A Perfect BARBIE DAY
As a fashion doll collector and fan of BARBIE for many years, for months I have been anticipating the “BARBIE” movie with unbridled glee. The previews looked hilariously over the top, and I couldn’t wait to see the movie with the full theater experience. Yesterday I finally arranged a matinee “viewing party” with my sisters and a friend. Of course we had to wear prerequisite Barbie pink, and my viewing partners did not disappoint! The theater wasn’t very crowded on a Tuesday afternoon, so we pretty much had our choice of seats. And … not to worry, you are safe to read on, as there are NO SPOILERS in this review!
The movie was better than even I could have imagined. It was campy, cartoony, with musical-style singing and choreographed dancing. Most of the inside jokes were aimed at doll collectors and true fans of Barbie, but honestly anyone with even a sliver of a sense of humor would be able to enjoy this movie on many levels. It was THAT fun! There were some semi-serious drama and sly adult references here and there (it is after all rated at PG-13), so children watching would probably not get many of the jokes, but simply enjoy the Barbie Dream House make-believe landscape with animated backdrops featuring a toy-land playfulness similar to the original “Wizard of Oz” movie backdrops, but with a way more pink and beachy colorama flair.
Margot Robbie was PERFECT as Barbie. Ryan Gosling literally stole the show as Ken. Will Ferrell’s portrayal as Mattel’s CEO was priceless. There were many other actors portraying different types of Barbies and Kens in Barbie Dreamland, and they all understood their assignments to a tee. I was constantly laughing out loud. It was a fun time. But the movie also touched on some serious issues like body image, self-worth, gender expectations, and Barbie’s historic role in shaping childhood expectations. As an older female who has lived through Barbie history and her connection with the real world, I can appreciate all these points with a front-seat perspective. I felt these issues were dealt with in a humorous but tasteful manner. However, I would expect that anyone who is highly conservative and is triggered by the mere mention of the words “woman” or “feminine” or “gender” would not enjoy this movie. (Case in point, Youtube’s “Critical Drinker” self-proclaimed movie critic bashed the movie severely from a toxic male perspective that frankly was no surprise.) But of course anyone who cannot drum up even a smidgen of respectful indifference for women or for a toy in the shape of a woman would not be likely to view this movie or to be visiting this website. So … there ya go.
In summary, I highly recommend this movie, and I am pleased to say that it was surprisingly respectful to Ms. Barbie Milllicent Roberts. You go, girl! Go see the movie. It’ll likely be the most fun couple hours you’ll spend in a while.
