A Spoiler Free Review Of “Barbie”
Posted on August 1, 2023 Posted by Athena Scalzi 22 Comments
Barbie was a movie that I saw a lot of marketing for, but despite all its marketing, I wasn’t really sure what it was going to be about. I didn’t know what to expect when I went to see it opening night, but I figured it would at least be a light, fun, colorful, and decently entertaining time. What it ended up being was so much more than I expected, or could’ve even hoped for.
Barbie blew me away with its humor. Where I had been expecting cringey millennial type humor, there was actually really clever, genuinely funny jokes. There was a ton of adult humor, but it didn’t feel crass or raunchy at all. The humor was well-crafted and wasn’t afraid to be eccentric and bizarre, like having the Kens have a super sick synchronized dance number. A lot of the humor also had some pretty great messaging with it, and presented a satirical look at a lot of current issues that our society faces.
Aside from the humor, the writing in general was really solid. I expected a Barbie movie to be half-assed with its story because it doesn’t really need to try to make money, people will see Barbie just for the sake of it being Barbie, but it delivered with a pretty dang good plot and enjoyable story. I won’t get too into it because I don’t want to spoil anything, but I will say it exceeded my expectations in this department, undoubtedly.
I simply adore everything about the setting, as well as the costumes. The set designs, along with all the outfits, were a treat to look at. Everything was so vibrant and colorful and it looked like a truly amazing world to live in. Every outfit that everyone wore was totally banger and made me want to makeover my wardrobe to look like theirs. Even some of the more outlandish outfits were an absolute slay.
Each character was really enjoyable in their own ways, and the cast was pretty spectacular in their performances, especially Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken. They were so fun to watch and really brought their characters to life in the most charming way possible. Simu Liu was pretty dang great, too, and of course you have to love Michael Cera as Alan (he’s Ken’s buddy!). Even the side characters are really cool and fun! Everyone did so awesomely in this movie, it was a really great cast all around.
What was really wild, though, was how emotional this movie was. It had some truly heartfelt moments that were super impactful and made you get deep in your feels. There was a lot of emotions to be felt throughout, and it will certainly leave a lasting impression on you that you will stick with you after you leave the theater.
Honestly, Barbie was a fantastic movie, and I had a really great time watching it. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Have you seen Barbie? What did you think? Are you now obsessed with the color pink, like me? Let me know in the comments, and have a great day!
-AMS
Saw it last weekend. Loved it. Want to see it again.
I went last night with my wife and 14 year old daughter. It was both better than I expected, and better than I imagined it could be. What most impressed me was the sheer wit and slyness of the movie combined with (unexpected) emotional depth. I also learned a lot of Barbie history (or is that shestory)?
10/10 for myself and family.
I’m delighted to hear it exceeded expectations. I’m looking forward to seeing it myself.
It was great, we did the Barbenheimer double bill with my wife, our three kids and one daughter’s boyfriend. Good balance of humor and Barbie references, plus politics/gender/sociology issues and all handled so well. I will for sure watch it again (but probably at home).
Once I found out that the Barbie movie had almost nothing to do with horses, I kind of lost interest.
(Obviously I loved it!)
Signed,
42 year old man
I ordered a shirt that said, “I’m weird, I’m dark, and I’m crazy” afterwards.
What’s millennial humour? I don’t think I’ve ever heard that phrase before.
I wanted the “I Am Kenough” at the end! The movie was fun and for me Ryan Gosling stole the show. Margot Robbie–excellent but Ken was amazing. Also Simu Liu really went with it
I thought it was great. The “I’m Just Ken” dance number was a little startling, but Ryan Gosling can certainly sing. And Kate McKinnon’s Weird Barbie nearly stole the show out from under everybody.
I thought it was great. The “I’m Just Ken” dance number was a little startling, but Ryan Gosling can certainly sing. And Kate McKinnon’s Weird Barbie nearly stole the show out from under everybody.
I’m right with you. I went mainly because I love the director, but it blew me away. I expected good things from Margot and she didn’t disappoint, but Ryan was incredible.
I absolutely loved it, and plan on seeing it again in the theater so I can more closely examine the sets and props and costumes. I thought that Margot Robbie was brilliant, Ryan Gosling and the other Kens were wonderful, and Kate McKinnon was a little underused as weird Barbie. I think she’s hilarious, and I thought she’d be a little funnier in this film.
It is wonderful when a film really lives up to its hype.
Greta Gerwig is on my “see every film she directs” list, so I had two reasons for seeing Barbie. Others have commented in the story, humor, set and costume design so I’ll just point out that Greta does a neat job of showcasing some of the most cringey – but real – elements of the Barbie line. I did not know that there was a Skipper doll whose breasts enlarge when you raise her arm.
All in all, the only way I’d have enjoyed this movie more would be if it had been directed by Guillermo del Toro.
We went to see it on the opening day, and I liked it! I wanted to see it anyway but my daughter really wanted to see it so we went for the first showing.
It was also our local independent theatre, which was good, and it was a showing for adults only which meant we could get pink cocktails to drink during the movie, which was also good.
My sentiment is that it’s pretty solid criticisim for many things especially considering it’s a movie-length toy ad, too. Of course it shows how entrenched the patriarchy is because it can joke about it and make comments but the real world is what it is.
I’m still glad it was made and also because there are so many people crying over a movie not made for them. Suck it up, not everything is for you. (Though being quite the middle-aged white cishet man, and so not the perfect target group, I feel this was more for me than for example Oppenheimer.)
I’m not surprised because director Greta Hedwig is one of the best directors around currently and she did a stellar job with Little Women.
It sounds as if she got the best from a good level cast which is not always easy. And from the reviews the movie is very much her vision so well done to her.
I will watch it when it is on network or an accessible streaming platform, because it’s directed by Greta and I like Ryan as a movie actor.
Nothing in the marketing made me want to see this film, but a couple of reports from people who HAD seen it changed my mind. Supposing I can get past the pink—most horrible color on the planet.
I had no interest in seeing it, but it has conservative’s knickers in such a tightly wadded-up bunch that I feel obligated to add to its box office.
And I hear that it’s a pretty good movie.
BTW, did you get around to reviewing Indiana Jones 4? The “hide in a refrigerator to protect yourself from an atomic bomb”? I didn’t recall seeing it come up in your feed.
I loved it! I had pretty high expectations based on who directed it, the cast, and the previews, and it exceeded them. My daughter’s seen it twice and said it was even better the second time because you could focus on the amazing dialogue and visuals, instead of wondering what would happen next. Entertaining, emotional, thoughtful and creative, so glad I saw it!
I also loved Barbie. They had me with the Thus Spake Zarathustra opening, and the rest of the movie was also wonderfully subversive while being colorful and fun. I am old enough to remember some of those outfits being worn by actual Barbie dolls. sigh. I find myself wondering how they managed to get Mattel to sign off on all that lovely subversion!
I saw it last week. I rarely go to movies as I don’t enjoy that form that much. I loved Barbie. I was particularly impressed by the opening and its homage to a famous movie. I thought that very clever.
I was also delighted to see the variety of bodies in Barbieland – size and skin color primarily (and of course hair color!). I wish the Wheelchair Barbie had more than a quick cameo in a dance sequence.
Overall, it was just delightful. I went with my sister, two of her adult sons (40 and 50) and their wives and we all enjoyed it.
I saw it today with my best friend, and we both thoroughly enjoyed it! I did wonder how some of the humor would translate for younger people, as I’m one of the ones old enough to remember some of the outdated references and marketing fiascos that they mention in the movie. I will say that the Ken plotline got darker than I expected, and as someone who grew up in a patriarchal cult, I had some uncomfortable moments with that. Even so, I think they did a good job keeping it mostly light, and my friend thought her 10-year-old daughter would enjoy it. Everyone, please just agree with me on this one thing: that fur coat of Ken’s looks good on nobody and should be burnt!
I saw it Tuesday and was surprised at how great it was, especially on the emotional level. Movies in theaters are difficult for me, so I rarely go, but I’m glad I risked it for Barbie, it was worth the day recovering.