Barbie (2023)

[Eric Duncan]

Let's go party.

 

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS THE THREAD FROM THE REVIEW THAT MOVIE SUB-FORUM.  WE WILL MOVE IT BACK NEXT WEEKEND.  FOR NOW, IT'S HERE.  SO IF YOU DON'T SEE IT THERE, THAT'S WHY

[Deep Wang]

I really wish they could have figured out a better way to introduce Ruth because the rest of the Mattel HQ stuff was pretty bad. 

 

Almost everything else was pretty great.

 

fucking Matchbox Twenty man

[Webslinger]

As if it were not already impressive enough that Greta Gerwig has a semi-autobiographical new teen classic in Lady Bird and a literary adaptation as clever and dynamic as Little Women under her belt, she soars to different but equally impressive heights with Barbie. As director and co-writer (with her partner, Noah Baumbach), Gerwig takes plastic toys made for children and uses them as a springboard into a uniquely beautiful film whose reverence for play and imagination, goofy comedy, meta humor and commentary, social observations, meticulous attention to detail, and introspective examinations of femininity, patriarchy, and self-image all land as gracefully as the title character when she floats from her dreamhouse to her car in the opening scene. 

 

As in Gerwig’s prior films, the humor and lighthearted moments sing (especially as she digs into visualizing and verbalizing so many parts of the common experiences of playing with Barbies), and she still possesses one of the best touches of any director working today when it comes to exploring the emotional lives of her characters. Just as Little Women took me aback in its surprising turn into being a commentary on the saving power of storytelling itself, Barbie often left me floored in the depth of the wrestling it does not just with the examination of patriarchy that concerns most of the running time, but also in its even more transcendent reflections on purpose and self-actualization. 

 

Gerwig’s work with actors also remains top-notch, as just about everyone in the massive cast understands the assignment to a T and delivers something truly memorable. Margot Robbie was already a perfect casting choice for Barbie on paper, and she more than lives up to the possibilities inherent in her casting. She masters the comedy in Barbie’s predicaments (especially once she crosses over into the real world, where her initial naïve readings of our society are genuinely quick-witted and hilarious), but also packs believable interiority and self-reflection into her moments of growth and discovery. Ryan Gosling also capitalizes just about fully on the potential in his casting as Ken. Committing to the part with every bit as much concentration and deliberation as he has any other role, Gosling is constantly a delight to watch as a Ken whose struggles with existing in Barbie’s shadow and learning that the structural gender dynamics in the real world are the exact opposite successfully wring laughs without losing sight of building toward a satisfying emotional resolution. The massive assortment of other Barbies, Kens, and other ones we don’t talk about (sorry, Midge and Alan) is also lots of fun, with the standout performance coming from Kate McKinnon in a hilarious turn that feels like an extension of the strange characters she played on SNL. 

 

Where Barbie really takes off into a new realm for Gerwig, however, is in its sheer, go-for-broke style. Barbieland is a marvel of production and costume design, replicating the look and feel of many of the brand’s classic products in eye-popping fashion. The choreography in numerous dance sequences is also incredibly impressive, and the soundtrack slaps. There are also some stunning visual choices that further enhance some of the narrative’s most impactful moments. 

 

I suppose it’s not a surprise that a director as skilled as Greta Gerwig made a great Barbie movie, but in an era where so much IP seems to be spinning its wheels and cynicism about these synergistic brand name movies is high, Gerwig uses this film to further cement herself as one of the most creative and thoughtful directors working today. In the process, she turns a corporate product into an instant classic that feels at once personal and universal. It’s truly, to borrow Gerwig’s own words, a film for everyone aged 8 to 108, and it’s also going to be studied and beloved in film and gender classes for decades to come.

 

A

[LegionWrex]

Holy cow, I loved this! What a delightful movie. Greta Gerwig's touches are all over this, from the way her dialogue flows to her focus on mother/daughter relationships and womanhood, and she feels completely unleashed here. She's so clearly having fun with the way that the characters move and how the world works (or doesn't, it's clearly running on dream logic) that's it's infectious. Each scene is a treasure trove of hilarious wordplay, great sight gags, and both Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling absolutely killing it performance wise. Gosling in particular is amazing here - a deeply unserious performance that also manages to be one of the best comedic roles for any actor in a very long time. But I was mostly impressed by how poignant it actually is; it actually has a ton to say about feminism, patriarchy, gender roles/identity, capitalism, mortality, and just the general idea of "being human". It's easily one of the best IP films of the past little bit and I think it's going to impact the industry in a big way, and let's hope it's for the better. Fantastic, one of my favourites of the year!

[Krissykins]

America Farrerra’s monologue brought the house down. 
 

“When I realised the Patriarchy wasn’t really about horses I kind of lost interest” did as well 🤣😂

 

When Barbie was speaking to Ruth at the end, I honestly thought she was going to ask to die. That would’ve been grim, but it would’ve been amazing as well lol. Loved the ending we got though. 
 

A+
5/5

10/10
 

I think it’s a masterpiece. For the young children who see it now and all the subtext goes over their heads, they’ll rediscover it when they’re tweens, teens and then again as adults. I honestly think it’ll be a generational classic. 

[ListenHunnyUrOver]

The script is kind of a mess. Choosing to bring Ken into “reality” ends up kind of derailing Barbie’s character arc, and the connection between her and America Ferrera seems tenuous considering it’s the crux of the whole movie. I’m actually shocked this is as high as 90% with issues that are this obvious. I felt like I could see Mattel’s heavy hand in the script and presentation of Barbie as something that is so progressive and transgressive, and it just feels so blatant in a bad way. Overall I’m more positive than negative, but I highly doubt this would be garnering any Oscar buzz if Gerwig and Baumbach weren’t involved. 

[eddyxx]

I just came here to comment on that line shitting on the Snyder cut. That was great and unexpected.

[baumer]

I know nothing about Barbie except ken, her Corvette and her giant house. Do I need to know anything else about Barbie going into this movie to pick up on anything?

[SchumacherFTW]

Ken's song might be the funniest thing I've seen in a theater this year, I was nearly crying

[Grebacio]

Before watching Barbie, I thought not including Aqua's Babrie Girl was a wasted oppornutiy, after watching it, I think it even more. Seriously, some of the themes of the movie really matches the themes of said song.

[eddyxx]

2 hours ago, baumer said:

I know nothing about Barbie except ken, her Corvette and her giant house. Do I need to know anything else about Barbie going into this movie to pick up on anything?

I think only thing you need to know before you watch the movie is that men rule the world lol.

[Maggie]

Ive always heard that to make a great movie you need to Show, don't tell.  

 

In Barbie we have so many tell, not much show. We've been told about America Ferrera's strained relationship with her daughter, but they are not showing us much of that> Plus we do we even get a significant moment where they reconcile.

 

The movie is messy with lots  preaching (again tell), but not showing much in a meaningful way. Frankly, i am disappointed with this movie.

[Joel M]

I liked it a lot and despite some minor reservations here and there it's pretty much a personal triumph for Gerwig because in the end it seems more unique and idiosyncrating than most movies of this size that have a brand to "service" behind them. There are inspired jabs at both Mattel and the compicated legacy of the Barbie brand, but at the same time nothing truly transgressive. Which I don't hold against the movie, I don't think Gerwig pull her punches more than anyone else that ever did a big IP movie.

In the same way Margot Robbie's journey of self-discovery or America Ferrara's monologue can be absolutely heartfelt and emotional in the same movie that at some level is still about Mattel rebranding itself as something cooler than it actually is. Art and Commerce and all that stuff.

Where the movie absolutely amazes though is the sheer craft behind it. The painted skies and plastic sets, the unexplained dream logic in which it operates, the way it travels between real and fantasy world without breaking a sweat and how it is visualised. None of that was surprising, I was more surprised on her jump from Lady Bird to Little Women on those aspects, here it was just delightful to see how much of a unique vision Greta has.

My only real complaint is that there's a considerable part towards the climax where Ken goes from sidekick to villain to kinda hijacking the movie as a lead for a bit before it goes back to Barbie that just felt off. It had the Ken song in the middle of it which was absolutely a highlight, but at the same time I think the movie both lost focus and pace for the first time just before the finale. Maybe he should have been treated as co-lead from the start or they should have commit to the villain turn idk. But the way they went about it felt miscalculated and would have left a sour taste in my mouth if the real finale with Margot becoming a real girl with a vagina (that ending line got the biggest laugh in my screening) didn't land so well.

I'm not blaming Margot or Gosling for any of it, they were both great and commiting so hard to the bit was the right choice for both. Especially for Goose who's been one of my favorites since forever, I was getting a bit worried as more and more marketing material got released that this might be a one-note joke character that gets old by the end, but he really killed it.

 

All in all I would still rank this below Little Women, maybe even Lady Bird but haven't seen that one since the year it came out. On the other hand it also deserves the hype of the unique auter-driven blockbuster it was slapped with when the cast and crew was anounced. On the other other hand I lowkey hope Netflix burns to the ground before she has to make those godforsaken Narnia movies. Literally do anything else girl. The world is your oyster now.

[DAJK]

The Mattel stuff was all kind of bad, and they really could have done a lot more with the mother/daughter relationship. But the Ken song brought down the house, definitely movie moment of the year.

 

I’d probably go 4/5. It was funny, great messaging, and had a lot more depth than a movie like this ever should. I’d compare it pretty closely with the Lego movie tbh.

[Ryan Reynolds]

 

[Travod]

8 hours ago, SchumacherFTW said:

Ken's song might be the funniest thing I've seen in a theater this year, I was nearly crying

 

I'm Just Ken is definitely the highlight of the movie, have had that song on repeat this weekend

[Boxx93]

I really wanted to love Barbie, but unfortunately it didn't do it for me. This movie is a mess. The Mattel stuff was really cringy. The mother/daughter relationship was not developed enough, most of the jokes felt flat, the messaging got borderline preachy and kinda spiteful at some parts. I am not a fan of how Barbie treated Ken in the movie, because the moment Ken takes over Barbieland I was supposed to feel bad about her but... I felt no empathy for her because she treated him like crap.

 

I did enjoyed the music and all of the dance sequences (though not putting the Aqua song was a major mistake), the production design is gorgeous to look at, and the whole final scene with Barbie and Ruth was actually very touching and heartfelt. And more than Ken, I really loved Allen. Allen was awesome. Michael Cera is awesome here.

 

5/10. It's a mixed bag for me. Lady Bird is still Gerwig's best movie.

Edited July 23, 2023 by Boxx93

[Day and Date The Best]

12 hours ago, Grebacio said:

Before watching Barbie, I thought not including Aqua's Babrie Girl was a wasted oppornutiy, after watching it, I think it even more. Seriously, some of the themes of the movie really matches the themes of said song.

It does not you putting your nostalgia for that song over analysis, plus isn't there a battle right with the song, and is already sampled on the nicki minaj song. 

 

Why so much nostalgia for a song about blowjobs, don't you people remmember the lyrics: here is a portion: Make me walk, make me talk, do whatever you please
I can act like a star, I can beg on my knees
Come jump in, bimbo friend, let us do it again,
Hit the town, fool around, let's go party
You can touch, you can play, if you say, "I'm always yours."
You can touch, you can play, if you say, "I'm always yours."

Come on, Barbie, let's go party!
(ah-ah-ah-yeah)
Come on, Barbie, let's go party!
(uu-oooh-u) [2x]
Come on, Barbie, let's go party!
(ah-ah-ah-yeah)
Come on, Barbie, let's go party!
(uu-oooh-u) [2x]

Edited July 23, 2023 by Day and Date The Best

[LegionWrex]

12 hours ago, Grebacio said:

Before watching Barbie, I thought not including Aqua's Babrie Girl was a wasted oppornutiy, after watching it, I think it even more. Seriously, some of the themes of the movie really matches the themes of said song.

Aqua's song is in the midst of a massive legal battle anyways, they apparently tried to get it in the movie but they legally couldn't for whatever reason.

[Day and Date The Best]

17 minutes ago, LegionWrex said:

Aqua's song is in the midst of a massive legal battle anyways, they apparently tried to get it in the movie but they legally couldn't for whatever reason.

Read somewhere about that too.