This weeks thoughts:

I WATCHED BARBIE and naturally I needed to do a rundown, review of all my thoughts!! (me editing: this ended up just being me praising 🙌 the film, but I personally can not fault it 😊)

ALSO, SPOILERS AHEAD; SO IF U HAVEN’T SEEN THE MOVIE YET (HIGHLY RECOMMEND), I WOULD SUGGEST SCROLLING TO THE VERY BOTTOM TO READ THE ‘SIDE NOTE’ AND COMING BACK TO THIS REVIEW LATER.

Review:

Production and design: 100/10

I’m no movie buff, but I could tell that the props, the costumes, the set, everything else that was involved in production and design, was AMAZING. Every little thing from the oversized brush, to the fridge decal and animated effects, made Barbie world feel like the actors were toys alive on the set of a 50’s inspired toy world.

And more broadly, throughout the film, the way the actors and plot interacted was done so well in making it feel like they were toys being played with by a child.

e.g. The scene where Barbie gets up each day, visits the president, goes to the beach and heads home to have an extravagant disco party.

Like, that is not what a day in the life of anyone would look like, but is totally something that would happen if a child was playing with Barbie. Even just how the Barbie’s artificially wave and talk to each other really makes it feel genuinely fake. It’s so simple yet perfectly executed, setting a fun, intricate, satire tone for the entire film.

Vibe: 10/10

Idk how to put this, but the cringe isn’t cringey. The movie is not afraid to lean in to the cringe, stereotypical nature of Barbie (and you could go as far as to say women’s joy) and embraces everything that could be considered cringey in a way that is purely joyful. I think the satire, self aware tone of the film does this in a subtly clever way where audiences can not physically position themselves against this idea, and thus, even if someone were to criticize that the movie was ‘embarrassingly cringy’, they would be literal proof that there is always societal judgement (conscious or subconscious) on women’s joy (like fangirling, dressing up, having fun etc.).

Not only does superiorly create the image of Barbie Land being a ‘female utopia’ in which women are successful and aren’t judged for being their unabashed selves, but the cheeky pokes at reality (like the male ego Ken(man)splaining and the patriarchy), add a whole nother layer of amazing vibes to the film that I loved.

Actors: 15/10

Margot Robbie 10/10, so iconic, need I say more?

Ryan gosling 11/10, steals the show, not being afraid to embody Ken-ergy is
Ken-ough.

Themes: 10/10

At first I didn’t really like how blatantly clear the main message of the film was, but upon sitting with it for a few weeks I have come full circle and absolutely love that Barbie was not afraid to nail home the themes of expectations and complexities of gender roles in today’s modern society. On top of this, Barbie also offered a lot of subtle moments that upon first glace, are usually played as comedic, but when further looked at, has a deeper meaning (usually showing how silly gender expectations or the patriarchy is); onion layering the theme’s in a way that is so simplistically yet sophistically done.

E.g. The scene where the execs are chasing Barbie and they can’t get through the gate is played as a comedic moment (in that they could very easily just jump over it). But then when you analyze it deeper, could be a suggestive nudge to how nepo baby men don’t know how to get through a door that hasn’t been opened for them…

I loved how it also brought up the interesting social paradox in that Barbie is a mirror for society; showing the complexities of it (how Barbie was empowering but also damaging for young girls), and just letting it sit (not taking sides or discrediting either argument).

Sound track: 30/10.

All I can say is that the sound track was a BOP. It fits so well in encapsulating 2023 pop music and the Barbie vibe AT THE SAME TIME. (My fave songs are Speed Drive and WATATI)

Plot: 9/10

The biggest fault I had when watching was that the plot jumped A LOT. One moment Barbie was in the real world, the next Ken was taking over Barbie Land and it ended with Barbie giving up her Barbie life and living in the real world. Like wow, what a rollercoaster. And yes, maybe it could have been a bit clearer, but, like I touched on before, it feels like kids are directing/playing with Barbie throughout the entire film, and the fact that the plot jumps, fits so well in portraying that narrative. In fact, I have come to love randomness of fight scenes quickly followed by dance sequences and then heartfelt messages; it solidified the vibe that no, you weren’t watching the movie, you were experiencing it (and I have never, ever, ever, tried to feel that deep when seeing a movie before but with Barbie, it just did).

Overall: 

Let me start off by saying that when I first walked out of the cinema, I gave it a solid 8/10, but upon contemplation and sitting with it, I have a new found appreciation for what it is and it has really grown on me to be a 10/10. It is going to be such a cult classic (a Grease or Clueless, if you will) and I’m officially announcing it as the next movie you analyze in English.

Not only was it a fun cleanser, but it really simplistically wove in the themes of gender and Barbie and feminism, that although simple, was really well done. I think the movie is so so so fit for 2023, as we enter a new era of (culturally) uplifting + fun attitudes and (socially) what I think will be a significant moment for women in all facets of life (see ‘Side Note’) and it is something I will definitely be watching again.

My one fault (in case you think this is sponsored):

If you want me to be knit picky, I do actually have a fault, the fact that the daughter (Sasha), had an immediate switch up in hating to supporting Barbie kinda threw me off a bit, but that’s the only thing I can critique.

Side note of some good news:

Greta Gerwig (the director of Barbie) has become the first female solo director to make more than $1 billion USD at the global box office!!

For the first time in history, the nominations for the upcoming VMA’s Artist of the Year are all women; with the nominees being Beyoncé, Doja Cat, KAROL G, Nicki Minaj, Shakira and Taylor Swift!!

ALSO THE MATILDAS ARE THROUGH TO THE SEMI FINALS!! They won the penalty shoot out (one of the most stressful moments of my life 😰) against France and play either England or Colombia on Wednesday 💚💛!!

If you would like to read more I would highly recommened this article ‘The SHEconomy… Investing in Women & The Summer of Girlhood’

Hope you have an unstoppable week

C