Life in Plastic is truly amazing with Greta Gerwig serving as co-writer and director Barbie, a fantasy comedy starring Margot Robbie as the legendary Mattel doll. It takes place in the utopian world of Barbieland full of Barbies and Kens.
Life in Plastic is truly amazing with Greta Gerwig serving as co-writer and director Barbie, a fantasy comedy starring Margot Robbie as the legendary Mattel doll. It takes place in the utopian world of Barbieland full of Barbies and Kens.
We are introduced to this colorful world with narration by Dame Helen Mirren and a loving tribute to 2001: A Space Odyssey. When the stereotypical Barbie (Robbie) begins noticing imperfections in herself, she travels to the real world with Ken (Ryan Gosling) to discover herself.
Cheerful and goofy, this film knows exactly what it is: a colourful, lively explosion of vague nostalgia. They want to live in this world of joy and magic, where dance performances and lavish parties happen every few minutes. Gerwig’s imaginative world is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
The attention to detail is brilliant. There are many parallels between Barbieland and the way children play with Barbies in the real world. For example, no water comes out of the shower, no liquid in her drinks and Barbie floats to her car because let’s face it: no kid has ever walked their Barbies down the stairs. This film features quirky comedy and a pop soundtrack that will fill your heart with happiness.
Barbie wears his influences on the sleeves. There’s a pinch of the Truman Show here, there’s a pinch of Eleven there. There are even direct references to “Matrix”. (Remember, Warner owns these!) However, these things all come packaged in surprisingly fresh packaging. There are so many unique features that stand out, such as the physics that are not “cartoon physics” but “physics of children playing with toys”.
Margot Robbie is absolutely perfect as a Barbie. Other cast members like Anne Hathaway and Amy Schumer almost played the character, which is hard to imagine today. Warner nailed it with Robbie, who looks the part well and nestles into the larger-than-life role with cartoonish glee. Robbie is no stranger to showing off her comedic skills – as seen on Birds of Prey – but she takes it to another level here. Ryan Gosling is also great as Ken, with a sweet, goofy, manic energy that’s a little different from the usual heartthrob roles.
Barbie’s meta-nature and how she tackles real-world problems with fantastical elements is incredible. Though the pop-feminist message can be a bit hackneyed, Barbie addresses gender norms with sharp and incisive satire. Lost and out of their element, Barbie and Ken face off against their first true villain: the 21st century patriarchy. Marvel, walk over – this is a popcorn spectacle brawl for the ages. Barbie confronts the issues that women face in the real world without holding back while managing to be consistently entertaining.
It’s the kind of movies that kids focus on from a young age and grow up watching, like Josie and the Pussycats, for example. The final act is great fun for everyone involved, from the actors on screen to the spectators in the audience. It’s the perfect film to unravel Oppenheimer’s sinister war crimes.
Barbie is a smash hit with an incredible script and an outstanding cast. Gerwig continues to solidify as one of today’s finest filmmakers.
SCORE: 9/10
As explained in ComingSoon’s review guidelines, a rating of 9 from Ken equates to “Excellent.” Entertainment that reaches this level is top notch. The gold standard that every creator wants to achieve.
Disclosure: ComingSoon attended a press preview for us Barbie Review.