Community Rating
Director: Greta Gerwig
Writers: Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach
Stars: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Issa Rae
Runtime: 1h 54m
MPAA: PG-13
Released: July 21, 2023
It’s an exceedingly rare occurrence to have a film based on a toy actually provide a fun and intellectual experience. Greta Gerwig’s Barbie does exactly that. Equally colorful and smart, both adults and children are likely to enjoy their time with Barbie and Ken.
The magic starts from a well crafted script by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach. The story features a Barbie who is questioning her place in Barbieland and basic existence. She eventually visits the real world with Ken to look for the answers she seeks. The writing duo of Gerwig and Baumbach, who also happen to be real life partners, work to straddle the line between camp and serious contemplation. This delicate balance, combined with a snappy script keeps the audience engaged throughout.
Greta Gerwig continues to impress with her directorial skills. The Lady Bird and Little Women director’s first foray into big budget film making could hardly have been more successful. She brings her sensibilities to Barbie with such success that the existential questions posed inside are not cheapened by any plastic aesthetic of the Mattel brand.
One such question is what it means to be a woman and dealing with the frustrations of living in a patriarchal society. This topic is approached with both sincerity and humor, never condescending. Not stopping there, the film also tackles the topic of manhood with care. Ken must also discover who he is and not live through the eyes of others. This equal opportunity approach works well to make Barbie more about what it means to be human above all else. To do this without ignoring the unique challenges each gender faces is quite an achievement.
This dynamic of discovery between Barbie and Ken works well thanks to the delightful acting of both Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling respectively. The ups and downs of both characters can induce a wide range of emotions within the audience, from tears to laughter, or maybe even tears from laughter. Their chemistry on screen is palpable as both actors appear to be having a blast on set.
These characters operate within the pastel world of Barbieland. Beautiful sets, full of color, pop off the screen. Excellently shown via the cinematography of Rodrigo Pinto, it is everything you could hope to get from a representation of Barbieland. Once things transition to the real world things become more subdued. Though still bright, the contrast is immediately felt.
It is in the real world where a fictionalized version of Mattel operates with Will Ferrell playing head CEO. The thread of events following Mattel may be the least interesting part of the film. Thankfully these parts are few and brought up by the charm of Ferrell. It’s also admittedly satisfying to see Mattel willing to be the butt of several relevant jokes about their current place in the world.
It is here where we bump into Gloria, played by America Ferrera. Her and her daughter Sasha, played by Ariana Greenblatt, do an excellent job providing the heart and criticism that helps propel the movie forward. Neither character is perfect and both face real world struggles, which is precisely the inspiration Barbie is seeking.
Appropriately, Barbieland is where the best magic of Barbie happens. The cast of many Barbies and Kens work well with Robbie and Gosling. Notably, Kate McKinnon’s Weird Barbie is a delight as she gives wisdom to our protagonist Barbie. A rivalry between Gosling’s Ken and Simu Liu’s Ken provides many laughs. Oh, there’s also Allen, played by Michael Cera. He’s great.
It should also be noted that the soundtrack is wonderfully fun. Various pop stars lend their talent to the tracks, creating catchy songs that will be in your head for days. Of particular note are "I'm Just Ken" and "What Was I Made For?". The first features a blast of a dance number with a great vocal performance by Ryan Gosling himself. The second is a deeply moving song from Billie Eilish which captures the essence of what Barbie is really about.
Barbie is a beautifully fun film. Expect to think, laugh, and cry from what could end up being one of the most enjoyable theater experiences of the year. A pleasant surprise we maybe should have seen coming considering the strong work of Greta Gerwig thus far.
★★★★☆