BARBIE Is a Cinematic Dreamland with a Poignant Message

What happens when the most iconic toy of all time has an existential crisis? Well, you get a fantastical adventure that serves equal parts nostalgia with modern-day wits. Directed and co-written by Greta Gerwig, Barbie is a cinematic dreamland of pastel eye candy and immaculate dialog, with deeply meaningful messages for all.

Barbieland is a picturesque reality where every Barbie is as radiant as ever, and every Ken is just Ken-ing. But the days of plastic perfection are beginning to dwindle for the “stereotypical” Barbie (Margot Robbie) as she begins to have unpleasant thoughts that spoil her sunny existence.

After seeking guidance from “weird” Barbie (Kate McKinnon), she begins a quest to discover why her dreamy life is taking a not-so-fun dive. With her Ken (Ryan Gosling) tagging along, desperate for Barbie to return his affection, she’ll have a crash course in how the real world works and the meaning of life.

Barbie is truly a film that transcends. It’s difficult to avoid sounding exaggerative when praising the film. But every aspect is perfectly presented and takes viewers on an unexpected journey, as influential as it is enchanting.

The level of detail is unmatched, and quite an accomplishment to offer such a visual treat. Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer‘s set design work is envy-worthy, with every nod to Barbie accessories and Dreamhouse aesthetics. Equally awe-inspiring is the style. Costume designer Jacqueline Durran left no doll unfashioned, with iconic outfits scene after scene, including defining pieces from Barbie’s various eras.

But there is one important aspect to making this Barbie movie feel like it’s her movie, and it’s Robbie. No other actress could have so perfectly slipped into Barbie’s heels other than Robbie. She shows off such a range from her comedic delivery—even physical comedy—to the more meaningful and emotional moments.

Gosling also delivers an incredibly memorable performance, leaning into all the cringe-inducing moments, embodying the Ken-ergy needed for this role — as did Simu Liu. Truthfully, the entire ensemble cast is so incandescent, and it is also a testament to Gerwig‘s script, which she co-wrote with her partner Noah Baumbach. 

But beyond the glitz of the iconic doll, there’s a deeper message that’s ever-so-present from its start — and it’s only amplified once Barbie takes on the real world. Gerwig is not shy about ruffling feathers and making it clear what she’s attempting to say, and she’s spot on.

It’s wonderful to see this hyper-feminized environment speaking to larger issues of our society but being earnest through it all. It’s not an attempt to be preachy, just attempting to offer poignant questions of why we’re still facing so many conflicting ideologies and how exhausting it is as a human to process.

And it does this all through the eyes of a 64-year-old doll. There’s a wonderful history explored with the Barbie brand, with great callbacks to past dolls (even down to the credits) — highlighting its evolution and the impact that beauty standards and culture have had on it. 

But Greta doesn’t hold back from having a few quips at Mattel’s expense, and it’s also quite refreshing to see a corporation so willing to allow the satire to dig in so intensely on itself.

For the most part, Barbie was a pleasant surprise. While there was no doubt it would nail the look and feel of a plastic-fantastic dream, it wound up conveying a story from a more profound level. It isn’t afraid of calling out the patriarchy and stereotypes but with an immense amount of satirical wit. And even down to the final seconds, Gerwig ensures you know this film is all her mad genius.