Premise:
Barbie suffers a crisis that leads her to question her world and her existence.
Directors:
Greta Gerwig
Writers:
Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach
Cast:
Margot Robbie ... Barbie
Ariana Greenblatt ... Sasha
Kingsley Ben-Adir ... Ken
Ryan Gosling ... Ken
Emma Mackey ... Barbie
Hari Nef ... Barbie
Will Ferrell ... Mattel CEO
Nicola Coughlan ... Barbie
John Cena ... Ken
Dua Lipa ... Barbie
Helen Mirren ... Narrator
Simu Liu ... Ken
Michael Cera ... Allan
Kate McKinnon ... Barbie
America Ferrera ... Gloria
Alexandra Shipp ... Barbie
| RELEASE DATE | RUNTIME | ROTTENTOMATOES | IMDB | METACRITIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 21st, 2023 | 1hr 54m | 90% | TBD | 82 |
I think you aren’t reading into it enough, like look at your analysis here: “this wasn’t even a successful feminist movie as they didn’t change anything in the “Real world”. It was just a feel good celebration of women and solidarity which didn’t actually do anything of consequence. That was the point?”
But consider that in the final scenes of the movie, an old lady shows Barbie a dream sequence of how good life could be if she entirely rejects the current system. Barbie then eagerly does so. The old lady represents Luxemburg, Barbie entering the real world represents revolution, Barbie becoming human represents the reunification with the human species being that is only possible under communism. This is a revolutionary communist movie.
The fact that the Kens win nothing but aesthetic changes by the end of the movie is a representation of the reality of third wave feminism and other types of reformism.
Thank you for your insight.
I realize I was being ambiguous with that paragraph. I (mostly!) agree with you. The wording should have been “One critique *that I hear from others…”.
To add to your last point, I loved the line from the narrator: “[Now that Barbies have reclaimed power…] Maybe over time, the Kens will achieve the same power in Barbieland that women have achieved in the real world”. Brilliant.
Sharing an interesting review I came across (which isn’t clouded by misogyny): https://youtu.be/RToUZJ0l7Pk
On recollection, the movie couldn’t have been more feminist as that would have actually affected Mattel’s bottom line… But I’m still glad it’s adequately provocative.
What an amazing review, it really helped me navigate the “feeling off” I have had since the movie (even though I loved it)