Barbie review: A pink, plucky, and poignant rumination on womanhood
Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling play iconic Mattel dolls facing an existential crisis in Greta Gerwig's terrific high-concept comedy
Film Reviews Barbie
In 1959, a mere 64 years before the release of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, Mattel’s signature doll hit store shelves for the first time and quickly became a Rorschach test for many girls and women as they transposed their own identity onto a plastic plaything. The small-scale doll was created by company co-founder Ruth Handler—pulling inspiration from Germany’s Bild Lilli doll—as a way to empower girls like her daughter Barbara (the brand’s namesake) to use their imagination in creating limitless worlds where they can be and do anything they want. It revolutionized play patterns for pint-sized consumers who weren’t just seeking the pretend solace of motherhood and domesticity. Yet for some adults, this tiny wonder represented an unattainable, manufactured version of perfection, subsequently transforming her into a lightning rod for controversy and feminist critique.
Nevertheless, Barbie persisted, blessedly changing with the increasingly enlightened times, diversifying her size and skin tone to become a more inclusive toy line. Co-writer and director Greta Gerwig repackages these goods in Barbie, her hilarious and heartfelt homage to the brand. By lovingly lampooning corporate missteps along with celebrating the successes, the film’s self-effacing humor, out-of-the-box smarts, and emotional potency strike the right tone. Gerwig and her creative collaborators—including co-writer Noah Baumbach—not only give the formerly inanimate figure a sparkling personality and a pastel-shellacked pop-art playground, they also deliver genuinely meaningful sentiments surrounding the complexities of gender politics. It’s the year’s best tear-jerking, thought-provoking comedy.
Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) has always had the quintessential Best Day Ever. She’s awakened each morning by a song (Lizzo’s “Pink” provides her daily mojo), dines on perfect meals, wears the cutest fashions, and hangs out with her fellow Barbies (played by Issa Rae, Hari Nef, Emma Mackey, Alexandra Shipp, and Nicola Coughlan) and Kens (played by Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Scott Evans). There’s also Ken’s friend Allan (Michael Cera) and Barbie’s pregnant friend Midge (Emerald Fennell), whose presence is purposeful even though their dolls were both discontinued. In the plastic fantastic Malibu-meets-Miami enclave of Barbie Land, all jobs are held by women while the men exist to frolic on the beach and the dance floor. It’s a fantasy utopia without walls or negativity.
That is until Stereotypical Barbie begins suffering from the throes of an existential crisis manifested in the form of bad breath, too-cold showers, flat feet, and pervading thoughts of death. Hoping for a quick fix, she pays a visit to Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon), a spiky-haired, shaman-like Barbie that’s been “played with too hard.” Weird Barbie advises her to go into the Real World to find the person playing with her in doll form and cheer them up so life can return to normal. However, when Stereotypical Barbie and a stowaway Ken (Gosling) arrive in Southern California, they face fish-out-of-water hijinks while dealing with humans’ dysfunctional nature stemming from patriarchal toxicity, loss of adolescence, and adult disillusionment.
Since Gerwig and Baumbach are telling a story of a doll who has encapsulated all walks of womanhood over six decades, they find narrative weight in a multitude of supporting angles. In addition to Barbie’s main odyssey, there’s a mother-daughter story between surly tween Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt) and her deflated mom Gloria (America Ferrera) that’s touching and empowering. There are also heady statements about artistic creation, both in the visuals (one recalls Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam) and in Stereotypical Barbie’s relationship with her god-like creator, Ruth Handler (Rhea Perlman), who receives her share of ribbing. Initially defining the tertiary Barbies by their profession speaks satirically to all the one-dimensional female characters we’ve seen before in cinema, only here they’re given space to grow and acquire a richer sense of internality.
The filmmakers don’t pull any punches when skewering the commercialist underbelly of the brand. They allot screen time to a few ill-advised creations, like Tanner the pooping dog and Growing Up Skipper (“The doll who grows breasts!”). They make the all-male Mattel brass (led by Will Ferrell’s CEO) look like buffoons tripping over themselves and their faux-feminism to put Barbie and womankind back in a box—both physically and metaphorically. Still, at times it talks out of both sides of its mouth, celebrating what it also condemns. Crass commercialism is handled with a sly wink and a nod, playing to audiences’ nostalgic memories while simultaneously encouraging them to purchase new dolls.
The world-building in Barbie is exceptional. Production designer Sarah Greenwood and set designer Katie Spencer have created a candy-colored confectionary dream for Barbie’s environments, heightening the carefully constructed stylistic surrealism. They’ve coated it with vibrant pink paint, molded plastics, and tactile backdrops harkening back to classic Hollywood musicals. Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt’s pop soundscape bolsters the synthetic atmosphere in Barbie Land, but they thread the needle perfectly in the Real World, blending musical themes from Billie Eilish’s ballad “What Was I Made For?” to land the palpably moving moments.
Robbie nimbly handles the comedic rhythm of these worlds, igniting the spark of the dialogue and the slapstick as well as nailing the nuance and vulnerability of the grounded sequences. Her work sings in chorus with that of costume designer Jacqueline Durran, whose textures and tailoring augment the performance, and cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, who illuminates the hidden facets within Barbie’s evolving psyche. Gosling’s portrait of Ken as a jealous, competitive himbo is absolutely divine, allowing him to show off his comedic chops, Gene Kelly-esque moves, and singing talents. (And abs!) Supporting cast members all shine, especially Rae, who plays President Barbie with crackling confidence, and Simu Liu, who plays Gosling’s adversary Ken with vigor.
It’s a tall order for Gerwig and company to deliver a feature that’s reverent and revelatory while speaking directly to the pressures of living up to an impossible feminine ideal. And yet they did it with crafty aplomb. Though a tad overstuffed with too many good ideas, pulling from loads of subtly identifiable cinematic references (everything from Powell and Pressburger’s 1946 drama A Matter Of Life And Death to the more recent The Truman Show), Barbie ultimately leaves us entertained, emotionally exhausted, and ready to play again soon.
Barbie opens in theaters on July 21
132 Comments
I believe Ncuti Gatwa also plays a Ken.
This movie could literally show Barbie taking a shit in a cardboard box and this site would have given it a good review.
You seem triggered
Why? Because I’m making fun of a site that’s been propping up a movie about Barbie for the past 12 months like it’s the new Citizen Kane? I’m sure the movie is fine, but will be ultimately forgettable.
you seem like a retard. Women still wont fuck you, dipshit.
I read this comment in Tom Cruise’s voice because he’s thinks it’s still 1984 and is clearly butt hurt over an alternative to the summer blockbuster he’s currently begging people to see.
you seem stuck in time thinking Tom Cruise isn’t the biggest proponent of all movies, all the time. in fact, the meme-ification of Tom Cruise being pro-all-movies is about to be old in about 5 days. you’re waaay behind
I think that’s more of a Miranda July move.
You seem like the sorta person who uses the phrase “cancel culture” unironically.
Imagine thinking that cancel culture isn’t real despite years of evidence to the contrary.
Imagine thinking “cancel culture” isn’t just people speaking with their dollars, and consequence for actions and words.I’d bet you’re the type to complain about it while applauding people shoots Bud Light or not eating M&Ms
Funny you should say that, since just the other day I read someone here argue that people bulk-buying tickets for Sound of Freedom was speaking with their dollars to support the movie.
You’re right. “Cancel culture” is simply justifiable consequences for one’s actions and words. Like in academia, where if your research doesn’t conform to the dominant ideology, your fucking life will be threatened:
Editor’s Note (Updated June 6, 2021): NAS member Bruce Gilley’s article, “The Case for Colonialism,” went through double-blind peer review and was published in Third World Quarterly in 2017. It provoked enormous controversy and generated two separate petitions signed by thousands of academics demanding that it be retracted, that TWQ apologize, and that the editor or editors responsible for its publication be dismissed. Fifteen members of the journal’s thirty-four-member editorial board also resigned in protest. Publisher Taylor and Francis issued a detailed explanation of the peer review process that the article had undergone, countering accusations of “poorly executed pseudo-‘scholarship,’” in the words of one of the petitions. But serious threats of violence against the editor led the journal to withdraw the article, both in print and online. Gilley was also personally and professionally attacked and received death threats.https://www.nas.org/academic-questions/31/2/the_case_for_colonialismI mean, it’s not like there’s rampant self-censorship on college campuses:“According to a 2021 survey administered by College Pulse of over 37,000 students at 159 colleges, 80 percent of students self-censor at least some of the time. Forty-eight percent of undergraduate students described themselves as “somewhat uncomfortable” or “very uncomfortable” with expressing their views on a controversial topic in the classroom.”https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/07/opinion/campus-speech-cancel-culture.html?auth=linked-googleYeah, cancel culture is just people voting with their dollars, and is simply the consequence of one’s actions and applies to stupid shit like Bud Light and M&Ms.There’s certainly no warping of knowledge to conform to ideology:“I routinely discuss the fallacy of assuming that disparity implies discrimination, which is just a specific way of confusing correlation for causality. Frankly, I’m now somewhat afraid to broach these topics … since according to the new faith, disparity actually is conclusive evidence of discrimination.”https://archive.ph/ar782
Nothing to fear.
For all the garbage this network has become, at least it still keeps the bulk of the poorly informed chodes on the greys
Oooh, evidence! Please share.
Well there’s Louis CK who’s… oh, looks like he’s back to doing standup to sold out shows.But there’s also Dave Chappelle… who never actually stopped doing standup to sold out shows.Then there’s Johnny Depp who… well, it looks like he sued his accuser and got a huge payout after deliberately obfuscating evidence.I mean, at least there’s Bill Cosby who went to jail for his crimes… Oh, but it looks like the conviction was vacated and now he’s free again.
Lydia Tár?
You’re right. Cancel culture is a totally bullshit made up rightwing phantom. It’s not at all clobbering areas that actually matters like academia:
“Editor’s Note (Updated June 6, 2021): NAS member Bruce Gilley’s article, “The Case for Colonialism,” went through double-blind peer review and was published in Third World Quarterly in 2017. It provoked enormous controversy and generated two separate petitions signed by thousands of academics demanding that it be retracted, that TWQ apologize, and that the editor or editors responsible for its publication be dismissed. Fifteen members of the journal’s thirty-four-member editorial board also resigned in protest. Publisher Taylor and Francis issued a detailed explanation of the peer review process that the article had undergone, countering accusations of “poorly executed pseudo-‘scholarship,’” in the words of one of the petitions. But serious threats of violence against the editor led the journal to withdraw the article, both in print and online. Gilley was also personally and professionally attacked and received death threats.”https://www.nas.org/academic-questions/31/2/the_case_for_colonialism
Were you cancelled Vanny?
Ah, a serious response from a serious person. You always deliver.
Here’s some evidence that it has clobbered academia:“Editor’s Note (Updated June 6, 2021): NAS member Bruce Gilley’s article, “The Case for Colonialism,” went through double-blind peer review and was published in Third World Quarterly in 2017. It provoked enormous controversy and generated two separate petitions signed by thousands of academics demanding that it be retracted, that TWQ apologize, and that the editor or editors responsible for its publication be dismissed. Fifteen members of the journal’s thirty-four-member editorial board also resigned in protest. Publisher Taylor and Francis issued a detailed explanation of the peer review process that the article had undergone, countering accusations of “poorly executed pseudo-‘scholarship,’” in the words of one of the petitions. But serious threats of violence against the editor led the journal to withdraw the article, both in print and online. Gilley was also personally and professionally attacked and received death threats.”https://www.nas.org/academic-questions/31/2/the_case_for_colonialism“According to a 2021 study administered by College Pulse of over 37,000 students at 159 colleges, 80 percent of students self-censor at least some of the time. Forty-eight percent of undergraduate students described themselves as “somewhat uncomfortable” or “very uncomfortable” with expressing their views on a controversial topic in the classroom.”https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/07/opinion/campus-speech-cancel-culture.html?auth=linked-google“I routinely discuss the fallacy of assuming that disparity implies discrimination, which is just a specific way of confusing correlation for causality. Frankly, I’m now somewhat afraid to broach these topics … since according to the new faith, disparity actually is conclusive evidence of discrimination.”https://archive.ph/ar782
Nothing to fear.
You don’t have evidence. You have a bunch of aging millionaire celebrities who are mad that their careers have fizzled out and think it’s the product of a conspiracy.
Imagine thinking that ‘cancel culture’ is something that people just came up with and not something that people have been doing since people were people. Imagine people actually complaining when people who have proven themselves to be gigantic assholes are slightly ostracized from polite society.
Wouldn’t that be something?
Right – this movie has been made 5 or 10 times before. For this kind of review, for this kind of movie, it better be damn good when viewed in black and white and with audio on mute. Then I’d consider seeing it. Otherwise I’ve seen it before multiple times.
It’s currently at 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. So alot of critics must at least like it. Now I guess I have to watch the movie in theaters. I’m a collector was hoping it would suck because I get the feeling Barbies are going to go up even more. Probably a good thing for my bank account now that I think about it.
Its currently at 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.Yeah because that’s the benchmark for a movie being good.
Its currently at 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.Yeah because that’s the benchmark for a movie being good.
That’s literally a benchmark for a movie being good.
Nomadland already did it and won several Oscars for it. The Rubicon was crossed long ago.
I see the incels have found this review.
I see the bots are here as well.
Bots? This ain’t Twitter.
Now watch it say “mods” and still think it will ever find love or happiness.
A *SPOILER ALERT* woulda been nice.
If this movie showed Barbie taking a shit in a cardboard box, incels like you would be a lot more excited to see it.
*hundreds of creepy guys come out of the woodwork*“Well what’s so bad about that?!”
No, it’s obviously sexist and racist because they didn’t make Barbie a Black LGBTQ+ “yas queen”!!!The only triggered bitches here are those pretending they have the moral highground. How about we discuss how many millions of little girls develop body dysmorphia based on her impossible body proportions.Cunt hypocrites, every last one. 🙂
It’s getting plain good reviews (89% RT). Maybe you’re the problem, not the various sites?
I saw about half of the movie and it was…rough. It does seem as though people are reviewing it on the strength and hype of the marketing campaign.
I mean I’m sure it’s fine, but the attempts to try and make this movie out to be one of the greatest achievements in film have just gotten obnoxious.
And nostalgia
I used to say that about Opeth albums (and other sites), but by 2023 I’ve gotta hand it to Opeth, who outlasted the sites.
!!!!SPOILER ALERT!!!!!Don’t give away the ending!
I am totally, unironically on board for a weekend of Oppenheimer and Barbie. No sequels, no movies-that-are-effectively-tv-shows. Proper Movies, yes.
> Proper moviesSmarmy faux-ironic merchandise vehicle and desperate Oscar bait?
Put those things together and they average out to art.
Wait, there’s a Barbie movie?!?
I too was shocked – SHOCKED – to hear of this.
“desperate Oscar bait”….Every high grade drama is that. You make it sound unique to Oppy.
“desperate Oscar bait” wank harder why don’t you
You would’ve called Schindler’s List Oscar bait back in the day, wouldn’t you
In the plastic fantastic Malibu-meets-Miami enclave of Barbie Land, all jobs are held by women while the men exist to frolic on the beach and the dance floor.Hoo-boy, certain mouth-breathy, Cheetos-stained corners of the internet are gonna LOVE this.
They already adore it for that, the feminist critiques, a woman director, himbo men, and even featuring a trans woman. They and Fox News juuuuuuuust love it.
Thank the Goddess that true heroes like you are here to keep us safe from the mouthbreathers. Dumbfuck.
At least he didn’t start with “Cue the [insert stawman here] in 3, 2…”
You know it
Oh, there is SO MUCH MORE they’re gonna hate it for, I promise you.
After reading this review, I wonder if Josie and the Pussycats was too soon for this world because that had some great biting satire.
I’m pretty sure “ahead of its time” is the general current critical consensus on that movie, yeah.
It was ahead of its time and only gets more relevant with each passing year. I re-watched it last year and it didn’t disappoint.
Plus, you know, a shit-ton of bangers. (“Three Small Words” is the best opening sequence, fight me.)
“Back Door Lover” is a classic.
GOML: The Bratz movie was ahead of its time satire.
I remember seeing that on VHS at some point not too long after it was released, enjoying it mightily, and then being genuinely surprised that it had been received so negatively. Glad the consensus seems to be turning on that one.
I’m not saying this movie necessarily deserves an A, but I haven’t seen an A on this site for a really long time, at least not for movies, which I check more regularly than Drag Race and Succession reviews. After the most recent site turnover, there were quite a few A’s in a relatively short amount of time, and it was definitely noted by the gallery. I hope the editorial direction (lol) wasn’t to pull back to No A’s Ever. Ya’ll aren’t C.C. Dowd, you’re allowed to publicly like movies every so often.
Oh, the current staff seems very much like “C. C. Dowd”…
They graded it the day Greta Gerwig signed on to direct.
Never thought I’d say this, but I can’t wait to see the Barbie movie. This sounds fucking awesome.
It was! Going to see it again
I’m definitely seeing it again – the only bummer is that the official “I am Kenough” hoodie won’t start shipping until after the movie has left theaters, so when mine comes in I’m organizing a girls night in to watch it on whatever streaming service it lands on.
It was awesome. A fun time, slyly smart.
This movie is going to suck hard.
Man I remember when one of the renditions of this film featured I believe Amy Schumer and I’m sure that version would be slightly differently received. Its amusing and surreal to see the guy who made Marriage Story and the woman behind Lady Bird working on a Barbie film but boy am I glad they did. Guess those Lego Movie comparisons were valid.
Margot Robbie just seems utterly perfect for Barbie. She always has that beautiful fragility to her on the outside, but underneath she has strength and personality. Probably why she specialises in roles like this in a lot of movies (Tonya Harding, Harley Quinn, Sharon Tate).
I really can’t imagine another actor for Barbie having that balance of bubbly silliness and strength. Its also gratifying to see several reviewers mention that this movie is a fine companion for the sorts of themes Lady Bird and Little women were doing. In the wrong hands, this would have been a disaster. But Gerwig found a way to sell out and keep her soul simultaneously. Lets hope Mattel take the right lessons from this, and don’t get the impression that people just want soulless toy movies instead of toy movies made by actual artists.
I think it really helps that Barbie, while obviously another chunk of soulless commercial product, wound up meaning a lot to multiple generations of little kids who’ve now grown up. There are a ton of complicated feelings around her that are actually worthy of discussion and introspection! Can’t say the same for something like, uh, Mr. Bucket or whatever the fuck Mattel tries to do next.
Yeah, because of the various comic book universes, the movies have been dominated by male-oriented childhood nostalgia bait for like 15 years. Let’s not pretend there’s something uniquely bad about making one aimed at women. But like those comic book movies, a couple of profitable and even good ones are going to lead to an avalanche of derivative shit, no question. Await the easy bake oven cinematic universe with appropriate horror.
I loved Polly Pocket as a kid (you know, when she was actually pocket-sized… she’s twice as big now, oddly), but there’s no way in hell I’ll watch the movie Lena Dunham’s signed on to make about her.
Mattel Cinematic Universe?
Having just seen the film, I was honestly expecting the GI Joe toy line to make an appearance at a certain point in the movie. But then I realized GI Joe is a Hasbo property and not Mattel.
As good as this movie might be, let me tell you with 100% confidence, Mattel is taking every wrong lesson they can from the success of this movie (read the new yorker article).
What’s the new yorker article?
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/07/10/after-barbie-mattel-is-raiding-its-entire-toyboxIt’s a literal nightmare of a CEO completely over-valuing his IP.
Many thanks for sharing!
I think cast Will Ferrell was actually a mistake (as great a comic actor as he is). It made the comparison too on the nose.
Yeah, I’m interested to see Barbie for a few reasons, but watching a scene of Will Ferrell doing his same schtick for the 20th time isn’t one of them. Same with Kate McKinnon, to be honest.
I’m going to see this, but I’m kinda disappointed there’s a “real world” and they travel to it and stuff. That all seems…safe, in a way. But whatever, I’m still here for it.
Yeah, that’s a trope that’s been used a lot — The Purple Rose of Cairo, Last Action Hero, Enchanted, etc. A character from an unrealistic universe comes to our world and is shocked to learn that the real world doesn’t work by such simplistic rules. It’s all a bit predictable, but hopefully they’ve done it well.
Does Stallone play Ken in the real world?
You guessed it: Frank.
He actually does show up!
Last Action Hero is a gem
They go to L.A…..
“but I’m kinda disappointed there’s a “real world” ……Umm…have you not seen every trailer they’ve put out ad nauseum for this movie on this website amongst every other media the world over?It shows exactly what the plot is about over and over. How are you shocked to hear now there’s a “rea world” in it?
I just got back from seeing Barbie, and while they do venture into the real world, it is brief. Most of the movie is back at Barbieland. (And it’s great, btw. A really good time).
That’s great to know!
Is that what high-concept means? I guess? I thought it was “an easily explainable plot” or whatever, and this isn’t that.
I always assumed that it meant the script was written under the influence of something.
It means it regurgitates progressive fantasy idealism while pretending it isn’t just for the free outrage publicity…
“Barbie doll comes to life and visits the real world.”
“In the plastic fantastic Malibu-meets-Miami enclave of Barbie Land, all jobs are held by women while the men exist to frolic on the beach and the dance floor. It’s a fantasy utopia without walls or negativity.”I have the feeling you misunderstood the movie since Gerwig herself said it was a dystopia and the treatment of men in this world was purposely horrible.
Yeah, not seen it, but it seems to be that the logical way this plot’s gonna develop is along the lines of:1. Barbie World is great for girls, horrible for boys2. Barbie World is transformed into great for boys, horrible for girls3. Barbie comes back and fixes everything so that Barbie World is great for everyone, girls and boys.
That’s a bingo!
I was surprised by #3 did not totally pan out that way. It would have been the cheap route.
Agreed. I thought for sure that *SPOILERS* after the Barbies were celebrating their win, Margo Robbie would feel bad for the Kens and would pass some new legislation or something. The route they went was less predictable, but also a bit anticlimactic imo. Makes sense though with it being the reverse of the real world.
Precisely. Misandry is not feminism.
That’s interesting and definitely adds some context to my feelings about how the Kens were treated. Still felt the ending “joke” the narrator said about the Kens was… unproductive to say the least.
I’m disappoionted that the “real” world still looks like a place of privilege and not all that real to many. Everyone is well groomed, and the world doesn’t look very chaotic or scruffy. It doesn’t look post-pandemic.
Oh, it’s L.A. It’s just like Barbieland. If there’s no irony involved with that I’m not interested. I didn’t like Barbies when I was a kid so I’m a bit biased. I’m allergic to pink. I hope it does this review justice.
It’s LA they should have plenty of homeless people around.
I didn’t see any in the trailer.
They definitely picked the least sketchy part of Venice Beach to film in.
not interested in something you haven’t seen, but interested enough to post here so people knows you are aware of privilege? Go watch “Enchanted” I guess?
While everyone is entitled to their opinions, it’s essential to remember that reviews should be fair and objective. Personal attacks or exaggerated statements undermine the credibility of critiques. It’s essential to focus on constructive criticism and thoughtful analysis when reviewing movies or any form of art. My experiences at The Apparel Factory have been amazing and their wholesale clothing vendors. I work with a talented team, and we prioritize exceptional craftsmanship and high-quality garments. We focus on meeting our customers’ needs and strive to set the standard for excellence in the fashion industry.
If this is your cup of tea by all means enjoy it. Personally, the best thing about the movie is that Todd Haynes “Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story’ has been getting renewed attention in the media. If you’ve never seen it the movie is (as of this second) on YouTube and the Internet Archive…
Ironic that Barbie is partially responsible for creating those impossible feminine ideals, no?
WeCare RCM
https://wecarercm.com/
After reading this review, I wonder if Josie and the Pussycats was too soon for this world because that had some great biting satire.
I saw a preview last night and loved every second of it. It’s so far the best movie I’ve seen in theaters this year, and there has been a lot to take in! The A is very much deserved.
I’m definitely going to see this movie and I’m pretty positive I’m going to like it.But man, there’s a lot of column inches dedicated to how original this movie is when The Lego Movie exists. Hell, Will Ferrell is the evil CEO in both movies!
wasn’t will ferrell was just a kinda mean dad who took toys too seriously in lego movie?
It ended up that way, but for most of the movie he was the Evil Lord Business.
had completely forgotten about the voice role. thanks.
He used Legos to make solid models (the whole glue thing). The irony is, Lego was been fighting an internal war for years with the huge money they make on IP kits. For a lot of people that want Lego to develop kids imaginations, the IP kits are the single worse thing that ever happened to Lego. Lego should be all about smashing things up and building things on your own, not effectively building an overpriced model you never touch again.
Harrison Ford agrees:
The Ken problem in a Barbie movie that wants to have some depth about underlying issues* is, Barbie bulges and Ken doesn’t. Doesn’t sound like the people who made this noticed something that should have been glaringly obvious. Not a good sign, but AVClub reviews are not very insightful, so I may see this.
“I overhear a woman at the supermarket say the strangest thing…”
I thought that was Sharon Stone, not Kate McKinnon 😀
Crass commercialism is handled with a sly wink and a nod, playing to audiences’ nostalgic memories while simultaneously encouraging them to purchase new dolls.Which seems especially disingenuous, since the movie has more corporate tie-ins than most Star Wars movies.
Beautiful movie. Even better than I expected and I had decent expectations going in. Really funny and surprisingly touching.
Just saw it.Barbie kicks ass.Remove the minus. This gets the full A grade. Move over Oppenheimer, give Barbie all of the awards.
In the second half I cackled every time I saw a piece of horse swag, I was shaking in laughter at the opening pre credits joke. Truly a great comedy.
I kent believe that bullshit actually worked… fucking cringe