Barbie

Barbie (2023)

After the huge commercial and critical victories of Ladybird and Little Women Greta Gerwig raised eyebrows when it was announced she’d be directing a film based on the world famous toy. Perhaps she was a fan of Masters of the Universe and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? I know I was. But they were garbage. Gerwig ignored any inner saboteurs and said “challenge accepted”. She recruited Noah Baumbach on co-writing duties, assembled an enthusiastic cast, an outstanding production designer and had a lot of fun.

An introductory voiceover from Helen Mirren establishes that we are in Barbieland; an imaginary playground where you’re either Barbie or Ken (or Allan. Oh Allan).

Amongst a myriad of canon Barbie’s, Margot Robbie is the perfect candidate to play the original ‘Stereotype’ Barbie. She wakes in her plastic pink mansion feeling fresh, looking preened and ready to wish all the other Barbies a good morning. However, a sinister crisis is lurking as she surprises herself and fellow dolls by thinking out loud about death. Thus taking Barbie and Ken on an adventure into ‘the real world’ to track down Barbie’s owner and discover why she now has cellulite.

Ryan Gosling throws all his fun-loving weight into his version of Ken; a maligned lovesick beefcake who discovers the word ‘patriarchy’ and amusingly assumes he can step into any professional role.

Rare for me to say but I could’ve had an extra half an hour experiencing the satisfying Toyisms; the pointy feet gag, floating down from the roof to the ground, the absence of water… Loved all that!

Less of a comedy than expected and more a tongue-in-cheek social commentary (the hostile takeover of Barbieland is genuinely uncomfortable). I was anticipating a more Family Guy brand of hilarious cruelty and received a sweet, charming, feel-good fable. For me it lacked the laugh-out-loads, but I did smile throughout.

7 Perfectly Manicured Thumbs Up 👍🏻