It feels odd watching Barbie now. It’s like arriving as a night visitor to a marriage. The massive occasion has occurred, everybody’s speaking concerning the stuff that you simply missed, and there’s a lingering sense of a hit that you simply weren’t a part of. However in case you’re catching Barbie for the primary time on the Microsoft Retailer, then don’t fear: that is an after-party that completely retains the flexibility to shock.
The massive one, the shock that nobody advised us about, is how a lot of an all-sensory expertise it’s. We knew that it might be a feast for the eyes – that a lot was clear from the trailers – nevertheless it didn’t depart part of our physique untouched (in a great way). It’s bought a killer soundtrack (‘I’m Simply Ken’ goes to rattle round your cage for some time), it’s bought a shocking vary of emotional intestine punches, and it’s an mental powerhouse too. It’s a full physique exercise, and we have been exhausted after watching it. Once more, in a great way.
The plot takes the alternate path to the one which Tremendous Mario Bros took. Relatively than immerse the viewers on this planet of its franchise, it goes full meta. Like The Lego Film earlier than it, Barbie desires to discover all of the sides of its doll: what it’s prefer to be Barbie, what it’s prefer to make Barbies, and what it’s prefer to personal and be impressed by Barbies. It’s the complete 360 expertise.
So, we meet Barbie (Margot Robbie) who lives in Barbieland, a large playset of each Barbie that was ever created. Everyone seems to be a Barbie or Ken, or a fringe launch from the again catalogue. If Barbie doesn’t win an Oscar for set design, then one thing has gone horrifically improper with the world, as a result of it’s a surprising, hilarious creation. The whole lot appears to be like made out of toy retailer plastic, and we are able to recall a good few of the units from the outlets (we didn’t personal any ourselves, sincere). That is devoted and wondrously garish.
Life in Barbieland is ideal, till ‘Stereotypical’ Barbie (that’s Robbie) begins going bizarre, as the opposite Barbies name it. Her ft go flat to the bottom, she ruminates about her personal mortality, and he or she positive aspects – gulp – cellulite. A go to to the one different ‘bizarre’ Barbie reveals the film’s mission: she wants to go to the actual world and discover the younger woman who’s taking part in together with her. That younger woman is clearly in want of assist.
Stowing away is Ken (Ryan Gosling), who completely steals the whole film, which may be an issue contemplating the message that Barbie ultimately weaves. Ken solely exists to enlarge Barbie, and the journey to the actual world makes him realise that it doesn’t must be this fashion. He brings some concepts from the actual world again to Barbieland, and the result’s a really particular sort of plastic anarchy. We’ve already stated an excessive amount of, however know that it results in some hilariously unhinged moments fully missing self consciousness and dignity.
Barbie is hilarious. It’s not the funniest movie we’ve seen this yr – Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Amongst Thieves has that privilege – nevertheless it mines some thick comedy veins. There’s the same old fish out of water stuff, however there’s the inverse too, as very grownup, very actual concepts are introduced again and reinterpreted by the dolls of their world – badly. It throws a mirror as much as the ridiculousness of what we do and consider.
It’s at this level that Barbie fully blindsided us, as a result of it has a message, and that message had me and my spouse pausing to have a little bit of a coronary heart to coronary heart (don’t fear, we’re effective). It’s bought necessary issues to say concerning the expectations felt by ladies, usually unnoticed by males, and the way a lot of a burden that may place. A stupendous speech by Gloria (America Ferreira) is the anchor for this, and can undoubtedly be quoted for years.
We didn’t count on Barbie of all motion pictures to get us dewy-eyed and speaking critically concerning the world. By all accounts, it’s doing one thing just like others, so hopefully there’s some constructive change that may come of it.
One thing value noting is how Barbie didn’t fairly work for all of us. We took the leap and confirmed it to our children – eight and 5 – who’re big Barbie followers, and so they have been switched off all through. That is an extremely talky film with high-minded beliefs that may woosh proper over their heads. It’s a disgrace that Barbie can’t be as cross generational as The Lego Film, say, because it’s a film based mostly on their favorite toys, in any case. So, whereas it may not be impolite or violent (not in the best way you may count on, at the very least), it’s not one that everybody will get pleasure from – at the very least in our expertise.
It would simply be us, however there was an occasional lurch into silliness that undermined issues now and again. The Mattel CEO (Will Ferrell) is the principle proponent of this, and whereas it’s daring of Mattel to ship themselves up like this, it additionally might have been extra plausible. They really feel extra like caricatures from Barbieland than precise individuals, and it grated for us, at the very least.
However that shouldn’t detract from a inventive, inspiring and hilarious film that deserves all of the hype it’s getting. Don’t make the error of anticipating a household film or a straightforward watch: Barbie is way extra weighty and satisfying than the light-weight plastic may suggest. Now we anticipate extra movies based mostly on toys, fully misunderstanding why this one was so nice.
