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Barbie is a 2023 American fantasy comedy film directed by Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird & Little Women) from a screenplay she wrote with Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story & Frances Ha). The movie is rated PG-13, and it's based on the eponymous child's fashion doll industry produced by Mattel. The film stars Margot Robbie as the titular character and Ryan Gosling as Ken, and it follows the pair on a journey of self-discovery after experiencing an existential crisis. It features a supporting cast that includes America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, Michael Cera, and Will Ferrell. The film grossed over $1.41 billion dollars at the box office and has become the 14th highest grossing film of all time. It simultaneously released on the same day with Universal´s Oppenheimer, which led to the cultural phenomenon, phrased ¨Barbenheimer¨.
I watched this movie with my brother, Charlie, and my Mimi at the Malco theater in
Tupelo. One positive in the movie is that it has an interesting plot and great worldbuilding about Barbie. The themes in this movie (depending on who you ask) are really deep and thought provoking especially for a movie about Barbie. The concept of Barbie dolls being affected by the people who play with them is a really interesting way of portraying the doll's viewpoint of their owners. Also, the sets of Barbie Land are really beautiful and definitely have that Barbie aesthetic that you would see out of a Barbie toy set. One negative I have, though, is that while the message of the film is pretty good there are times where it can also feel pretty heavy-handed.
Verdict: Barbie (2023) is a pretty solid take on Barbie, and while the message can be heavy-handed at times, it's still a fun movie to watch with family and friends. The film will enlighten you on how Barbie has impacted the women in our world for decades and will continue to do.
Score: 8/10