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The second movie I watched after Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It’s past midnight at the time of writing. I’m starting to fall asleep. But I told myself I would write this review. I promised my niece I will publish this review by the time she sees a later showing of this movie. I’ve already missed that deadline but that won’t stop me. If only I put this much effort into other areas of my life. Like painting the house – as I was supposed to have completed today.
Where do I start with Barbie? The first 10 minutes were excruciating. Too much Barbie than my mind could handle. Turns out it was intentional. Good job I didn’t walk out. I mean, there was no way I was going to waste the £3 I paid for this cinema ticket anyway.
I don’t know how much detail to go into for the review of this movie. I know lots of people in my network love it, and I’m afraid if I speak my mind about what I thought I’m probably going to get cancelled or whatever. Good job I’m not an important individual.
Let’s start with the good though. This movie is creative and at times clever. It reminds me a lot of the Lego movie; a 2-hour advertisement for a toy. But like the Lego movie, Barbie is quite funny with its meta jokes. The acting is also great. Margot Robbie is perfectly cast as Barbie. As is Ryan Gosling as Ken.
Before I go into my biggest gripe with this movie, let me give a bit of background and context. Mrs. OddFather and I have a rather modern relationship. I tend to do a lot of the cooking and cleaning, and generally I’m the emotional one. Mrs. OddFather on the other hand is a very practical person – not the tidiest but she’s very clued up when it comes to doing odd bits of DIY around the house or when it comes to fixing something on the car. We balance each other pretty well and do not conform to your typical male/female stereotypes.
So, my biggest problem with Barbie is how males – or “Kens” – are depicted in Barbie. I walked out the movie feeling like the message was: “Women can be and do whatever they set their minds to, the sky is the limit, and they shouldn’t live in the shadow of men” – something I agree with. I want the OddDaughter to never feel she is held back by her gender, and I believe she can achieve anything she dreams of. However, in addition to this message in the movie seemed to be the message that “All men are stupid and shouldn’t be allowed to lead whatsoever”.
Not all men are like the Kens of this movie. In fact, I feel I relate more to Allan in the movie, however he was sidelined, ignored and made to feel utterly pointless.
Why does it have to be so black and white? Do the Barbies in Barbie-land not just represent how men are perceived in the real world as being over-dominant? Therefore, why couldn’t the outcome instead be one which promotes equality between the Kens and the Barbies?
I don’t know. Maybe I’m not the target audience of this movie. I mean I’ve had lots of powerful women playing leading figures in my life. Women that I respect greatly. Is it that I’m the minority here? Or maybe I’ve just completely misinterpreted the message of the movie.
Never has a movie in a cinema made me think so much. On the face of it, it was a funny, colourful movie. But I couldn’t move past the message that I was hearing and seeing in front of me. It’s just my opinion and take on this movie.
Please don’t hate me.
Verdict
I genuinely do not know what to make of Barbie. It seems pretty harmless on the face of it all, but I also feel like there can be toxic undertones. I’m going to go straight down the middle with my score. Simply because I am completely confused on what I think (maybe because it’s past midnight and I’m still writing!)
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