Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” movie breaks the box office, grossing more than $1.38 billion worldwide. The movie hit theaters on July 21, 2023. Audiences flocked to cinemas decked out in every shade of pink, ready for the perfect movie with just the right mix of fun as well as a deep meaningful story. 

The movie follows Stereotypical Barbie, who lives in colorful and perfect Barbieland, as she begins to feel not-so-perfect. When given the opportunity, Barbie and Ken travel to the human world and soon realize the difficult reality of the real world. 

People might assume “Barbie” is a superficial movie, but Gerwig digs into a deeper message. Oftentimes women are seen as lesser in value and they are pushed aside in various settings. From the beginning of civilization, there has been this expectation of women by everyone including other women. A line in the movie delivered by Gloria (America Ferrera), who is an assistant at Mattel, addresses this idea.

“We have to always be extraordinary but somehow we’re always doing it wrong.” 

Gloria struggles with self-doubt and feeling imperfect. Barbie ultimately goes to the real world to help Gloria, but Gloria ends up helping all the Barbies in Barbieland. She goes on to share a moving monologue expressing how difficult it is to be a woman in today’s society. She addresses the constant need for perfection, and how women “tie themselves into knots” so the people around them will like them.

Gerwig takes the concept of Womanhood and explores it in a relatable and meaningful way that connects to a diverse audience. When watching this movie, I felt seen. When I was a child my mom didn’t let me play with Barbies because they lacked diversity and promoted the idea of a perfect, plastic and unrealistic women. This movie is different. It features Barbie in a new light, showcasing the beauty of being a woman. It shows how everyone is a Barbie – each different in a beautiful way. I would give the storyline and plot of this movie five stars. In our world today, it is difficult to find things that accurately represent how women from different backgrounds feel and how they are treated in this world. 

However, this movie does not encourage anti-men ideals. It is clear that the message Gerwig is trying to get across is that we are each individual and unique, and should not be making ourselves look, act, or feel a certain way for someone else. (Spoiler alert!) At the end of the movie, Barbie tells Ken that he needs to figure out who he is. Instead of spending every day waiting for Barbie to look at him, she encourages Ken to find himself and learn what he actually enjoys. 

This movie brings the beloved childhood toy to life, giving audiences an idea of what being a Barbie living in Barbieland would look like. This illusion is created by using both two and three-dimensional sets and props. During the travel sequence from Barbieland to the Real World, everything is creatively depicted completely without CGI. 

 

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From the intricate outfits of each character to the food decals on Barbie’s fridge, viewers might not catch every detail of this layered movie on the first watch. I watched it three times, and each time I found new things that I hadn’t seen before. The visual and special effects of “Barbie” deserve five stars. It was visually pleasing and allowed us to feel immersed in the world of Barbie, from the iconic Barbie car to the bright pink dream houses.  

The intentional casting of the movie showed that Barbies are supposed to represent women of all shapes, colors, and sizes. Margot Robbie, known for her work in “I, Tonya” as well as many others takes on the role of Stereotypical Barbie who is the main character of the movie. By her side, other big stars like Emma Mackey, Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, Alexandra Shipp, and Sharon Rooney depict the multitude of Barbies. 

Playing Ken is Ryan Gosling, known for his work in “La La Land” and “Blade Runner 2049.” Actors such as Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Scott Evans, and Ncuti Gatwa portray the other Kens that inhabit Barbieland. America Ferrera and Ariana Greenblatt play mother and daughter who ultimately help Barbie in her journey of self-discovery. I would give the casting of this movie four stars. This richly-talented cast does a beautiful job with their roles in this movie. The only disappointment was the lack of Asian Barbies. Besides that, I loved the cast.

“Barbie” gives fans dance numbers, chase scenes, travel sequences, and even a battle between Kens. The dance scenes are lively and energetic, providing audiences something to remember after leaving the theater. 

Ken’s ballad, “I’m Just Ken,” has become an iconic and globally-known anthem. In another moment of the movie, Barbie is being chased by Mattel executives. Backed by fun music, Barbie runs through the building and through multiple obstacles. 

The costumes, casting, and color contribute to the overall draw of the movie. The action deserves four stars. Personally, I would have loved to see a few more dance sequences. Overall, it was well done with the right balance of everything fans want to see. 

This movie delighted audiences, drawing crowds to theaters everywhere. “Barbie” created a space for people, especially women, to return to their childhood and experience this movie in the community. Going to see “Barbie” turned into an event. People went to see it with their friends, mothers, significant others, etc.  “Barbie” offered the perfect summer movie for any combination – and it’s still in theaters. Fans dressed up as various versions of Barbie and every shade of pink stores could offer. This movie definitely entertained audiences and deserves five stars overall. 

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