Barbie (2023) | Film Review

Transformers, G.I. Joe, The Lego Movie – all movies based on incredibly popular toys and tailored towards boys. Women and girls have had our share of awful Bratz and Barbie entertainment, and even superheroes as of recent years, but there’s always been something missing – quality. Barbie has finally elevated its name to be among the list of movies based on popular toys that have been such a pivotal experience for little girls across so many generations, thanks to Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach, Margot Robbie, and Ryan Gosling.

Barbie’s purpose and intention has always been misleading within our society. To many, she’s the historical stereotype of what all girls “should strive to be” – blonde, fit, perfect, no cellulite, maybe even a little dumb or naïve. Yet, this isn’t at all what Barbie represents to girls and women, nor should we be compared to achieving the likeness of a doll.

To women of all ages, Barbie has been synonymous with innocence, childhood, friends, and infinite possibilities. She is everything for everyone. Astronaut Barbie, Gold Medal Barbie, Barbie Surgeon, Malibu Barbie, African American Barbie, Barbie Fashionistas who come with a wheelchair and ramp – she represents every goal, ideal, and dream imaginable. Barbie isn’t “just” a barbie, she is every version that we need her to be to make little girls feel seen and included. Greta Gerwig’s effort behind the 2023 film Barbie is to help each and every audience member understand the true impact behind Barbie, the misconceptions, and to challenge our gender dynamics, and what better woman to lead the on-screen effort than Margot Robbie.

Robbie’s Stereotypical Barbie (“Barbie”) is living her best life in Barbie Land, a beautiful and colorful world of happiness and equity. She’s surrounded by her best girlfriends, all of whom are also named Barbie, and Kens, and the endless sunshine and pink houses. Life is blissful and every Barbie is pure perfection, but no one adores Stereotypical Barbie like Beach Ken (Ryan Gosling). Ken is only happy when in her presence and finally shoots his shot, but Barbie rejects him because she has a much deeper desire to focus on her friendships.

Barbie’s life takes a sharp turn downhill at a dance party when her feet fall flat (yes, they actually walk on their toes) and she progressively sees her physical appearance change in ways the rest of us experience. This drastic change consumes Barbie emotionally and she enters an existential crisis (same, girl, we’ve all been there), leading her to take a trip to the wonderful real world to find the child who’s playing with her and supposedly causing her body changes. On her way out of town, up pops Ken from the backseat and the two set off on a journey of self-actualization, belonging, and identity.

What I adore most about Barbie is the manner in which patriarchy/matriarchy and identity are presented to the audience. There’s not a “right” or “wrong”, but the situations are inherently intended for you to witness what is unacceptable and uncomfortable, and you come to your own conclusion about it. Robbie demonstrates the female experience of being catcalled, shamed, excluded, feeling insecure about one’s body, and the crushing detriment of a patriarchal system that suppresses women.

The most emotionally powerful scene in Barbie actually comes from Ugly Betty’s America Ferrera, where her monologue on being a woman in today’s society feels defeating, hypocritical, and impossible – a great performance with truly stunning lines.

On a lighter note, Barbie is riddled with quippy lines, hilarious sequences, and remarkably creative plotlines that make you wonder what the hell is going on while simultaneously breaking out in your own song and dance. Balancing the line of dour and fun is a difficult feat to achieve, but Gerwig, Robbie, and team impressively land a Biles-level dismount with Barbie.