A Reel Review: BARBIE

A wise blogger once wrote that a great story can be found anywhere. The Oscar-winning ARGO was based on a magazine article, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN on a ride, and MISSION IMPOSSIBLE on a TV show. Here in 2023, director Greta Gerwig takes on the massive responsibility of bringing one of the most iconic and beloved toys to its first live-action version, with BARBIE. 

Barbie (Margot Robbie), and Ken (Ryan Gosling), venture out of Barbie Land, where dolls played by humans exist in a perfect world with other Barbies and Kens…to set things right when the perfection starts to fade. 

Directed by Greta Gerwig and based on the fashion doll that has dominated toy stores since 1959, BARBIE is a film that stands not only as a loving tribute to the toy line, but also to the girls who were inspired by her. After all, this was a toy that moved dolls away from the baby-dolls and into women that could become doctors, pilots, or even astronauts. The early goings of the film spell this out nicely (and quite powerfully), before getting into its all-important world-building. Barbie Land is ruled by a diverse group of Barbies, thinking they have made the Real World a better place for women. Once Barbie and Ken hit that Real World, Barbie realizes how women are treated, and Ken embraces masculinity and takes it back to Barbie Land. 

BARBIE at first heads down familiar territory. Barbie is a fish out of water and eventually encounters a mother and daughter (America Ferrera and Ariana Greenblatt), who are the source of Barbie Land’s problems. What seems like a standard tale of recapture-your-childhood takes a few nicely placed left-turns, and BARBIE ends up full of surprises. 

While Barbie and Ken wreak havoc in the Real World and Barbie Land, Gerwig takes the opportunity to explore many important themes. A woman’s place in the world is leaned into here, and even though it hangs over the film heavily it never feels preachy. A strong family story is here too, with the mother and daughter element working very well, and quite emotionally. For as much of a fantasy film BARBIE is, it always feels grounded and relevant. 

Visuals are eye-popping and is a Barbie playtime brought to life. The dream-houses, vehicles, and accessories are lovingly re-created, and the deep-pulls and Easter Eggs are everywhere; right down to the dolls that were discontinued ages ago. The existence between Barbie Land and the Real World isn’t fleshed out very much, and it really doesn’t need to. BARBIE is a metaphor for a lot of things, and that is just one of them. Pacing is brisk, the humor is great, and there isn’t a dull moment to be found.

Acting is very good. Margot Robbie gives Barbie some true life and is a delight. Ryan Gosling feels like he’s going through the motions but still makes it work. America Ferrera and Ariana Greenblatt are both excellent. Comedy actors Will Ferrell (as the CEO of Mattel), and Kate McKinnon (as Weird Barbie, the doll that has been drawn on and messed up), steal every scene they’re in. The rest of the cast, including Issa Rae, Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Michael Cera, Rhea Perlman, and Connor Swindells are great…and watch out for a few cool cameos. 

There are two powerful moments in BARBIE that sum up the film: a scene where the Mattel CEO tries to get Barbie “back in the box”, and a stunning monologue by America Ferrera which sums up the state of womanhood in this century. The former is a heavy metaphor, and the latter is not, but both hit hard and elevate Barbie to some upper-tier filmmaking. This Blogger has always written that a great story can be found anywhere, and this is one of those places. 

BOTTOM LINE: See it