‘BARBIE’: ONE FILM THAT REALLY DOESN’T DESERVE THIS FRENZY

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If you haven’t heard, there’s a feature film Barbie currently in theaters. Though rare, we had to go see this in the moment to decide what it’s like for ourselves.

Barbie (2023) Film Review

Everything is pink and perfect for the Stereotypical Barbie. Or so she thinks and as the narrator (Helen Mirren) tells us, she’s not about to burst Barbie’s bubble. With all of her best Barbie girlfriends, all of whom have prestigious careers and are blissfully content, Barbie (Margot Robbie) is happy. That is, she was until she begins to wonder, what happens when you die? These darker thoughts don’t stop and then the worst happens… she wakes to find she has flat feet. This means she has to go visit Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon) to find out the solution.

Turns out Barbie has to repair a break between the imaginary world of Barbieland and the real world. So this is what she sets out to do only her story isn’t quite what she imagines…

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‘BARBIE’: ONE FILM THAT REALLY DOESN’T DESERVE THIS FRENZY. Reviewing the controversial #Barbie film. Because why not? #MargotRobbie #GretaGerwig #RyanGosling #AmericaFerrera #SummerMovies Share on X

Like almost anything that’s popular now, this film became the newest polarizing “it” topic. I’d just like to say, when we’re talking about a film like this, it shouldn’t be. There’s always two sides and arguments to what makes a film good or what makes it bad. What I will say is this. I don’t think this film earns the gushing over the top OMG-this-film-has-conservative-vibes-and-if-you-don’t-see-it-you’re-a-moron. The same goes for the opposite voices in that this doesn’t deserve the OMG-this-film-is-terrible-and-needs-to-be-gone. All this to say, meeting somewhere in the middle of these two vocal reactions is actually more in line with what you’ll see.

Another thing you’ll see is nostalgia. I wasn’t a Barbie girl, but I would say the inside jokes and the nods to her world and the Mattel franchise is strong. This is something anyone wanting nostalgia will love. I will also say, I think, this film did land in the right storytelling hands. I don’t love everything Greta Gerwig does to a story but I think she is talented and I think she understands story and plot and characters. That alone is to be praised because in today’s cinema, it’s rare to find truly good Story. While the film vacillates between being a ridiculous comedy and wanting to be taken more seriously, I think this one works. Most of the time this isn’t true, but I think this one somehow does find the right elements.

There are some aspects I didn’t care for. The opening is harsh in some ways but at the same time I appreciate what the scene is meant to illustrate under the umbrella of Barbie’s entrance onto shelves. I also don’t think the film illustrates what some in alternate media say it does. I think being fair is talking about the constructive flaws the film has while also recognizing that there are things the film does right. Bottom line is this. I did enjoy this one. There are lessons to learn, and that goes for both sides of an argument. The film is entertaining and has some moments that are actually truly honest and deserve thought, something one may not anticipate from a film all pink and pretty.

You can stream Barbie (2023) with an HBO Max subscription.

Photos: Warner Brothers

Content: some of the humor is “crude” and won’t be to everyone’s takes. There’s a scene where Barbie says she doesn’t have a “vagina” and Ken doesn’t have a “penis”; Ken wants to sleep over to which she asks, “to do what?” and he replies he doesn’t know. To show differences and distinction, some men “harass” a woman and she finds herself confused about how to handle it. Some are bothered by the opening scene which features little girls destroying their toy babydolls.

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