Barbie Movie Review: Exploring Feminism and Gender Norms with Wit and Humor.

Greta Gerwig’s film “Barbie,” directed and co-written by her, is a tremendous achievement in both technical and overall tone. The film is visually spectacular and entertaining, while also communicating a significant message. There are so many meticulously made features in “Barbie” that it would take numerous viewings to detect them all; even the accessories deserve special attention. Jacqueline Durran’s costume design, a two-time Oscar winner, and Sarah Greenwood’s production design, a six-time Oscar candidate, are consistently creative and vivid, reflecting the ever-changing icon.

Rodrigo Prieto’s cinematography, a three-time Oscar contender, provides a shiny and mesmerising touch to everything. It’s not just about recreating numerous Barbie dolls from different times, dressing them up in different costumes and hairstyles, and putting them in gorgeous dream mansions. It’s all about bringing these characters to life with zeal and levity.”

“Barbie” is a genuine comedy with numerous laugh-out-loud moments. The humour derives from the juxtaposition between Barbie’s pristine, pink world and the amusing scenarios she meets when she enters the real world. The film also brilliantly references popular culture, making it even more enjoyable. However, due to the huge marketing push, some of the best moments, such as the homage to “2001: A Space Odyssey” and Ken’s amusing ’80s power song, may have already been disclosed. This is the disadvantage of strong anticipation and promotion.”

The plot centres around Barbie, the most popular Barbie in Barbieland, who begins to doubt her life’s purpose. To obtain answers, she travels into the human realm with her sorta boyfriend, Ken. Barbie’s path of self-discovery forces her to confront some hard facts, and they both meet new people along the road. Similar to “The Truman Show” and “The LEGO Movie,” the film cleverly balances stark truth with a perfectly produced dream, but with Greta Gerwig’s own sense of wit and humour.

While praising Barbie as a feminist icon, the film brilliantly discusses Barbie’s exaggerated physical proportions and the effects they can have on young girls’ body image concerns. It emphasises how Barbie has frequently symbolised groundbreaking achievements, such as an astronaut Barbie doll preceding actual female astronauts. The film shows Mattel and Warner Bros. making light of their own corporate cultures, with Mattel’s headquarters including a hilarious conference room layout and a CEO bragging about gender-neutral restrooms as a sign of diversity. It’s a clever and incisive look at the Barbie craze.

As the film’s star, Margot Robbie strikes the appropriate combination of sarcasm and honesty. Her beauty is ideal for the Barbie position, and she personifies the exaggerated cheerfulness required in this lively society. As Barbie’s comprehension grows, Robbie handles the increasingly complex dialogues with ease, demonstrating her versatility as a performer. She offers an exceptional performance that brings joy to the audience, from brilliant grins to sad tears.

Ryan Gosling, on the other hand, constantly steals sequences with his portrayal of Ken’s endearing ditziness. He effortlessly transforms from Barbie’s clingy companion to a swaggering, macho parody, gleefully embracing clichés of how a real guy should act. Those who are familiar with Los Angeles will enjoy the smart references to the places that inspire Ken. Gosling’s sincerity and musical theatre history from “All New Mickey Mouse Club” add to the enjoyment of his performance. He’s a total hoot and contributes to the fun of the film.

Several great performances stand out among the film’s vast cast, which features women as Barbies and males as Kens (with a few exceptions). Kate McKinnon plays the eccentric “Weird Barbie,” mentoring Robbie’s character on her trip. Issa Rae portrays President Barbie with aplomb, while Alexandra Shipp enchants as the gentle and talented Doctor Barbie. Simu Liu adds levity as the trash-talking Ken who teases Gosling’s Ken. America Ferrera plays an important role as a Mattel employee, while Michael Cera shines as the uncomfortable and forgettable Allan, who is surrounded by hunky Kens in a funny way. The group creates a lovely and unique dynamic for the film.

“Barbie” embraces ambitious and fascinating ideas, yet it also has some unevenness. The film begins with sparkling humour but then settles down in the middle to explore deeper subjects. Greta Gerwig takes risks, bringing thought-provoking ideas in a season dominated by mindless blockbusters. However, the movie’s pace is sometimes hampered by the number of ideas, as it explains itself repeatedly. The sarcastic approach was more effective in delivering ideas about toxic masculinity, entitlement, and the power of female solidarity. Some viewers find a third-act speech about women’s problems relevant and encouraging, but others may find it pompous and too blunt, despite its intelligent nature.

Indeed, “Barbie” accomplishes dual goals by being both a crowd-pleasing spectacular and a catalyst for significant debates thereafter. The film delivers fun components while also providing opportunities for important conversations, much like sneaking spinach into your child’s brownies to make them healthier without sacrificing taste. From July 21st 2023, its being screened in theatres.
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Note-All images are decorative and symbolic, having no direct connection to “Barbie” movie.
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