Barbie Is A Candy Coated, Bubbly, Odyssey of Self Discovery

Barbie is a candy coated, bubbly, odyssey of self discovery that exceeds all expectations, which is saying a lot.

After what seems to have been decades since the original idea’s inception, going through aesthetic, thematic & directorial changes… Greta Gerwig has finally arrived with a candy-coated, bubbly odyssey of self-discovery we all have come to love and anticipate known as BARBIE.

Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Barbie would not exist without the labor of the writers and actors in both unions.

It’s no secret how different ideas were entertained along this movie’s journey to theaters and the summer blockbuster season, starting off with Amy Schummer attached to the role, passing on to Anne Hathaway, and finally landing on Margot Robbie as every mother and daughter for several generation’s favourite doll, as well as commanding producer.

Joining forces with Greta Gerwig, who herself joins forces with Noah Baumbach on screenwriting duties. The film transformed from a shaky hypothetical to an unstoppable force that not only amassed top-tier talent behind AND in front of the lens (Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, America Ferrara, Will Ferrell, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey and MORE) as well as all the beach balls, surf boards, dream houses and a whole catalogue of iconic fits of pink sequins, gold denim, bright white faux fur, leather black, and everything everyone loves and remembers about Barbie, creating an immersive deep dive into Barbieland and everything that makes Barbies Barbies, Kens Kens and even the Allens… well, Allens.

As the film’s synopsis reads: To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in a perfect place. Unless you have a full-on existential crisis. Or you’re a Ken.

But Greta Gerwig doesn’t simply satisfy herself with the concept behind an easily pandering cynical IP. Instead, she flips the very idea of Barbie on its head and dares redefine and examine her own movie’s existence, confronting stereotypical Barbie with what an originally humble idea born of love has become & how toxic and twists societal, media and its own standards have made the innocent doll been made to represent.

This isn’t a Barbie that merely has an effect on the real world, she is affected by the little girls, the women, she was created to be loved by. Her appearance, her emotions and her entire outlook on life are affected by those she’s been made to help, symbolising how strong the bond can be between a human and their most cherish doll, one that represents an ideal version of ourselves, and the inner most desires that are brough to life by our insecurities, fears, and dreams.

Gerwig, and Robbie’s force of nature performance, turn this bubbly odyssey into a profoundly poignant & intimate look at the limitations we place on ourselves and the limitations we allow to be shackled onto us by others. Barbie’s journey into the real world proves to not be only the beginning of her problems, but a confrontation with the solution to bring her out of the prison of Mattel’s making.

They want Barbie back inside the box, in Barbieland, they want her to have the effect they deemed intended. Thematic this is the corporate entrapment all ideas end up falling into once successful, eventually they lose that personal touch that once spoke to every single one of us. It loses its humanity, it becomes nothing more than a soulless product once detached from the passion and the artistry that once birthed with the purest, most joyous of intentions.

Not to say the film is (exclusively) a surprising but well-earned assault on your emotions, one that makes us questions ourselves and our outlook on life, it very much is, but it uses those emotional beats as the pay of to what is one of the funniest movies in years, with an unafraid & unabashed sense of humor fascinatingly in tune with its themes, characters and the times in which they, as well as the artists behind it, exist.

Barbie is a film with its pulse firmly on the grasp of the culture, and the state of people, their outlook on this movie whether we love Barbie, hate her or find ourselves in complete indifference, there truly is a sense of self-awareness that ranges from characterizations to visuals to even Helen Mirren’s narration, who thanks to an incredibly sharp self-satirizing script, earns one of the film’s biggest laughs, if not its biggest.

And if there’s any laughs that challenge it, those would be the giggles brought on by Ryan Gosling’s fearless performance as everyone’s favourite insecure himbo, Ken. Who loves nothing more than impressing Barbie, nothing more than being her counterpart, until he discovers the patriarchy. To dive into more details would be to spoil some of the film’s biggest moments and delightful surprises, but Barbie will end up being infinitely quotable, memeable and sung thanks to some show-stopping musical set-pieces that may very well earn a Best Original Song nomination at next year’s Oscars, as well as Gerwig for Director, Robbie for Actress and Gosling for Actor (who hopefully will gift us with a musical performance of I’m Just Ken)

To say BARBIE is absolutely delightful would be an understatement. It is above all undoubtedly the film we desperately need right now and takes the joyous form of a weird existential romp that beyond aesthetics and ideas is a marvelous execution as a perfect blend of clever parody, punchy commentary with compelling themes of existentialism, heartfelt social-commentary, unapologetic silliness AND a sharply satirical look at gender roles, identity, confidence, self-love and discovery. Resulting in one truly emotional, touching, and meaningful journey of self-realization & self-love.

Gerwig’s direction is simply immaculate: the set-pieces are as grand as any blockbuster, and the character journeys fulfilling. Her passion is palpable, and clearly inspired by the golden age of Hollywood. The age of big, bombastic, flamboyant, explosive movies with stunning visuals, hammy performances, pastiche & so much parsonality.

BARBIE is a throwback to the immortalised Technicolor Epics. It is the epitome of the big-screen experience because it is one of the most heartfelt films to every come out of the Hollywood machine and quite aptly can be titled: Literal Cinema.

Gerwig has reached “let her do anything” status.

Believe the hype, store up your Kennergy and go out to the cinema so you feel the pure love for story all the artists involved (in front and behind the camera) pour into their craft with every single fascinating beautiful & compelling frame in a showcase on why auteur blockbusters work!

There is so much to love in BARBIE: Gerwig crafts a poignantly smart, sharp, and joyous tale masterfully balancing outlandish silliness with a beautifully profound, life-affirming heart on our limitless potential & creativity. Margot Robbie an emotional powerhouse, Ryan Gosling utterly fearless!

It is not only the movie of the summer, but it may also become the movie of the year. It’s a damn good time at the movies.

FINAL GRADE: A

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About Barbie

To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in a perfect place. Unless you have a full-on existential crisis. Or you’re a Ken.

Barbie comes to theaters July 21st.