The world has seen many toy movies come and go. From Toy Story to The Lego Movie, movie-goers have seen their fair share of playful premises, spirited shenanigans, and earnest endings. A natural cynic (a.k.a. myself) may argue that these movies just keep being made because of the astounding profits merchandise and nostalgia can rake in.
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is all of the above, and then some.
Looking past the trends and cultural moments that follow Barbie even before its theatrical release, this movie undoubtedly delivers more than what it says on the box.
The world of Barbie is colourful, beautiful, and fake, something Gerwig exploits in many small yet delicious details throughout the movie. Barbieland is essentially a Pinterest board come alive. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling look perfect as Barbie and Ken. They also deliver an exceptional performance in their respective roles, balancing their characters’ initial plasticity with off-kilter humour and authentic moments that unfurl in the movie’s later acts. Ryan Gosling’s Ken is a particular standout in striking that balance.
Paired with a hilarious script that hits hard at the right time, Barbie is as tight as their doll’s plastic packaging. Perhaps too tight. Will Ferrell’s CEO character and the Mattel storyline overcrowded the scenes and didn’t quite fit into the story, even at the end. The plot is slightly disjointed as a result, but it’s not a noticeable defect.
Speaking of plots, Barbie’s is pretty expected, but its delivery was certainly not. There are enough quips, meta moments, and (gasp) musical numbers to keep you engaged throughout its 114 minutes. In general, the dialogue does an effective job in understanding the universal pains and struggles of womanhood. America Ferrera’s character’s impassioned monologue in the movie’s last act is a great example of this. There are moments where the female experience is shown in outlandish or comedic ways that don’t downplay it, which is an admirable feat.
Barbie’s feminism is accompanied by a healthy dash of gender-neutral existential dread and self-discovery, the latter of which being an important theme in the movie. It was a natural next step to the emancipation plot line, fiercely asking the viewers: who are we, beyond these human-made concepts that limit us?
Sounds pretty deep for a movie with lots of disco strings and hot pink. But maybe, in a world where we’re already riddled with unending anxieties, it’s the sugar that makes the medicine go down.
Barbie is out now in all theatres.
Review by Gabriella Adytanthio
Illustrator, art director, designer who writes sometimes.