Movie Review – Barbie

Yesterday – Sarah and I went to see The Barbie movie.  The theatre was pretty full and you could feel the excitement for what was to come.  Different ages.  Some older, some younger, some families.  Let me just say in advance, it’s not a movie for kids.  Not because of inappropriate content, but more so because kids probably won’t really understand the meaning.  This movie is for us women who grew up with Barbie.  We have a love for the doll but also a realization about how misleading the perfection is.

I loved it.  I honestly loved it.  I grew up with Barbie.   But a simple Barbie.   I don’t remember the “career” Barbies.  In my day, it was what every girl wanted.  More often than not, I had the knockoff Barbie.  The “no name” version that often broke.  Barbie was always big business.  It wasn’t enough to have the Barbie.  You needed the clothes, the accessories, the dream house, the corvette, the camper, and all the other “stuff”.    I think Barbie represented possibility.   No more playing with baby dolls.  Barbie represented us as we grew up.  What was possible.

“The main takeaway from “Barbie” is that life as a real woman is significantly more difficult but resolutely more worthwhile than “life in plastic” could ever be.”

I loved to play dress up with Barbie and take her on adventures.  I never looked at her like something I could never be or do.  That stuff came as I got older.  And I think that message comes across in the movie.  We don’t want to see perfection represented.  We want to see real life.  And Barbie doesn’t represent that.  As we see in the movie, America Ferrara’s character wants to see “anxious Barbie”  or something more REAL and RELATABLE.  Not something so impossible to obtain.

We see Barbie as this unobtainable image for most women.   Impossible figure.   Impossible perfection.   In one way an encouragement to be all you can be.  Another way a slap in the face because it is so far from reality from most of us.

This movie was full of messaging.  From feeling unworthy and imperfect, questioning purpose, comparing and judgement.  To valuing yourself and owning your uniqueness.   Knowing who you are individually and embracing imperfections and owning it all.

This movie addresses the pros and cons of Barbie and the impact a doll has had on girls in our society.   Creating an impossible standard of perfection.   It’s about women and how they feel about themselves and not seeing themselves represented in a doll.   So many contradictions in who we should be and how we should act.  A brilliant performance by America Ferrara got the crowd in the theatre to start applauding when she raised her voice against all that we are asked to be and do and act when it can all be so confusing and limiting.

“The movie is for everyone to see and enjoy, but ultimately “Barbie” is truly a film by women, about women, for women”

There’s a lot to take in with this movie.  Ken (played by Ryan Gossling brilliantly) is another character with some important messaging as well.  He has no value without Barbie.  He needs to be seen by her to feel important or worthy.   When he finds the “real world” he suddenly takes a darker turn and turns everything upside down in Barbie Land.   He, along with the other “Kens” try to dominate and take back control over Barbie land.  Taking the voices away from the Barbies.

There is a quote from one of the reviews online that reads “As much as there’s a celebration of femininity and being a girl in this [movie], I think there’s also an encouragement of letting go of the checklist we ascribe to living and living your life and being in your body your way, on your own terms.”

Watch for a few cameos in the movie – John Cena – the wrestler – makes an appearance. Dua Lipa who brought us one of the big songs from the movie soundtrack is IN it – she plays Mermaid Barbie in the movie. Helen Mirren -her voice comes in with a little humour for the audience as well.

Overall – 8 out of ten.  Such a good movie with so much fun, laughter and some wisdom too.

Well done.  Loved it.  Go see it.  Highly recommend.

Let me know what YOU thought~

cbuchanan@blackburnmedia.ca

Categorised in: Afternoons

This post was written by Carrie Buchanan