Movie Review: Tears and Cheers for Greta Gerwig's Triumph with "Barbie"
This review of Barbie was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. The ForReel team would like to acknowledge that without the dedicated efforts of the writers and actors who are currently on strike, films such as this would not be possible.
12/12 ForReel Score | 5/5 Stars
When it was announced in 2018 that there was going to be a live action Barbie movie, I admit I didn’t give it much mind. However, when Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird) was said to be directing and co-writing the film with her husband Noah Baumbach (Frances Ha), everything changed for me. Gerwig’s previous films always unravel me emotionally, so I didn’t expect any less this time around. Things got even more exciting when Margot Robbie (Birds of Prey) got attached to the project as producer and star of the film. Mattel put a lot of trust in this team and they deliver beyond expectations.
Everyday is perfect and pink in Barbie’s Barbieland. Every woman is Barbie, aside from discontinued dolls Midge (Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman) and Skipper (Erica Ford, The Nevers). Every guy is Ken, except for his best friend Allan (Michael Cera, Juno). And “Stereotypical Barbie”, played by Robbie, has it all. That is until she starts to have irrepressible thoughts of death, bad breath, flat feet, and cellulite. To understand why she’s malfunctioning, Barbie must pay a visit to the “Weird Barbie” played by Kate Mckinnon (The Spy Who Dumped Me). It’s revealed that a wormhole has opened up between Barbieland and the real world and Barbie must go on a grand adventure to close it.
Images and gifs courtesy of Warner Bros
Robbie is utterly fantastic as the titular character. She so effortlessly captures the subtle transition from a funny plastic doll with no feelings to a vulnerable and sensitive human being. Ryan Gosling (La La Land) as Ken, though, stole the show for me. Every facial expression, line reading, and even his body language is perfect; he’s clearly fully committed to the role and I’m convinced no one else in the world could capture the character’s “Kenergy” the way Gosling is able to. It’s hard to take your eyes off him - because of his talent, I might clarify, not just the objectification of a man with a lean figure and chiseled abs. Some other standout performances come from the likes of America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) and Michel Cera. They help ground the film and will steal the hearts of every last audience member.
What makes Barbie so special is the thought and care put into even the finest details. When it comes to the film’s vibrant settings, production designer Sarah Greenwood (Anna Karenina) brings back a plethora of old Hollywood techniques that light up the screen. Hand painted backdrops, colorful props, and bright lighting bring the film to life. With its beautiful pink homes, manicured plastic green lawns, and perfectly quaffed beach waves, Barbieland looks like a spectacle. Things get even more magical during the transition into the real world. As Barbie and Ken (and eventually a couple sets of supporting characters) travel through all six environments to the real world, it’s displayed as a 2D endless tracking shot. It’s presented like these diorama vignettes, all crafted by hand with little to no digital additives. It’s absolutely stunning and so fun to watch.
Now that I’ve seen the film, I find it outlandish that Warner Bros executives wanted to cut the beautiful scene of the film where Barbie recognizes the beauty of an older woman, played by notorious costume designer Anne Roth. Barbie’s intention for this whole endeavor was to go back to being stereotypically perfect, with no cellulite, no wrinkles, and perfectly arched feet. So for her to see this woman, it unlocks something in her. She realizes she doesn't have to be young and perfect to be beautiful. Despite society trying to paint the message that as you age you lose your beauty and your desirability, the woman is so confident and full of self love. It’s such a small moment, yet it conveys a powerful message. Like Gerwig said in an interview with Variety , “To me, this is the heart of the movie…If I cut that scene, I don’t know why I’m making this movie.”
It is impossible to not tear up when watching Gerwig’s Barbie, as she put so much thought, care, and love into it. Personally, that final montage was the scene that struck me the most and turned me into a puddle of tears. Gerwig asked the cast, crew, and any other persons who worked on the film to submit footage they felt comfortable with sharing important women in their lives. It’s so much more than just home movies, it’s this deeply personal experience. It is a thread that binds women together and empowers them to appreciate the magnificence of womanhood. It’s such a tender moment that elevates Barbie past the guise of a studio blockbuster.
Images and gifs courtesy of Warner Bros
For certain audience members to walk away with the idea that the film sets unrealistic standards for women or is anti-men is utterly ridiculous. Barbie dolls have never been the standard for traditional feminine beauty. They act as a conduit for young girls to see themselves, away from the role as just a mother, and to remind them they can be anything they sent their mind to. An adventurer, a pilot, a doctor, a nobel prize winner, a construction worker, or even the president. Barbie doesn’t have to look a certain way or be a particular shape. The film always reminds the viewer that Margo is “Stereotypical Barbie”, but there’s so much more to take inspiration from. America Ferrera’s monologue is a gut punch. A blatant and in-your-face reminder of the trials and tribulations of almost every woman in the world.
Yes the message may have felt a little surface level and on the nose upon my first viewing, but as I was leaving the theater and seeing all these little girls dressed in pink with wide eyes and big smiles I thought about how this might be their first introduction to these feminist ideas. Many little girls probably haven’t quite grasped how generations of women before them have had to shrink themselves to appease the male dominated world. Hopefully this film will lend a message to future generations that they shouldn’t feel forced to continue the cycle.
Every toxic man out in the world was once a nice sweet kid, like Ken. He was just a simple guy who loved horses and wanted to be seen more as just a friend. Then as he learns about the patriarchy and is indoctrinated into this toxic culture, he becomes a harm to not just women but also himself. Ken becomes this big macho man, trying to assert his dominance with the other Kens, but that’s never what he truly wanted. By the end of the film, he learns it’s okay to be just Ken and that he doesn’t need to act the way society expects of him nor depend on anyone else to make him feel special. He is “Kenough”. All men still have the childhood sparkle, though it may have faded with age and influence, it’s still there deep inside, waiting to shine again. This is not woke propaganda and neither is the idea that Kens hold less power in Barbieland. It’s a commentary on how real women are treated in the actual world. The film’s message is so blatant, one would have to be blissfully ignorant to not comprehend it.
Images and gifs courtesy of Warner Bros
Barbie is not what I expected at all and I know that sentiment rings true for a lot of people. Over opening weekend, I saw the film three times and after each showing, I would gaze around the crowd. I’d watch as generations of women would wipe away tears, hug their daughters, and leave the theater with a blissful smile. I even heard one grandma say, “I didn’t think I would cry for a toy movie”. Gerwig’s films always seem to find the beating heart that is womanhood. They showcase this beauty of femininity that's quite disarming. I get that it can be quite destabilizing to be hit with this bus of deep themes and emotions when anticipating a lighthearted film about dolls, but that’s the beauty of it. Gerwig doesn’t tone herself down or spoon feed the film’s message. She makes it accessible for everyone and I applaud her tenacity.
Barbie is this monolithic character that so many people feel connected to. Greta Gerwig was able to not only capture her essence but imbued it with whimsy and soul. She invites you into this vibrant bubblegum pop world, full of charismatic stars and clever writing, to suckerpunch you with a deepwave of emotions. It’s everything you’ll ever want and more. Barbie is a triumph - an instant classic.