I have personally tested the goods, you’ll be fine. Alternatively, you can watch Barbie and then immediately hop over to Oppenheimer next door and ogle at some bewbs to “balance it out”, and you’d have completed the Barbenheimer challenge.