Director Greta Gerwig (Little Women) and her partner Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story) have adapted a classic toy doll into a wildly entertaining comedic adventure in Barbie.
From her origins, Barbie (Margot Robbie) lives and plays in a Utopian world called Barbie Land with pink buildings and clothing befitting a patterned lifestyle of uncomplicated bliss. There are all kinds of other, inclusive Barbies, all of whom have different careers. There is also Ken (Ryan Gosling) who yearns to be with Barbie in a world where there are other Kens (including Simu Liu). When Barbie begins to experience an identity crisis, she seeks answers that can only come from travelling to the Real World where she discovers some truths about herself and the universe.
Gerwig (and Baumbach) have accomplished the near impossible. Their incisive, witty (at times hysterical) screenplay explores Barbie’s existential moment and fish out of water scenario (not unlike Elf or The Truman Show). The film is bursting with gorgeous, eye filling production design and colorful costumes which create a wholly realized world. (Mattel is destined to sell a ton of related merchandise.) Just when you think it is losing steam, the story finds inspiration to keep going including a lavish, over-the-top musical number. There are references to pop culture and self-empowering messages, and amazingly, the film makes a not too subtle commentary on sexism and womanhood.
As the iconic Barbie,
Robbie is sensational, while
Gosling is totally convincing as Ken. The cast (including Kate McKinnon and
Will Ferrell) is delightful, and even Helen Mirren, as the lively narrator,
gets a showstopper line.
The
film also gives an opportunity to amusingly pay tribute to every incarnation of
discontinued ‘friends’ of Barbie and Ken. It’s a smart, ultimately thinly veiled metaphor
for our times wrapped up in an imaginative, dazzling film.
****1/2
of ***** stars
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