This review contains spoilers.
“Barbie” (2023): an entertaining but seemingly meaningless movie that beats Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” a film about the makings of the atomic bomb, with record-breaking debut box office sales of $155 million. “Barbie” is nothing short of a remarkable and unforgettable cinematic experience that weaves together themes of feminism, gender dynamics, womanhood and the impacts of consumer capitalism masked with a dose of comedy.
Both Margot Robbie’s enchanting portrayal of “Stereotypical Barbie” and Ryan Gosling’s charismatic performance as “Stereotypical Ken” sublimely breathe life into the plastic characters in unimaginable ways.
Building upon her success directing “Lady Bird” (2017) and “Little Women” (2019), Greta Gerwig collaborated with her partner, Noah Baumbach, to write a script that uses humor to highlight the absurdities of patriarchy while evoking laughter from the audience. Yet, the laughter is short-lived, as the film leaves viewers with a profound sense of melancholy as the harsh reality of gender dynamics being present in society slowly sinks in.
“Barbieland” is the epitome of a matriarchy. Barbie can do anything and can be anything she wants, whether it’s being a sanitation worker or being a powerful president. Conversely, the Kens seemingly have one purpose — to “beach” while constantly seeking a Barbie’s attention, doing whatever it takes to capture her admiration.
The plot thickens when Barbie begins to grapple with thoughts of death, anxiety and worst of all, discovering cellulite, which begins infiltrating her perfect, plastic world. She embarks on a daring journey to “the state of Los Angeles” alongside Ken to bring happiness to the person playing with her, while inadvertently opening the portal and connecting the “real world” to Barbieland.
The main issue explored in the film is the dark side of patriarchy. When Barbie steps into the real world, she is immediately confronted with the disheartening reality of men overtly sexualizing her. The distressing truth escalates into a confrontation, resulting in her arrest for punching a man who sexually assaulted her.
Meanwhile, Ken finds himself beaming with happiness in the real world, discovering the privilege and respect he receives simply because of patriarchal gender norms. He buys books like “Why Men Rule” and “Men and War,” intending to share his so-called “discovery” of patriarchal values — and of course, horses — with Barbieland. Ken leaves Barbie alone and returns to Barbieland, effectively turning it into “Kendom” and transforming the Barbie Dreamhouse into Ken’s “Mojo Dojo Casa House.” Under Ken’s influence, the Barbies are brainwashed into cooperating with and perpetuating the oppressive system of a patriarchy.
The film’s narrative delves into the complexities of gender dynamics, exposing striking differences between Barbieland’s idealized reality and the real world’s problematic and misogynistic environment. While “Barbie” undoubtedly serves as a clever marketing scheme for Mattel’s Barbie doll, it also acknowledges the negative effects of shaping societal expectations of women. The film explores how Barbie contributes to perpetuate unattainable body standards by shedding light on the complex and sometimes detrimental effects such ideals can have on women’s self-perceptions and confidence levels.
With the inclusion of the human mother Gloria, played by America Ferrera, and her daughter Sasha, played by Ariana Greenblatt, the film weaves in sentiments of dollhood with the complexities of growing up as a girl and transitioning into womanhood. In “Barbie,” these characters boldly express the frustrations women often feel in society through Gloria’s monologue; prior to this, she tries to encourage Barbie to take back Barbieland from the Kens by conveying the unrealistic expectations that are placed on modern women.
Gloria articulates the demands imposed on women today: how they should be thin but not too thin; how they have to be a boss but not mean; how they should look pretty for men but not so pretty that they threaten other women. The touching monologue poignantly captures the struggles and contradictions that women face in their everyday lives. As a woman watching the film, this moment will forever resonate deeply with me and serve as a rare, empowering experience. The film allows women to feel seen, heard and validated in navigating their complex and repugnant world.
“Barbie” is truly a liberating yet comedic movie; an inspiring ode to the strength, resilience and authenticity of women everywhere. It is definitely a film I would watch again.
