Barbie — Film Review

The film made history as the highest-grossing movie ever made by a woman. It entertains while exploring the intricacies of matriarchy vs patriarchy in society.

“Barbie,” a 2023 fantasy comedy directed by Greta Gerwig and written by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, stars Margot Robbie, who is also the producer, as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken.

The cast also includes America Ferrera, Michael Cera, Kate McKinnon, and Will Ferrell among others. This live-action adaptation offers a fresh perspective that’s both feminine and empowering while maintaining the beloved nostalgia of the franchise.

Set in Barbieland, a society dominated by women, Barbie holds prestigious roles while Ken’s activities are purely recreational. When Barbie faces an existential crisis, she and Ken venture into the real world seeking answers. Along their journey, they confront societal criticisms and obstacles.

Ken learns about the advantages of patriarchy for males in the real world, which inspires him to transform the traditional gender dynamics of Barbieland.

With support from allies, Barbie leads a rebellion against the oppressive regime installed by him and advocates for equality.

Eventually, Barbie and Ken reconcile, acknowledging the challenges that come with extreme forms of matriarchy or patriarchy. Barbie, then, embraces her evolving identity and chooses to live in the real world.

One memorable moment occurred when Gloria (America Ferrera) delivered a powerful and realistic speech about the struggles of being a woman in our society.

“It is literally impossible to be a woman. You are so beautiful, and so smart, and it kills me that you don’t think you’re good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we’re always doing it wrong.

You have to be thin, but not too thin. And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to say you want to be healthy, but also you have to be thin. You have to have money, but you can’t ask for money because that’s crass. You have to be a boss, but you can’t be mean. You have to lead, but you can’t squash other people’s ideas.

You’re supposed to love being a mother, but don’t talk about your kids all the damn time. You have to be a career woman but also always be looking out for other people.

You have to answer for men’s bad behavior, which is insane, but if you point that out, you’re accused of complaining. You’re supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you’re supposed to be a part of the sisterhood.

But always stand out and always be grateful. But never forget that the system is rigged. So find a way to acknowledge that but also always be grateful.

You have to never get old, never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line. It’s too hard! It’s too contradictory and nobody gives you a medal or says thank you! And it turns out in fact that not only are you doing everything wrong, but also everything is your fault.

I’m just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us. And if all of that is also true for a doll just representing women, then I don’t even know.” (Gloria — Barbie)

The film has garnered significant attention, winning Golden Globes and receiving 8 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. Ryan Gosling and America Ferrera are also nominated for their roles as supporting actors. The movie’s songs by Billie Eilish ‘What Was I Made For’ and ‘I’m Just Ken’ by Ryan Gosling have received recognition as well.

However, some critics argue that Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie deserved Orcar’s nominations for directing and acting, respectively, highlighting a trend of overlooking comedies and female-driven films in awards ceremonies even when they make history as Barbie did.

If we look at the numbers, Barbie has proven to be a formidable success both commercially and strategically. With a global revenue exceeding $1.4 billion and boasting the most impressive opening of 2023, its dominance at the box office persisted for four consecutive weeks.

Currently, “Barbie” proudly holds the 14th spot on the list of ‘Top Lifetime Grosses worldwide’ and ranks 11th in ‘domestic Top Lifetime Grosses’. It also stands as the foremost female-directed film, surpassing “Frozen II” to become the highest-grossing domestic film directed by a woman of all time.

As an extra milestone, Barbie surpassed the phenomenon “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” and now has become Warner Bros.’s highest-grossing movie to date. Furthermore, it claims the title of Warner Bros.’ top earner in the U.S. in the past century, outstripping the success of “The Dark Knight.”

In the end, “Barbie” has made history, proving it’s not just a toy but also a symbol of inspiration, humor, and equality.

Although Mattel's marketing strategies are evident, the movie's message about humanity working together for a better world still shines through.

It’s a reminder that even in something as simple as a Barbie doll, there’s room for important conversations about society and our future.

I would love to hear your thoughts about “Barbie”. And if you want to read more content about Film and TV, here are some of my articles.

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