So. Much. Fun!
Colorful, cheery, emotional, serious, sad and really the perfect balance between all of these, I never felt like it was too much of either. Barbie adresses powerful themes on identity, gender dynamics, steriotypes, job functions, self-worth, self-confidence, patriarchy, searching for a purpose, toxic masculinity... I never expected it to be that layered and deep. It's a satire and also very self-aware in moments, i'm someone that detests musicals but I loved every musical scene and dance number. The comedy was on point.
Margot Robbie obliterated it, she shows such a wide range of emotions I really can't see anyone else in the role. Ryan Gosling's Ken steals the show often and again I can't see anyone else in the role. Two excellent performances! The fake-looking colorful Barbieland set is perfection I couldn't get enough of it they should do a theme park with it or something.
A negative would be the creator lady, it feels like she came out of absolutely nowhere and what's with that weird room? Will Ferrell and his acolytes didn't add much but at the same time, their scenes were fun and funny so why not. When Gloria and Sasha came in I was a bit worried it would go in an obvious and nowadays overdone way but they turned out to be an excellent addition and it adds layers to the story.
So many emotions watching this, it felt like a gut punch at times but I loved it. I could rewatch this plenty. Ken I get more?!
Oppenheimer and Barbie truly define our time, if for no other reason than the consensus about their value is so absolute, critique feels irrelevant. As it happens I found both overlong, predictable and not nearly as sophisticated as they were purported to be. This has to be to least palatable, attractive and human way of evoking female beauty and empowerment I have ever encountered. To each their own. This was not mine at all.
Easily deserves several Academy's Oscar (screenplay, production design, fashion, so7ns, music and so on)... it's by far the 2023's movie. Top!
Amazing!
Just watched this movie a 3rd time.
It's so good :ribbon: can't wait to get this on blu-ray
Bold concept, amazing writing, awesome visuals, great songs and courageously acted with fun and smarts.
8/10 Very great!
Margot Robbie is a gift to cinema. This movie is a gift to our society. It's enjoyable and fun but part way through it become a pretty good commentary on our society and how men and women treat each other. It talks about capitalism, consumerism, feminism, the patriarchy, men's mental health, and how wrong we get the simple act of living sometimes. I'm sure there's gonna be people who think this is ultra woke, but maybe (and ironically), that's some people need.
Extremely unrealistic movie! I mean who would choose the real world over Barbie world
This movie was so well made, the PERFECT mix between comedic relief and serious topics. I had no idea what it was going to be about when I went into it, and already a few minutes in I’m finding myself sobbing when Barbie tells the old lady that she is beautiful. This movie not only brings up the serious questions about inequality and unrealistic beauty standards - but also discuss what being human is and how we should all just love eachother. Also the obvious references to Elf and the fact that Will Ferell was in it was just the cherry on top for me :)
Ryan Gosling should do more comedy.
1/10
Weak Source
FEMINIST PROPAGANDA
This movie destroys everything
Barbie is and what Barbie
stands for.
This movie turns
Barbie into
a Sociopathic Narcissist
who doesn't care who she
hurts and manipulates
to get what she wants.
I absolutely love
Margot Robbie so I came
to this movie for her.
Now the first act I saw
no red flags, Barbie land
was pink and fun and
magical, everything
little girls imagine when
playing with their Barbies.
me personally I thought it
was bang on the money
with Mattels product
placement making this
world seem literally like
the Barbie Doll land
was alive and thriving
in this parallel universe.
Kens are doing their thing
begging for Barbies attention
who couldn't give a stuff and
all the Barbies are ruling
Barbie land.
You very quickly get
the gist of the dynamics
of Barbie land thus the
entire movie of
Men are all Bad
Rude,Misogynistic pigs,
Dumb asses with Slave
Characteristics.
the most and
best way the movie
shows this is Beach Ken
and stereotypical Barbie
with B-Ken being
like an abused dog that
keeps coming back to
his master even though
the master doesn't give a
shit about the dog and
Constantly belittles and
beats and mistreats the
Dog, but the Dog still comes
back with unwavering love
for the master.
That is the relationship
Between B-Ken and
S-Barbie.
From the fun magical
First Act this movie
Quickly descends into
complete and utter
Woke bull-shit
I mean from 1-10
this babies an 11 on
the virtual signalling
Woke tick the box meter.
the quibs this movie
constantly throws in
towards man bashing
especially that one at the
end where the Barbies are
handing the little bit of power to
all the Kens (who can't vote by the way)
and literally the Barbies are like
yep you'll have to scratch and claw
to gain any real power or recognition
and status just like WHAMAN*
in the real world have too.
(I shit you not).
This is not a Barbie movie,
there are a thousand other
way,way better Barbie movies
out there without the name
Barbie in the title.
saying this movie is rough
AF is an understatement
and oh man that third act
just dragged on and on
and on, none of the jokes
landed in this movie or
were even remotely funny
all the modern day songs
were crap and very
unmemorable nothing
gets resolved, including
thoughts of "Death"
(that's right, suicidal thoughts),
and the final scene to
rap this Bastardise
Appalling Abomination
movie up was a you've
got to be fcuking kidding
me right........
verdict:
Uber Woke Spit in the Face.
Greta who directed this Shit-Show
(who I have in an interview stating
she doesn't know anything about
Barbies history because her Mom
never let her play with them
when she was a little girl,
heck Greta didn't even Know
that Barbie and Ken were married
or anything about Barbies sisters*)
what Greta has done to Barbie and Ken
in this movie is disgusting and irks me
to my very core, it's absolutely the wrong
message to little girls,
especially the way the Barbies
flirt and trick all the Kens, that man
bash preach-speech was just straight up
man hate speech and if this movie was
flipped the Woke twitter mob would
lose their shit but because it's just men
getting pooped on the entire movie
that's fine.
BARBIE TO LITTLE GIRLS
IS WHAT SUPERMAN IS TO LITTLE BOYS,
YOUR BEST FRIEND, SOMEONE
TO INSPIRE YOU AND FOR YOU
TO LOOK UP TO WHO MAKES YOU
FEEL HAPPY AND HOPEFUL..
This Woke Garbage
of a movie was anything but.
(This movie straight up
Sucked,
I sat through this so you don't
have too, avoid at all costs).
("Drop Dead Fred"
is a much much much
better Barbie movie).
Me experiencing this movie: laughing happy tears and hurting my jaw one moment, sobbing silently in my seat the next. This was everything I hoped it would be and more.
Barbenheimer: Part 2 of 2
This was never going to be a your average summer blockbuster given the incredibly overqualified cast and crew involved. However, having just finished it, I am still blown away by how far they pushed it. Is it too highbrow and intellectual for its own good? Maybe, I don't see this gaining universal praise from the general audience, but I'd say that's a good thing. I have yet to come across an accurate read of this film by the online outrage economy (or middle aged nerdy Youtube critics, for that matter), so perhaps it's not as preachy or on the nose as thought by some. This thing is directed with such vision and precision, for my money it's the boldest blockbuster I've seen in a long time. Gerwig and her team truly knock it out of the park here: the set design for Barbieland is amazing and colorful (the shitty lighting and lack of liquids are great touches), the campy-yet-sincere humor feels very fresh, there are interesting references to filmmakers like Jacques Tati and Wes Anderson, it has razor sharp commentary and so many memorable scenes. The script feels well read and clever, taking its obvious influences (The Truman Show, The Lego Movie, Toy Story and Elf, to name a few) in a different direction than what's expected. It proves that you can still use meta and self-referential tropes as long as they're executed tastefully. It's also brewing with themes and subtext, trusting the viewer to read between the lines and find the detailed nuances in the script (well, for the most part). Will Ferrell doesn't even serve a real narrative purpose, but conceptually he makes the film a lot more interesting. During the third act it occasionally starts to spell things out a little too much through clunky monologues, which I'd argue is its only real flaw. Besides that, I thought this was a blast. Robbie, Gosling and Ferrera all deliver nuanced, funny and at times emotional performances, there's not a single dull moment and it's one of the rare blockbusters where the production value actually shows up on the screen. Major props to Robbie and Gerwig as producers for getting it made, I almost can't believe some of this stuff survived Mattel’s pr division as well as the Hollywood system.
8.5/10
The best movie of 2023. No doubt.
I feel bad for Ryan Gosling such an embarrassing role compared to his actual talent.
This is such a funny and entertaining movie. Although it's really hilarious it is also really sad and deep. The movie covers a real life problem and the message is conveyed really well. Great acting performance by Margot Robbie. One thing I did not like was that the soundtrack was just not there at some point but there were still some really good songs e.g. "I'm just Ken".
My personal rating:
-Plot (Story Arc and Plausibility): 7/10
-Attraction (Premise & Entertainment Value): 7.5/10
-Theme (Identity & Depth): 7.5/10
-Acting (Characters & Performance): 7/10
-Dialogue (Storytelling & Context): 7/10
-Cinematography (Visual Language & Lighting, Setting, and Wardrobe): 8/10
-Editing (Pace & Effects): 6.5/10
-Soundtrack (Sound Design & Film Score): 7/10
-Directing (Vision & Execution): 8/10
-The “It” Factor (One-of-a-Kind & Transcendent): 8.5/10Overall: 7/10 || 74/100
This Ken just got back from seeing "Barbie" and what an experience to see Barbie have an existential crisis. This fun film showcases the acceptance of change and learning how to be yourself without the association of someone else. Lots of big names, familiar faces and interesting Barbie facts makes this an enjoyable movie for everyone. Not surprised how quickly it reached $1 billion dollars in its worldwide box office earnings.
I initially went because it looked like a silly goofy time but it ended up being one of my favorite movies this year
Don’t know why everyone likes this movie, it was boring and not even funny. Was looking forward to it because everyone hyped it up…
Waiting for gender abolitionist Barbie
Brilliant blend of comedy and a stark look at the state we're in. Margot Robbie absolutely shines and the supporting cast really bring it.
Props for it calling out both me AND my date. Her for the Pride and Prejudice rewatches and me for the Snyder Cut fixation :see_no_evil: loved it.
About what I expected it to be.. OK, but not special.
It started kinda stupid and then got better once they left Barbieland.
Was expecting more Woke stuff, but a wheelchair and fat Barbie was about it. Even that is so stupid... I've never heard of a little girl begging for an obese Barbie!
5.5/10
I recently had the unfortunate experience of watching the Barbie movie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, and let me tell you, it was one of the worst cinematic nightmares I have ever endured. This film is a prime example of how a talented cast can be wasted on a cringeworthy script and a shameless attempt at corporate redemption.
First and foremost, Margot Robbie, known for her exceptional acting skills, deserves so much better than the lackluster material presented in this film. The script is so mind-numbingly awful that it's almost painful to witness her attempt to breathe life into her character. It's as if the writers thought they could coast by on the Barbie brand name rather than crafting a story that would showcase Robbie's true talents.
The entire movie feels like an excessively long and depressing advertisement for Barbie dolls. It's clear that Mattel is desperately trying to whitewash the negative impact the Barbie brand has had on the body image and self-esteem of millions of young girls since its inception in 1959. This film, however, does nothing to address or rectify the damage. Instead, it shamelessly perpetuates the unrealistic beauty standards that have haunted the brand for decades.
The blatant attempt to manipulate the narrative around Barbie is both transparent and insulting. It's as if the creators believe that by force-feeding audiences a contrived story, they can erase the deep-rooted issues associated with the Barbie brand. Unfortunately, this film does nothing but add insult to injury for those who have suffered from the damaging effects of Barbie's unrealistic portrayal of beauty.
And let's not even get started on the so-called hype surrounding the movie. The marketing machine worked overtime to generate excitement. The tepid response from audiences reflects the studio's gross miscalculation of their audience's intelligence. Viewers are not as naive as the filmmakers seem to believe; they can see through the facade of a film that prioritizes corporate interests over genuine storytelling.
The hype was fake, nobody cared about Oppenheimer either. These studio seem to think their audiences are complete idiots, that we just blindly think what they tell us to think.
In conclusion, the Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling is a disgraceful attempt to salvage the tarnished reputation of the Barbie brand. It fails to address the real issues associated with the iconic doll and, instead, perpetuates harmful stereotypes. Save yourself the agony and skip this cringe-worthy excuse for a film.
Hits a little too close to home at some points. I laughed, I cried, you get it all in Barbieland.
My only complaints are
1) too much Ken honestly and
2) the whole patriarchy thing felt a little rushed and weird. I know they were trying to prove that the patriarchy hurts men too but I think they missed that mark.
Otherwise I had fun watching this and I hope it managed to open some minds.
A good moral, I absolutely did not expect that, and I am pleasantly surprised by the result!
Just really a fun movie. You can just tell everyone set had fun filming it and the movie doesn't take itself too seriously at all. Best way to describe it is it felt like a 1.5 hour long reel. Don't have expectations of a solid story progression/storyline like that.
There are a lot of things that I admired about the Barbie movie. For starters, I adored the actual ‘Barbie’ world, both in its presentation and the way in which the physics of playing with toys manifests into the functionality of the setting. It’s bright, colorful, exciting, and displays nothing short of extravagant production design.
It has themes of what it means to be woman with some really powerful monologues. All around fun time good vibes.
So the big question is was Barbie over hyped? The answer is Yes.
By like 1-2%. It's a fun movie. It might help that I don't feel like I was bombarded with advertising for the movie. I didn't watch the trailer when it dropped and unlike other movies I wasn't being sneaky assaulted with the trailer and BTS stuff all the time so I was able go into it basically virgin. I kept seeing Oppenheimer/Barbie hype but honestly I had seen more Oppenheimer footage and teasers than Barbie and I continue to have negative interest in Oppenheimer. I keep meaning to watch the trailer because I'll never watch the movie but I just forget that's how little I care for it. I don't expect Barbie to be my movie of the year but I did at least want to see it.
It doesn't have the emotional punch of say "Promising Young Woman" or the charming subversion of "The Craft" or the beautiful nuance of "Stepmom" or the instant classic status of "Clueless". But what it does have in some ways more than some of those others is just pure entertaining factor. It's just an enjoyable movie. There are some theatre laughs there are some watching by yourself laughs. The barbie movie knows what it is and it stays in it's lane and excels at it. Even the dragging Feminism 101 speech in the middle of the movie that doesn't really seem to fit tonally with the rest of the movie, works. And more importantly it doesn't drag down the rest of the movie. Even if that one tiny short clip is 'bad'. The movie quickly picks up again. There are a few cameos but they're mostly so quick you don't really care.
Margot Robbie.. not my taste and in this role I didn't find her that compelling as an actress. But the writing and direction are excellent. Everyone else shined. And by no means am I suggesting Margot was awful. She wasn't. Gosling takes Ken in a direction that I wasn't expecting. It's almost like someone was in his ear saying "You never go full Zoolander". It's not what I would have expected from Ken but it worked.
Overall the movie is fun enough for a rewatch and substantial enough to make you not be embarrassed to do so.
It's going up against movies like M3GAN, Shin Ultraman, Women Talking, Black Panther 2, Creed III, John Wick 4, Polite Society, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse, The Blackening, Joy Ride and Mission Impossible 7. Among the best films in the year. Barbie fits right in. If anyone were to put this in their top slot of the year. I don't see a problem with that.
The movie feels like an 8/10 but I bump it up to a 9/10 because it just doesn't try to be what it's not. The barbie movie really gets points for knowing what it is and being exactly that and that kind of restraint is admirable.
Ever notice how men are the only ones commenting that it’s bad? Cause they don’t get it - they think it’s got too many themes too many mixed up ideas, too many Paradoxes. But that’s what this movie is about. This movie is about growing up as a woman, cis and trans, and how paradoxical it is. This is about how women and men alike are forced to fit into these images and when they don’t they’re hurt. Yes there were problems with the films (some jokes didn’t land, the Mattel criticism seemed unfinished, etc) but the idea that the film was “bad” and something you shouldn’t want because it “hated men” (or you know told men to not base their worth on a woman’s validation - but whatever right) is a crazy idea
give america ferrera all the AWARDS in award season 2024 please and thanks!
give america ferrera the oscar already for that speech!!:clap_tone1::clap_tone1::clap_tone1:
I didn’t have much expectations for this movie. I was expecting to dislike it or just feel meh about it but I ended up really enjoying it! It tackled tough topics with a delicacy while still having humor. I really enjoyed this movie!
I think it could have been tidier thematically. It feels like it has two distinct themes (the beauty of being human and living and the importance of men and women treating each other with respect) that could have been one solid theme but just didn’t quite mesh in the most cohesive manner. So that felt a bit sloppy to me.
However, the story was unique and fun, the visuals were captivating and humorous, the music was perfect, and the casting and acting were spot on for a movie about dolls. It was an extremely fun, enjoyable movie.
I also appreciated the subtle points Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach wrote into this feminist film to rein it in and state that radical third wave feminism isn’t the answer and that men are also humans worthy of respect.
I don’t think it’s perfect, but all in all, I’d say it’s definitely worth a watch.
The meanest thing I could say about this movie is ‘Has extreme Don’t Worry Darling energy’.
I have never seen a movie more desperate to justify itself. It’s trapped in this endless neurosis over what it is- a blockbuster Barbie movie in 2023 by an acclaimed art house director that is fun but also deep but also earnest but also self aware but also but also but also. Every point it raises it brings up a counterpoint to before the audience can, every frame is trying to prove it’s not just product but art. It’s never just Barbie. It’s never confident or even comfortable in its skin. You cannot for a second be immersed in Barbie because it’s not a story so much as a visual dissertation without a central thesis, it’s a student film riffing on the big dogs hoping it’s underdog audacity will carry it but given a budget in the millions. It so desperately wants you to like it, to know it’s in on the joke too.
Everythng is an ouroboros here: an endless loop of argument and counterarguement feeding itself. Isn’t it shitty how the Mattel boardroom is full of men? Ah, but isn’t it cool how Mattel’s acknowledged it with this niche? And it’ll mythologize Barbie’s creator but uh don’t worry she did tax evasion we know that, now let her impart into Barbie the experience of all women. Barbie helps women, Barbie hurts women, Barbie is told to be everything so isn’t she just like women, but it is better to be a creator than the idea, and in the end, hasn’t Barbie helped all these women? Oh uh why is this blonde white Barbie the centerpiece of it all and helping not only her diverse Barbie friends but a Hispanic woman and her daughter? Don’t worry we’ll have the daughter call her a white savior! But don’t worry we’ll have the mom say she’s not! It’s fascinating to watch, honestly. It’s a film that wants to prove to you so so bad that it works but it doesn’t and it knows it doesn’t and it knows you knows. It’s Gerta Gerwig wrestling with taking this job for an hour and a half.
The cast is more than game and able. Margot Robbie is doing her damndest to find the heart and soul in this role, and there’s one scene with an old lady near the end of the first act/beginning of the second that actually works, for just a moment, more than any of the big third act soliloquies or montages with emotional ballads. And as someone who’s seen Blade Runner 2049 and Drive, this is the best Ryan Gosling performance I’ve seen. The man commits and delivers a surprisingly compelling and entertaining antagonist. The movie can’t quite reconcile what he’s done with his ending, or tie it into the themes- is Ken letting go of Barbie and the need to define himself for or against her symbolizing the need for men to do the same, and if so, why play it so lightly and sympathetically?- but that’s not his fault. And the supporting cast are entertaining, but you just can’t have big laughs with a movie that feels like it’s constantly checking in the corner of its eye after every joke to see if you’re laughing, grin stuck in place. It’s not as funny or as smart as it wants to be, and the sad thing is, it feels like it knows that too.
There is some great set design, cinematography, dazzling choreography, popping colors, and some fun high points. But I can’t imagine many kids liking it. And we’ve seen how conservatives have taken this movie. And anyone’s who’s progressed beyond the politics of. Well. A feminist blockbuster Barbie movie will find it cloying or condescending or just incredibly basic. It’s aimed at a very specific crowd who will buy what it’s saying, the liberals who see corporate feminism as progress, who agree that it’s just about a little change sometimes, who are ready for something just a little more complex than a SNL sketch. I don’t regret seeing it, because I was deeply engaged the whole time seeing it struggle at war with itself, in pain for its whole existence. It’s not a boring movie by any means. It wants to say everything before the audience can say it first. It’s the endpoint of The Lego Movie and Enchanted- the corporations interrogating and justifying themselves, and the cracks in this formula are too large to ignore. It wants to be so much, and the attempt is as darkly mesmerizing as a fly thinking it can somehow and someway metamorphize into a butterfly and suffocating and struggling in its makeshift cocoon, but this is one Barbie that fundamentally just cannot break out of its box.
Starts off really strong and fun.
The sets look incredible and its immersive. They had a really great message about body positivity and unrealistic expectations on women & I was all the way behind it.... Then rapidly spirals into a pure man hate / Women supremacy. Its obvious the writers have a huge chip on their shoulders.. It's messaging is so heavy handed it completely took me out of the movie & brings it from enjoyable to a drab 2 hour rant by an angry twitter blue user who think's women's rights is still in the 1800's.
They have this unreal take that you're set for life if you're a man and just get instant success. They think everything's better if you're a man (Guess what, it doesn't work that way. I'm told every day how I'm a bad person because I'm a man, and for only that.... Just like this movie does)...
Being preached at about why being a man is so bad for 2 hours does not make for a fun viewing experience.
It shows the glaring double standards of the current mainstream talking points.
This movie blindly preaches that "the world would be better if the shoe was on the other foot" and it comes across as tone deaf.
Its BAD all one gender "rules the world" but if its women, its A-OK!... which defeats the purpose of feminism.
Women getting equality, not supremacy.
call this a hot take but I think men and women should be equal..... but this movie thinks men don't even deserve a seat on Barbie world's court - that's insane.
Why is Patriarchy bad but Matriarchy good....????
Its either all bad or none of it is, and this man hating director needs to make up her mind.
Horses are just men extenders.
The movie's message is very hypocritical because it claims to promote feminism but actually promotes female supremacy (women ruling over men, not the equality message that feminists tend to preach). The barbies getting their world back from the Kens is seen as fair and equal even though it is literally a matriarchy where the men are just there to entertain the women and don't even have their own houses. They switch from patriarchy to matriarchy but never mention it.
I am a very liberal person and I am completely for equality, but not female supremacy. And besides, if it was just a few references it would have been fine even then, but the problem is it is the film's main plot. The whole point of the movie is to lecture to men why they shouldn't be the ones in charge and make them appear as buffoons, as morons who can't do anything right, that's what I despise about this movie. The women are never portrayed as idiots except when they are in a brainwashed state, yet the movie claims to promote equality. That's the problem with radical feminists like the film's director (Greta Gerwig).
I guess next time, before I pay for movie tickets, I am going to actually read the critic reviews and make sure that the filmmaker is not a radical moron before I make my decision. This time, I just foolishly picked the movie based on the eye candy I saw in the trailer. And yes, the eye candy was there throughout the entire movie, but that's the only good thing about the movie, everything else was horrible. Ryan Gosling is a great actor but in this, he is portrayed as a weak spineless man, and the few times where he is portrayed as strong, it is only in a stereotypical way to make fun of him. If the movie really preached equality, it wouldn't be so focused on making the men appear as idiots or promoting a female dominated society, it is because of that kind of stuff that plenty of people (including some women) are against feminism.
I completely understand wanting to tear down the patriarchal aspects of society or calling them out, but by replacing them with ideas of female supremacy, it makes the movie's message lose its credibility, because feminism tends to be about equality, not trading patriarchy for matriarchy, which doesn't even work in the real world. All matriarchal societies are either failures or they are stuck in a very undeveloped state and never make any progress. Also, there is a reason why some jobs are more male dominated than others, very few women want to work in construction, because it is dirty, it is a lot of heavy lifting, and it can lead to broken nails and even serious injuries.
[9.2/10] There are parts of Barbie that aren’t for me. I am a guy. A “Ken” to use the film’s own lingo. I don’t know what it’s like to be a woman. I don't know what it’s like to face those challenges myself. So much of the film is about that experience, both the idealized version that Barbieland represents, and the sometimes harsh reality of it our unwitting doll protagonist crashes into in the real world. I can appreciate some of those things secondhand, and even be compelled by them, but they’re not going to resonate with me the same way they will for someone who’s been through it.
There are parts of Barbie that are very much for me as a guy. As someone whose high school Xanga page used to autoplay “Push” by Matchbox 20, some of the comedic tweaks of masculinity hit a little too close to home. I’ve waxed rhapsodic about The Godfather ad nauseam. I’ve played music “at” girls I liked. And more seriously, in my wayward youth, I treated romantic partners like a solution to my problems rather than ends unto themselves. The film’s playful jabs, and its more serious critiques, are on point, and will resonate even if you’re the target of them.
There are parts of Barbie that are for me as someone who simply appreciates when a film has a distinctive look and feel all its own. Director/co-writer/three-for-three visionary Greta Gerwig and her collaborators construct an incredible world for their title character. Translating a doll’s playspace for the big screen could easily go terribly awry. But their realization of Barbieland is stunning in how vibrant and creative it feels. Everything from the layout of Barbie’s neighborhood, to the movements of the characters, to the texture of the ground give this unique realm a tremendous sense of place. The details big and small are a brilliant example of how to blend the realism of modern film with the bizarre but endearing unreality of such a specific setting.
There are parts of Barbie that are for me as a lover of out there, postmodern camp. WIth that locale comes the wild cosmology of the film: a neat mishmash of a land of imagination crashing into the problems of modern life, of spritely cartoon characters finding unexpected cracks in their paradise, of goofy figures playing their roles to the hilt without a hint of irony, and of a wide-ranging satire that spoofs the gendered elements of society and the peculiar quirks of a toy box world at the same time. Bright colors, wild schemes, beachside battles, song-and-dance numbers, wide-eyed characters, undeniable weirdos, all wrapped in a candy-coated shell. If Barbie hadn't already dominated the box office, it would be destined to be a cult classic.
And as that box office take suggests, here are parts of Barbie that are for anyone. I’d argue they’re the most important parts. I may not know what it’s like to be a woman. But I know what it’s like to grow up. Beyond the gender critiques that swirl around the film, this is, first and foremost, a story about steadily realizing that the world is bigger, more challenging, and more complicated than the ones we perceived and imagined as children.
Through a nigh-magical bond with the young woman who played with her, our protagonist, Stereotypical Barbie, starts to think about death. She starts to feel existential dread. She deals with stress and fear and unease and even (gasp) cellulite. The most piercing aspect of Gerwig’s third feature is how it uses the doll’s awakening conceit to analogize both the humbling, terrifying broadening of perspective we get as we grow up, and the generational motion sickness we get from looking back at what enchanted us, what inspired us, when we were younger.
In that, Barbie is insightful. It is hilarious. It is delightful. It is inventive as all hell. And it is deeply profound.
What’s doubly impressive about all this is that the call is coming from inside the house. If Gerwig, for example, made a thinly-veiled “Malibu Stacy” movie, we’d praise it as subversive. Somehow, though, this is an official branded release that deconstructs and reconstructs the gender politics that Barbie reinforced and then evolved with, that satirizes the Mattel Corporation itself (headed here by one of Will Ferrell’s trademark manchildren characters), takes square aim at the patriarchy, and uses the existence of genitalia to symbolize self-actualization. To convince the powers that be to cosign such a transgressive take on a beloved icon is an achievement beyond the art itself.
How could the suits say no to talent like that though. With her Oscar-nominated pedigree, Gerwig brings the same reimagining virtuosity and millennial vanguard she showed off in Little Women. Margot Robbie simply is Barbie, embodying the blithely joyous icon, and then nailing the subtle and shattering changes that came as she slowly feels the weight of the world beyond her shores. Ryan Gosling nearly steals the show with his committedly weird, blithely blinkered, and yet somehow pathos-ridden take on Ken. Comedy vets like Kate McKinnon and Michael Cera bring wry laughs in perfect casting as “Weird Barbie” and just plain “Alan” respectively. And the diversity of the denizens in Barbie’s world is plus that aids in the sense that damn near everyone here is perfectly cast, no matter how big or small the role.
Despite its incredible successes, the film is not perfect. In places, it feels unfocused. Barbie strives to cover a lot of thematic ground in less than two hours. As a result, even though it remains stellar on a scene-to-scene basis, sometimes it comes off disjointed as a whole. While many of its criticisms are right on target, some feel like the male equivalent of “bitches be shoppin’”-style observations. That sense of caricature in some sequences fits the heightened tone of the film, but can seem comparatively shallow to the movie’s more incisive critiques and observations. Late in the film, those critiques and observations start arriving in what amounts to a few blunt spoken essays, rather than arising organically from the situation.
And yet, this is a film of great nuance. Despite the sense of Ken as a blithe, patriarchy promoting dope, the script has genuine sympathy for him, and even uses him to explore gendered marginalization in the context of Barbieland. It plays in the space of motherhood, examining the challenges and expectations that can drive parents and children apart but also the beauty and understanding that brings them back together. It manages to encompass nearly every part of the conversation around Barbie, while also internalizing them to one person’s journey of self-discovering in a way that feels surprisingly natural.
That comes from the sheer boldness and ambition of the story. A doll “malfunctioning” from her owner’s existential quandaries, barging into the real world and coming back shaken by it, with layers of meta commentary and Charlie Kaufman-esque recursive self-reflection, is a hell of a thing to try, let alone pull off with flying (mostly pink) colors the way Gerwig does.
What holds it all together is the way this story comes down to Barbie herself as a protagonist. After psychological tugs and troubles that are a metaphor for the growing, scary understanding we all develop over time, Barbie breaks down. She’s ready to give up in the face of it. She’s lifted up by someone who gives voice to the challenges and contradictions, but in the end, after this enlightenment, isn’t sure what she wants.
The conceit of making her creator a godlike figure, there to bless her and open doors for her, is one of the film’s canniest choices. In Rhea Perlman’s pitch perfect rendition of Barbie inventor Ruth Handler, Barbie has a mother, one who symbolizes the goal not just of feminism, but for all parents -- to try to make the lives of their children a little safer, a little kinder, a little better than theirs were.
So Ruth gives her child the gift of vision, a chance to see and feel the breadth of experiences that await her if she leaves the safety of Barbieland and a safe childhood view of the world, and trades it for the world of adulthood, with all of its terrors and pitfalls, but also a waterfall of joys, fellowship, and wonders. That closing sequence, set to Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?”, is the bravura crescendo of the film that surprised and moved me.
It is a cinematic showpiece to capture, well, life, and beyond that, the sublime, terrifying choice to embrace that complex array of experiences, good and bad, that await you. To accept that, to countenance the overwhelming scope of existence, knowing that it will overtake you and that it will end, is an act of profound courage, and a gobsmacking thing to successfully convey on the silver screen.
No matter who you are, you feel that plight. You feel that awe. You feel the spiritual catharsis of a doll who knowingly becomes a person, and scarier yet, a grown-up, with all that comes with both. You feel the hardship and hope of choosing to live in a messy and imperfect world and to be messy and imperfect. And that part of Barbie is for everyone.
How they got away with that final line, I don't know.
[PS. If you think this preached 'matriarchy', then you clearly didn't understand it.]
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Barbie’:
It started off strong and wonderfully ridiculous. It should have stayed ridiculous. Instead, they tried wayyy too hard to convey some deep message that got lost in the shuffle. There was a missed opportunity to be incredibly poignant but, once it became Kens vs. Barbies, it became rather cheesy.
As impeccable and otherworldly-endearing as Robbie is, I feel like Gosling was the one who really shined here. He delivered the best laughs, solidly, and he’s generally SUCH a terrific performer. I loved his little ditty and almost forgot about his La La Land skills.
I really liked the music! Lizzo’s intro was hysterical, the dance scenes were super fun, and I can’t get Billie Eilish’s closing ballad out of my head.
Bonus Thought: I see you, Allan.
I left the movie theater and I still cannot believe they approved this script for a Barbie movie. Brilliant!
This movie has a complete lack of any kind of self-awareness or introspection.
Through direct exposition, I think directly to camera, we receive a monologue about society's unrealistic expectations for women's appearances. Meanwhile, it continues the Hollywood tradition of having an absolutely jacked and ripped and never-not-flexing Ryan Gosling walking around shirtless almost all the time.
We're treated to another long exposition in which one of the protagonists lists society's unfair expectations of how women should behave (be nice, but not too nice). I found this crazy. Most of these grievances are about things we all have to grapple with as human beings. Others... Who is society? Where are these expectations made? How do we change them? How do they compare to expectations placed on men to get jobs, go to work, learn plumbing, listen and provide feedback to women, but never explain anything? We never even consider. This movie literally lists "anxiety" as a women's issue. It's lack of ability to understand or interpret its own message is telling.
There's a segment in which men trick women to quit their jobs and take on the roles of supporting men (what!?) and women have to break each other out. At the same time, the men want nothing and do nothing except to drink beer and play guitar and ruin society and have wars because stereotyping is great as long as it's men.
There is some commentary (again, through direct exposition) about Ken's role in Barbieland, how he doesn't have a job or a purpose except to be a guy. We discover pretty quickly that we're supposed to interpret that as, "See? This is what it's like to be a woman [in the 1820s]." And what's the solution? No. No. Ken should continue to have no agency or purpose in Barbieland and that's a hilarious joke.
Every actor, though, is fully committed and doing great work.
This movie is bad. It never heard of, "show, don't tell", and instead has writers repeatedly monologuing directly to the audience. It's a ham-fisted delivery of a message that the movie doesn't itself understand, let alone interpret. The most memorable part, based on comments from women who walked out of the theater, was also the most joyous, a song and dance number starring only (ironically) men. Everyone seemed to like that part and wanted to talk about it, which is an indication of how poorly this movie communicates and entertains.
The worst movies ever created. I regret that I watch this movie. ₹350 wasted:/
You know what? Maybe I'm not a feminist if it means I have to enjoy messaging that trashes men or only focuses on the worst of them to boost women up. I don't believe that men are only weak, whiny, stupid, incompetent, power-hungry, controlling, and empty. So, when they're portrayed that way to set up women as superior, I don't like it.
This movie had all the elements to open a conversation about how it shouldn't be about men ruling over women or women ruling over men, it should be about working together to break down toxic constructs that affect both men and women, supporting each other, and being better for one another to make real change. But instead of opening that conversation, it just tells you what you should think. You should think that if women ruled the world and told men what to do, everything would be great. That's just so... disappointing.
There's a lot I enjoyed about this film; the style, the actors, the direction, the soundtrack, the humor and satire, the way it explored what it means to be a woman, what it means to be human, gender roles, consumerism, and more. So many great things to love, but the feminist message is not one I can get behind.
If you watch it with low expectations, you'll be surprised because it's more fun than you thought. But most of the gags are listed in its trailer and it lacks "something" to be a better movie.
I'm very conflicted on this film. I enjoyed Margot Robbie's performance as Stereotypical Barbie as well as Ryan Gosling's Ken. The set design is top notch and I loved the design of Barbie World. The costumes and makeup are also well done. But that's about as far as the positives go. While I thought Gosling stole the show, I wish that we saw more of the Kens and more of Allan, because Allan was hilarious. When it comes to the writing, it really falls flat. Most of the dialogue is spoon-feeding you the message instead of showing it through the film. I also thought that the mother character and her daughter were very under developed and felt very generic. I also found the film to be somewhat unrealistic when it came to the real world. The film was funny but felt more annoying and I wasn't very entertained. Just not for me.
Every thing it needed to say, it said. Every story it needed to tell, it told. Every message it needed to deliver, it delivered. And it said, told, and delivered everything perfectly. And hilariously.
Honestly, I don’t really know how to do much of a review of it because anything I come up with will be a disservice.
SUCH INCREDIBLE MOVIE <3 loved watching
Good: critic the male society, make fun of patriarchy, good effects.
Bad: preaching about feminism, there is no critic to feminism, also they keeping without understand the males also are human beings.
Barbie 2023, oh boy, where do I even begin? This movie is like a glittery train wreck, a hot mess wrapped in a pink bow. From the moment the opening credits rolled, I knew I was in for a wild ride, and not in a good way. It's as if the filmmakers took every cliché in the book and crammed it into one painfully predictable storyline.
The plot, if you can even call it that, is about as shallow as Barbie's plastic smile. It's a recycled tale of Barbie saving the day, yet again, with her perfectly coiffed hair and impossibly tiny waist. Yawn. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the lack of originality and depth in the story. It's like they didn't even bother trying to come up with something remotely interesting.
And let's talk about the dialogue, shall we? It's so cheesy and cringe-worthy that I couldn't help but groan out loud. The lines are as plastic as Barbie herself, lacking any real substance or wit. It's like the writers took a bunch of tired clichés and threw them into a blender, hoping for some sort of magical concoction. Spoiler alert: it didn't work.
But perhaps the most disappointing aspect of Barbie 2023 is the missed opportunity for growth and empowerment. Barbie has been an iconic figure for decades, yet this movie does nothing to challenge or expand upon her character. Instead, it perpetuates outdated stereotypes and reinforces unrealistic beauty standards. It's a disheartening reminder of how far we still have to go in terms of representation and inclusivity in the film industry.
In conclusion, Barbie 2023 is a glittery disaster that falls flat on its perfectly manicured face. It's a prime example of lazy filmmaking and missed potential. Save yourself the agony and skip this one. Trust me, you won't be missing out on anything groundbreaking or remotely entertaining. Barbie deserves better, and so do we.
I should not have tried to watch this. I knew it would not be for me - but people said it was good - and there’s what’s his face and Robbie - I love them - and there are so few movies coming out - I was desperate :sob:
So, my feelings on this one are very divisive, so I will state first things I like, then things I dislike. I think this movie looks really good. The set design is awesome, I love how colorful it feels and the outfits are spot on. The combination of pink and light blue is great. This movie also had a lot of fun moments, especially with Ryan Gosling playing Ken. He absolutely killed the role, both in dumb fun and also emotional moments. Highlight of the movie of course was the dance sequence of the Kens. Absolutely in love with this scene, and I wish the movie would have more of that. I think the general intention of this movie to be empowering to little girls is sweet, and I do see how it also plays hardcore into the nostalgic factor for those who played with Barbie as kids. I’m not the target audience in that regard, but, the idea of how much this movie means to some people is kinda nice.
However, there are also things I didn’t like in the movie. The plot is not engaging, and apart from the humor I quickly noticed how I lost interest in the movie. The characters aside from Margot Barbie and Ryan Ken are also very flat, with some developments just happening off-screen (like Sasha and her mother making up all of sudden??)
The movie also was very on-the-nose with its message and themes, repeating surface-level feminism three times out loud, and I guess it serves well to convey that message to a younger audience but for me it felt tone-deaf. The ending I also take issue with as it just returned everything to the status quo which was previously criticized, and it felt like the movie went a bit into the direction that to solve patriarchy you reverse it which I don’t agree with. Overall it really is just surface-level feminism, though. Patriarchy wasn’t really explored beyond sexualizing and objectifying women, and Ken quickly changed his mind too but that doesn’t work in the real world, because misogyny is also a huge generational and systematic issue.
To sum it up together, the movie has very charming assets but the general plot and characters are not engaging and often boring, the delivery of its message is partly questionable and mostly feels tone-deaf and too safe. Honestly, I expected more.
Ryan Gosling is phenomenal but literally everything else isn't anything special to be honest. The messaging (if there even is any?) is also super clunky and seemingly aimed at 12-year-old girls and, well, let's just say this is the last film I'd show to my kids.
A masterpiece, I don't have too many words
Barbie was fun and legit had feminism and the patriarchy at it's core but sometimes was a bit heavy-handed for even me, but that part wasn't targeted for me and that's ok, and I think a huge amount of people will love it. Although honestly wasn't as kid friendly as I was expecting akin to The Lego Movie, with a lot more real world issues presented.
I think the highlights are the sets and visuals by Rodrigo Prieto, Greta Gerwig as director and Margot Robbie in the lead role, reminding everyone why she's so amazing after a couple of recent box office duds.
The fact that I used to have a housemate that used to sing an acoustic version of “Push” by Matchbox Twenty to girls had me laughing a lot. I'll tell you The Godfather is a great movie, but you can go and watch it yourself :P
I think there will be a very vocal minority that will hate this movie, and a large amount of people that will vocally defend it. While I did think there was 1-2 occasions the messaging was a bit too strong I can also happily accept that for some people it will be amazing to hear it put so bluntly. I also really think that a lot of the vocal people that hate this movie, might also be represented in this movie and might lack the self-awareness of that fact.
A strong movie and while I think Oppenheimer was the better "Film" of the Barbenheimer combo, I think Barbie will be more memorable to it's target audience.
faster movie I stopped watching... can't stand it. Not sure what's the big hype about it. Can't even review about it because I left after 20 minutes.
Loved the movie, hated the ending. Who the hell would choose to be human over a Barbie :sob:
all these patriarchy kens in this comment section lmao
Made me cry “mothers stand still do their daughters can see how far they’ve come”
There are three layers to this movie:
feminism
If you take the movie at face value, it is a feminist movie with a feminist message. It talks to women at several times, saying the world is still patriarchal and the fight is still not over. It's also a critique of third wave feminism, endorsing femininity and beauty and recapturing the meaning of womanhood. It is pink and girly because they are women.
It also addresses feminism for men. Ken is an incel that cannot be happy without living the fantasy relationship with an idealized woman. He gives up simping and accepts his masculinity, not because of simping or resentment.Critique of feminism
Going deeper, the movie talks bad about radical feminism. Ken thinks patriarchy means he gets everything for being a man but gets rejected and made fun of in every attempt, making barbieland a matriarchal utopia and the real world not so patriarchal after all. This addresses the false idea some women have that being a man makes you privileged and an opressor. Ken is also a mirror for real life women. He finds out about patriarchy and turns into a revolutionary. This is an attack on revolutionary feminist that find out about feminism and think it is about destroying men and society to build barbieland. It points to their naivety.liberal movie
As in classical liberalism, it endorses individuality and freedom. As many have said in, Barbie chooses the real world and its imperfections instead of barbieland.
Barbieland is a longhouse with no privacy, no meaning and no agency. It is a proxy for neverland, a perfect fantasy world of dreams. Barbie thinks about death and it starts to break the veil of beauty and perfection.
Ken is the only individual with some bit of a mind and personality, but after he learns about patriarchy, he becomes a caricature and literally a nobody in a sea of kens. This shows how ideology and social movements overtake individuality and turns everyone in mindless minions.
Does this film have an agenda? Yes it does.
Do incels complaining about it have a point? They do not.
The main theme is women empowerment, sure. But note how important for the story was Gosling's Ken understanding he can be who he wants to be, independently from him being "Barbie's Ken". Could this story work without the Barbie franchise? Probably not. Why? Because, just like the film self-awarely points out, Barbie dolls were simultaneously strengthening socially undesired stereotypes about women, but at the same time they were about girls learning they can live independent of men and following their own dreams.
The film feels weird at times but overall is a fine comedy with a message, that while put straight out there, may not necessarily be obvious to all viewers. Generally an enjoyable watch.
I am Kenough.
This movie was brilliant, so many laughs through out, Easter eggs, not to mention the brilliant music to accompany it - including tracks from Lizzo, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa and more!
Barbie also tackles real life issues and has an extremely representative cast.
I cried like a baby at the end!
couldnt stop noticing the gm product placement lol
"If you love Barbie. If you hate Barbie. This movie is for you."
At least that's what the trailers say. But as someone who doesn't belong to either group, I can confirm that you'll have fun even without a love-hate attitude towards the doll. As a fan of Greta Gerwig, this didn't surprise me either. Since it was announced that she was chosen as director for the Barbie film, one could foresee that the film would turn out to be more profound than it could have been.
However, "Barbie" is not entirely free of criticism. I definitely felt the advertising message in numerous places. It is, to some extent, surprising how many jokes the company Mattel has allowed on their account. But that is, of course, exactly the strategy. In the end, it's all about selling Barbie dolls. But the merchandise approach is omnipresent in most other big-budget Hollywood productions, so I can overlook it for the most part here as well.
What really convinced me about the film were two primary factors: the great production design and the clever screenplay. "Barbie" looks really fantastic with its excess of pink and plastic feel. The Barbie world and the real world are a perfect contrast. The screenplay, which Gerwig co-wrote with her partner Noah Baumbach, in turn offers room for numerous different approaches. Thus, at some points the film is a biting satire, while at other moments it is heartfelt, hilarious, feminist, existentialist, or totally absurd. Gerwig and Baumbach teach the audience several life lessons at once, most of which have depth. The film is thus, fortunately, so much more than just a commercial.
But "Barbie" is also a complete success because of its strong cast. That Margot Robbie is a good choice for the lead should come as no surprise to anyone. I also appreciate the fact that she finally doesn't play the "slightly crazy" character for a change. Ironically, though, the real star of the film is probably Ryan Gosling as Ken, who has already demonstrated fantastic timing in comedy several times in the past. Here, he's so good that he might even have a shot in the Oscar race.
All in all, my verdict is positive across the board. "Barbie" is a film that is one of the better examples of mainstream summer cinema. Above all, its high level of creativity sets it apart from the competition. I can only recommend everyone give this film a chance. It really doesn't matter at all whether you hate Barbie, love her, or don't care about her.
Barbie's last scene killed me
A piercing monologue with an old woman about how to be a "person" was not enough for them, more about how to "become a person".
Once in the real world, Barbie does not realize herself as a person by going and doing what she wants. After all, for the entire film, we were not shown her desires.
Ok, didn't show it before, show it now. But instead, instead of creating something beautiful, or in some other way realizing herself as a "personality", she goes to the gynecologist.
In this way, the author wants to remind that the only thing that makes girls a person is the presence of a cunt?
I was ready to forgive all the crap that had happened before, the conversation with my grandmother really moved me.
But to end the movie with this...
Meh. I giggled a bit from jokes by Will, Michael and Ryan, but other than that it was kinda stupid. Definitely doesn't deserve all the praise it's getting. Also overhyped as hell.
An unexpected winner for me for Barbenheimer.
There is so much I loved about this movie. It's mainly much more emotional than I was expecting, making it a perfect balance with the comedy.
For me this movie is about growing up and seeing your children grow up. It reminded me of Boyhood at some point. Ofcourse it's mainly about womanhood and the idea of what it means to be a woman and the struggles along the way. As a guy I can't know what that feels like but the things this movie showed were very similar to things I've heard from my sisters and girlfriend.
So many great actors, seeing Ncuti Gatwa made me so excited for Doctor Who (also funny to see 3 actors from Sex Education) and Will Ferrell was hilarious. Mattel making fun of themselves was also fun.
The music was great, especially "I'm just Ken" with that amazing scene. Billie Eilish's song is very emotional, and it made me almost cry at the end.
And I loved the fourth wall breaking and the movie references!
the acting was incredible, led to good discussions afterwards, but I was obviously not the intended audience.
I don't regret seeing it, but I'm not planning on watching it again.
(ps...I grade harshly, a 5/10 is a b/b-)
A surprisingly funny examination of what it means to be a woman, with some serious Ryan Gosling Big Dick Kenergy.
The interplay between the movie and the commentary by the other women in the theater was exquisite.
Not as good as the marketing made me believe, but I loved the Ken's song. Ryan Gosling is so good man
A very thought provoking movie, disguised as a light hearted affair. Robbie and Ferrera are just sublime, McKinnon is just perfect as she always is and the Ken's are great too. With such a powerful message and some stellar casting, it's very disappointing to not see Best Director and Best Actress not get a nod at the Oscars. Great movie, really enjoyable.
A great film, with a fun story full of references and many funny moments. It also effectively addresses the issues that women still face in society.
I'm admittedly late to the trend and, having never seen a Greta Gerwig movie before, I can confidently say that 'Barbie' isn't my cup of tea. It's not a movie I despise, but I can't say I like it either.
Feminism is written all over the movie, you can clearly feel a lot of heart was poured into the movie especially the set design which was probably the biggest strength of the movie. The movie takes an attempt to champion feminism and ultimately ends up justifying patriarchy? Most part of the movie feels like it's patting itself on the back and tries to promote anti-capitalism by being pro-capitalistic. The feminism tropes seem like they weren't trying to be ill-intentional but often comes off a bit insincere while trying to navigate the complexities and hardships of womanhood which I know nothing of. Throughout the movie they struggle to maintain a consistent tone and the whole point of the movie looks a disjointed.
Visually, it's one of the most beautiful movies I've seen. The costumes are cool, set designs are gorgeous, and the acting performances are solid, with Ryan Gosling being my favorite among the cast. While Margot Robbie is well-cast, her performance doesn't strike me as Oscar-worthy or groundbreaking; I found her a bit stiff. On the other hand, Michael Cera as Allan was a standout.
Overall the movie tries to be full of depth and ends up being shallow and extremely plastic for me.
A really bad movie, I can't believe how hyped this was. Pure feminism movie through and through. Hate it.
I really don't get why people got so upset about this. It's just a superficial movie with Barbie only touching the very least of the problems women face everywhere every day. You know, looking around and being vigilant every time you leave the house? Hell even in your own home, you're never safe.
I thought it would be groundbreaking after all the talk online, but nope, nothing to see here. Just a Barbie movie. You won't miss anything if you don't watch, especially if you're a woman like me.
Such a well-made movie. People complain about irrelevant things when everything in this movie is relevant to Barbie. The soundtrack could have been better, but other than that, it's funny, sad, relatable, inspiring, amazing, and the acting is pure Barbie land.
"Humans have only one ending. Ideas live for ever."
By the way people talked about this I thought we had another La La Land or Parasite on our hands. I'd say this movie hits the nail on the head on a lot of things, but overall I wasn't blown away. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling killed it though.
I know saying this goes against the entire point of the movie, but holy shit, Margot Robbie is genuinely so insanely gorgeous:weary::heart:
Excellent movie. I was not expecting that.
“Barbie" is a delightful film that successfully blends humor with a heartwarming message. The movie captures your attention with its witty moments and leaves you with a sense of positivity. The storyline, combined with the charming characters, draws you into Barbie's world and keeps you engaged throughout. While some aspects might be familiar, the film's unique twist and overall execution make it a standout. With its combination of humor and a touching message, "Barbie" earns a solid 4 out of 5 rating. It's a feel-good watch that's perfect for anyone seeking an enjoyable cinematic experience.
It started well with great locations and cinematography but as the time went by i didn't like it that much the script i expected something better. 6.5/10
Re: Barbenheimer
I think it’s a really rare thing when releases are SO eagerly anticipated and then so wholeheartedly deliver. I enjoyed both of these movies immensely for wildly different reasons; Barbie is a fantastically feminist, candy-colored camp fantasy that delivers laughs and thoughts on existentialism and humanity; and Oppenheimer is a dramatically dense, fast-paced character study that delivers dread and thoughts on…existentialism and humanity. Funny how the two meet there.
Aside from the movies themselves, it has been YEARS since a movie theatre has felt so electric as when my husband and I saw Barbie on Thursday night. The outfits and “Hi, Barbie!” exclamations left and right fed directly into a delightfully enthusiastic audience - and then I didn’t hear a peep during my Oppenheimer screening this evening, which is a far cry from the typical Friday night audience.
This has been my favorite week at the movies in a very long time.
Barbie was an okay movie, but it didn't quite live up to the hype for me. While Margot Robbie delivered a fantastic performance and embodied the character well, the overall film experience wasn't exactly what I was expecting, especially considering Barbie's traditional association with a younger audience.
What surprised me the most was the maturity of the film. It had a depth and complexity that I didn't anticipate. While this might make it more appealing to older audiences, it may not be as suitable for the younger viewers who have grown up with Barbie as a symbol of childhood innocence and fun.
The movie had its moments, and Robbie's portrayal of Barbie was a highlight, but it lacked the whimsy and light-heartedness that many associate with the brand. It's clear that the filmmakers tried to take Barbie in a different direction, but it might not be what fans of the classic Barbie image were hoping for.
In the end, Barbie was a decent film with a noteworthy performance by Margot Robbie, but it might leave some fans feeling that it strayed a bit far.
All I can say in short is that it was an unexpected movie which didn't make sense some of the time. Was it targeting corporate greed or anti-men or some other woke agenda?
In the end, I just liked Ryan Gosling's acting of Ken. He was totally into the role.
It was a pretty OK movie, but not worth the hype. Good marketing though. Ps. Hari Nef is actual an pretty good actor. Great strong male performance !
This movie was woke, all they tried to tell us were men is bad. Really bad movie.
What a pile of feministic men-hating crap. Really fits all that woke agenda.
Ken steals the movie. I absolutely love Ken's discovery of the patriarchy. I also don't understand why the movie is getting bad reviews for being woke. I think it is a "light" movie about serious topics and I find it very valuable for men.
Go watch the movie and put your big egos aside. Take the horse if you need to, to keep you company or to feel more manly.
:heart:x7
I wasn't exactly sure what to expect with this movie. At first, because of all the musical numbers, i started to regret watching it. But then it got more interesting. What I want to know is - did Kate McKinnon do her own splits or was there a stunt double?
How I rate:
1-3 :heart: = seriously! don't waste your time
4-6 :heart: = you may or may not enjoy this
7-8 :heart: = I expect you will like this too
9-10 :heart: = movies and TV shows I really love!
So, I dove into "Barbie" expecting some fun, flashy visuals and, well, it didn't disappoint on that front. The start was pretty solid, with all the glitz and glam you'd expect from a Barbie world. They even threw in some cool messages about loving yourself and all that jazz. But then, things got... weird. The movie started going on this whole "women rule, men drool" vibe, which kinda felt like they missed the mark on the whole equality thing.
Greta Gerwig seemed like she was trying to juggle a million things at once. It's like she wanted to wink at the audience every two minutes, saying, "See what I did there?" Margot Robbie as Barbie was cool and all, but Ryan Gosling as Ken? He stole the show. Dude was hilarious!
The visuals? Top-notch. The music? Catchy as heck. But the story? Kinda felt like they were trying to please everyone and ended up pleasing no one. It's like they wanted to make a point, but then they'd immediately backtrack, probably scared of stepping on toes.
The movie was a bit of a bummer for me. It had its moments, but also left me scratching my head a few times. If you're in for some laughs and eye candy, give it a go. Just don't expect a clear message by the end.
2 hour Mattel advertising, with some bs murican ideology.
Just that Ferrera monologue is wirth every penny invested on this movie.
architecture and aesthetics is the best
4/10, very meh. Don't really get the hype. Drawn out. Message was meh and convoluted. Set design and productiknwas good though
A huge commercial of Mattel.
I really didn’t get this movie. Well, I got it in the sense that it was about female empowerment and that ‘looking a bimbo’ did not make you a bimbo. Although, sometimes in modern society it’s difficult to differentiate! I get that people also relate to Ken… just an accessory! It was a fun movie… sort of. I liked it visually and its draw retrospectively on all things Barbie but the jokes were few and I failed to understand its audience. In the auditorium, there were young kids who just didn’t get it, my own entourage just didn’t get, the gay guys (of which I am one) thought they needed to get it and well, it just seemed to fall flat for everyone. For everyone who said they loved it, I’m not sure why. If there’s a sequel, I think I’ll pass.
The details in the film are very well done. Mattel takes a beating but can once again rub their hands together, because the "Margot Robbie Barbie doll" seems to be selling well in the meantime.
The dialogues about the patriarchy are hilarious, they were, alongside the occasionally slightly too silly humor, the real highlight of the film. The film would be completely successful if the current CEO of Mattel resigns, a woman of color takes the lead, and no more stereotypical Barbies are made in the future.
A funny moment in the theater: During the credits, a man wearing a pink cowboy hat walked towards the exit and said (clearly annoyed) in our direction, "I wasted two hours of my life," to which the woman walking a meter behind him said to us, "I thought it was a fun film!"
My second favorite movie about bottom surgery.
Also, oh my god, that scene at the bus stop. Seeing real life, real people, real beauty for the first time. "Achey, but good."
Proof you only need twelve minutes of deadly, heart-destroying perfection in two hours provided the rest is gleeful enough. When Will Ferrell is the least funny and most boring character in a movie, life is good.
Does feel like some of the captivating raw edges are shaved off relative to Gerwig's other work - naturally, given the budget and licensing, but I was foolishly hoping for like 20% more Lady-Bird-esque gut-punching honesty somewhere in here. (Gerwig probably does get closer than anyone else would.)
The queer subtext is delightful and it's so dumb that the rules of global blockbusters keep it 100% subtextual in 2023 (and that the subtextuality still doesn't save the film from rabid conservative backlash). I still bear a tiny tiny grudge against Gerwig for the flighty-gay-hurts-a-girl's-feelings uncomfortable moments in Lady Bird, and Allan's portrayal feels a little like a channeling of the same vibe. Plus there's a fine like between camp and ha-ha-let's-laugh-at-faggotry that the film IMO didn't perfectly navigate, but whatever, close enough, the queer cast totally kills it.
I don't get The Discourse about this movie that is critical of its feminism. People are attempting to read the movie's politics as if every line of dialogue was an essay written by Gerwig published in The Atlantic? Does no one in 2023 understand that art and polemic are usually different things? That if you are experiencing art or entertainment primarily for its contributions to The Discourse, you are missing 99% of what it's saying? Do they not realize how taking a movie that treats femininity as a subject as necessarily being a political statement about femininity requires a narrow & shallow view of femininity? It feels like these people are weirdly performing the same media consumption experience as the basement-dwelling dudes who criticize the existence of POC or female or queer characters as political propaganda. Yes, please, use art & entertainment to illustrate your feminist analysis, but spend your one wild and precious life developing an analysis of something beyond a movie please.
Ironically, this movie lost a lot of its charm once the real world seeped into the barbie world. It got too whiny and weepy for my taste. Otherwise, it was a really fun ride. One worth watching on a big screen and a theatre FULL of people.
Side note: a lot of people gave Ryan flack for being "too" old for Ken and LET ME TELL YOU. No one! AND I MEAN NO ONE could've played him better. His performance was an absolute DELIGHT. Might be controversial, but Ken was the best part about Barbie.
When it is "fun" to just let loose, not think about anything and enjoy the marvelous cinematography and laugh at the silly dance, you can't tell everyone "best not to think about it" at EVERY problem in the plot when your story is ultimately about your protagonists having their great quest to self realization. There is a famous statue in Moscow by the waterfront where it is marveled at and laughed at by its citizens for its gigantic size and lack of purpose. While there's definitely a lot of craftsmanship in its making, it's resulted in nothing more than a good laugh and something fun to look at when your eyes have no better place to look at.
For Barbie, "Fun" is nothing but a cheap escape for a bad script and lack of mindful creativity, and a failed attempt to make itself a work of serious importance it is proclaiming to be.
Shout by NickVIP 5BlockedParent2023-07-20T07:29:28Z
Thought it was really good, wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. Both the comedy and plot landed for me. The 4th wall breaking and ending were both a bit weird, but I still thought it was a solid movie.