The packaging and promotional efforts leading up to the Barbie movie’s release seemed exciting and engaging. With various tie-ins such as pop-up cafes, clothing collaborations, and social media filters. However, the actual movie itself was disappointing, described as exhausting, spastic, self-absorbed, and overwrought.
The pretty packaging of the “Barbie” looks much more exciting than what’s inside. For a whole year, there was a lot of advertising by Mattel, making us feel like we had to be part of the Barbie craze even before we knew if the movie was good.
During this time, there were things like special cafes that appeared quickly. Clothes made with the help of Forever 21, and lots of filters on Instagram that became very popular. But then the real movie came out, and it reminded me of the Aqua song that says life in plastic isn’t great.
Sadly, the “Barbie” movie is a big disappointment. It’s tiring, doesn’t make sense at times, only thinks about itself, and is way too complicated.
Well-known arthouse director Greta Gerwig (who made the great movies “Lady Bird” and “Little Women”) and her writing partner Noah Baumbach (who worked on “Marriage Story”) have created a story that feels a bit smug and doesn’t have any likable characters. But it does have a lot of wise sayings and clever jokes.
In the middle of this movie, which seems more like a way to make money than a real piece of art. A teenager yells at Margot Robbie’s Barbie character in a California high school cafeteria. The teenager says, “You represent everything bad about our culture. Your celebration of constant buying has harmed the planet – you’re like a dictator!”
Barbie, who isn’t used to being criticized, responds, “She thinks I’m a dictator?! I don’t control the trains or how things are bought and sold!”
This whole situation with eye-roll-worthy interactions shows how the whole project thinks it’s really funny. But actually just focuses on humor instead of making the characters and story better. This can turn off anyone who’s trying to enjoy themselves.
What’s Worse?
What’s even worse is that this argument between characters highlights how the people making the movie seem to believe that this “Barbie” is more important than just a way to sell things.
Gerwig’s movie starts in a very expected and overused way. A person who talks to us (Helen Mirren) says, “Dolls have existed for a long time,” while some little girls break their old toys around a big Barbie doll. T
After that, Mirren tells us about a perfect place called Barbie Land. In this place, there are many different Barbies and Kens who live in a society. Where Barbies are in charge, and even the highest court is only made up of Barbies.
Just Ken(s)
They all live in houses called Malibu DreamHouses, spend time at the pretend beach, playfully talk to Kens, and dance during sleepovers.
If you were expecting to see many different and strong Barbies with their own personalities, it’s probably better to go to the toy store after having a few drinks. The characters, played by Hari Nef, Dua Lipa, Nicola Coughlan, Emma Mackey, and others, all behave in similar ways and it’s frustrating that they can be easily switched without any special moments.
And as you might guess, every Ken character (played by Ryan Gosling, Scott Evans, Simu Liu, and more) is not very smart.
They later went to real world to cater ‘ real problems’ and their own world fall apart. Such movie is maybe a good rom-com but as it is representing as a women empowered movie…..I am sorry!
Story was predictable and kind of boring at some points. Sometimes it does not even make sense. The box office is telling an opposite story but these are solely my opinion.
What I Like in Barbie?
The visuals are better than the storytelling. The art direction is attractive and clever, if loud and too small-scale. I wanted to explore more of Barbie Land and less of Century City and one LA office building.
Have you seen the movie yet? if yes tell us about your thoughts by sending us an email or social media handles.