“Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling brilliantly embrace Greta Gerwig’s exuberant portrayal of a conventional doll experiencing an extraordinary existential dilemma”
Movies must offer both entertainment and thought-provoking elements, and Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” manages to accomplish just that and much more.
This 114-minute film is a thrilling experience, captivating viewers with its eye-catching visuals, sharp costumes, superb writing, exceptional performances by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, and lively songs.
In the story, Barbie (played by Robbie) is living her perfect life in Barbieland, surrounded by other Barbies and enjoying her relationship with Ken (played by Gosling).
However, her perfect world is suddenly disrupted when she experiences strange occurrences, like her heels touching the ground and her pretend water shower turning real.
While her fellow Barbies are clueless about what’s happening, Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon) suggests that she ventures into the real world to find the child who is playing with her.
The child’s emotions might be influencing Barbie’s experiences.
Barbie embarks on a journey to Los Angeles with Ken by her side. The real world proves to be different from what they imagined. There, they encounter Gloria (America Ferrera), who works at Mattel, the company behind the Barbie doll.
Gloria is going through her own struggles, feeling undervalued at work and facing conflicts with her daughter, Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt).
As Barbie explores the real world, the CEO of Mattel (Will Ferrell) becomes aware of her presence and orders his executives to capture her and put her back in the “Box.”
Directed by Greta Gerwig, who co-wrote the film with Noah Baumbach, “Barbie” is described as “anarchic, unhinged, and humanist.”
It stands as an affectionate and insightful tribute to the experience of growing up, skillfully combining the charm of musicals with authentic artificiality.
Within Barbie’s pink and whimsical world, the journey to the real world is filled with imaginative eccentricities. Different versions of Barbie exist, each pursuing diverse careers, owning houses with magically changing interiors, and enjoying swift costume changes.
The film showcases various iterations of Barbie, including President Barbie (Issa Rae), Dr. Barbie (Hari Nef), Physicist Barbie (Emma Mackey), and Mermaid Barbies (Dua Lipa), all based on real dolls. Even the creator of the Barbie doll, Ruth Handler (Rhea Perlman), makes a special appearance.
Her statement, “humans have only one ending. Ideas live forever,” inspires Barbie to aspire to be more than just a product of imagination but rather the source of ideas herself. Helen Mirren adds gravitas and playfulness as the narrator.
The costumes, designed by Jacqueline Durran, are vibrant and complemented by a cheerful music selection featuring songs from Nicki Minaj, Billie Eilish, PinkPantheress, Tame Impala, and even performances by Ryan Gosling and Dua Lipa from the cast.
In conclusion, “Barbie,” as a movie, brilliantly captures the essence of the doll’s contradictions, bringing them to life with dazzling visuals and heartfelt warmth, courtesy of Greta Gerwig’s skillful direction.