Barbie - Movie Review

The Movie: Barbie

The Director: Greta Gerwig

The Cast: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, Will Ferrell

The Story: Barbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans.

The Review:

"In Greta We Trust" should be a slogan that Hollywood, and the entire film industry, uses any time she is involved in any project. From her beginnings as an up and coming indie actor and filmmaker to now being sought after for some of the biggest properties in the world, the director has done nothing but create quality products over and over again. I'm sure there's a lot of people out there wondering why she would take on something like Barbie which could easily be seen as disposable, mass marketed entertainment although I believe she was the perfect choice given what this movie ends up being.

There are some obvious ideas explored in the story like the history of Barbie and what she has meant to women, pop culture, and America as a whole as well as bringing down a patriarchal system that in a lot of ways has benefitted from the classic doll's very existence but it's how all of this is explored that makes it such a brilliantly realized story. Yes, I just said that. Gerwig and long time collaborator Noah Bumbauch have written a story that completely reboots and re-energizes the very idea of what the iconic blonde bombshell can and should mean to the modern world. This may not sit well with everyone out there but that's also kind of the point.

That being said, this movie is just as easily digestable to viewers of any age and any demographic. Bottom line, it's just crazy fun from start to finish. It's big, it's bold, it's super colorful, and the entire cast totally shows up to match all of that same energy. There are multiple song and dance numbers nearly making the film a full blown musical which for me just added to all the fun being had. Leading the way are Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling who both embody their characters about as perfectly as anyone ever could. As good as Robbie as Harley Quinn in the DC films, this might actually be the best work she has ever turned in.

Imagine taking a doll and giving it so much life and personality and emotion and struggle and growth to the point where her humanity shines above anyone else's in the movie, even more than the actual humans. As far as the supporting cast, I feel like if I mention one, I should mention them all so I'll just say that everyone in the movie is great and it really shows that a lot of fun was had by everyone while making the film. Hard to imagine not having a good time on all the amazingly colorful and and wildly imaginative sets that were built for the film.

The Verdict:

Barbie gets all dolled up, gathers all her friends, and bursts on to the big screen with a cinematic adventure that is the type of stuff dream(house)s are made of. Greta Gerwig and company have created an endlessly entertaining satire filled with explosions of color and a bold sense of humor that proves how life is much more than plastic. It's fantastic!