For some women in China, “Barbie” is more than just a movie — it’s also a litmus test for their partner’s views on feminism and patriarchy.
The movie has prompted intense social media discussion online, media outlets Sixth Tone and the China Project reported this week, prompting women to discuss their own dating experiences.
One user on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu — a photo-sharing site similar to Instagram that’s mostly used by Gen Z women — even shared a guide on Monday for how women can test their boyfriends based on their reaction to the film.
According to the guide, if a man shows hatred for “Barbie” and slams female directors after they leave the theatre, then this man is “stingy” and a “toxic chauvinist,” according to Insider’s translation of the post. Conversely, if a man understands even half of the movie’s themes, “then he is likely a normal guy with normal values and stable emotions,” the user wrote.
Is it cool if I just don’t watch it? It doesn’t really appeal to me.
The only reason I have any interest in it is all the conservative jimmy-rustling it’s doing.
This. I tried to buy bud light but it’s legitimately awful. Seeing barbie twice is a way better option.
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Lol
Honestly I was the same way going into it, and after watching it my thoughts were “I don’t regret watching it, but I wouldn’t have regretted missing out either.”
The movie is great, and there were multiple moments where I burst out laughing. It’s also a really bizarre acid trip, and I mean that in a good way! But at the end of the day, it’s a hot pink version of The Lego Movie, down to Will Farrell playing a (less evil and more well-meaning) Lord Business. It’s a movie made by women, for women, about a series of toys designed for women. That’s not a bad thing by any means, and it’s not like men cannot enjoy it, but it also means it may not interest you, and that’s fine too.
Is it really as critical of capital as The Lego Movie was? I haven’t seen it yet, though I intend to.
Fox Business, among other right-wing news outlets, were foaming at the mouth about how The Lego Movie was anti-capitalist. Search up “Lego movie anti capitalist” on your preferred search engine to see what I mean.
Mmmmm, I don’t think I’d go that far, no. Feminist? Very much so. Unable to decide if the Mattel executives are actually antagonistic because Mattel didn’t want to make themselves look too bad? Probably.
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I thought it was funny but it looks like this got removed.
Appears to be removed, yes
Same, I just can’t bring myself to care about a movie that’s about toys I have zero nostalgia for.
Heh. I feel like they would need to discontinue the toys before any of us get a chance to develop nostalgia.
I’m not nostalgic for Hot Wheels either. I just go buy a Hot Wheel when I want one.
Man, I need to buy me some Hot Wheels…
Bruh… Transformers have been in almost continuous production in one for or another since 1993. They were briefly discontinued in the late 80s and early 90s, and were brought back with the Generation 2 line and then Beast Wars. The longest period that Transformers haven’t been on the market since their introduction to the US market was between Generation 1 and Generation 2 from 1990-1993. Generation 2 fizzled in 1995, and was replace a little over a year later in 1996 with Beast Wars. Since then, the brand has had some continuous shelf presence.
And it’s a huge brand today that is largely sold to adult collectors with an attachment to whichever show or comic they indulged in as a kid. Yes, discontinuation can definitely drive nostalgia and a desire to collect something, but it isn’t a necessity. In the case of Transformers, it’s just created an ever-widening pool of things for new adult collectors to be interested in. Right now, there’s a growing interest in modern updates of the Unicron Trilogy characters (Armada/Energon/Cybertron), which were shows being aired from 2002-2005, followed by Transformers Animated and the Michael Bay films.
Good summary.
I’m just bitter that Barbie and Hot wheels fans didn’t have their favorite toy pulled from the shelves between the late 80s and early 90s.
And Action Masters weren’t really Transformers, and everyone knew it.
Action Masters were hot garbage. Especially since some of them managed to somehow have even less articulation than their original transforming counterpart, which is saying something.
I had no prior experiences with any Barbie-related products or media (adult cis white male in the US) and wasn’t sure whether I’d enjoy it at all. After seeing it, i honestly think there’s something for everyone in this movie. It’s exceptionally well-written (very wry) and makes solid points about the current state of patriarchy in our society. It’s really well-done. Feel free to wait for it to come out on streaming, but then I’d definitely recommend checking it out.
Sure, maybe. I just don’t really think this is a movie made for me.
I feel you, but if the movie shows any type of struggle against power, it is probably a more universal theme than what we percieve , especially here in the US, its probably just not that great of a movie otherwise, but with a relatable message. I have zero interest in seeing it, but now that it’s become this culturally charged, I feel I must.
Eh, I don’t particularly care how ‘culturally charged’ it is, nor do I feel like forcing myself to watch something for a reason like that. I just don’t care enough about Barbie for it to be worth it.
Yea that’s fair, and tbh, the way I live my day to day, I probably won’t end up ever seeing it. Lol
Of course. I don’t care for Barbie either, and never played with the toys during childhood so there’s no connection for me. I went to watch with my fiance because it was something she was interested in. The movie was okay. Wasn’t great, wasn’t horrible. I think when it becomes telling is when people are somehow offended or pretend like it’s the worst movie created.
“If you love barbie you’ll love the movie!”
“If you hate barbie you’ll love the movie!”
Idgaf about barbie so I didn’t bother watching.
That means you are a misogynist through and through. /s
Why wouldnt it? It’s also cool if you dislike the movie, it’s not cool if you dislike female directors “because of this movie”
I’m being facetious. But yes, that would be very weird.
My interest in upbeat movies has never been very high. If it were a thriller or mystery that’d be cool. I’d watch. It’s ok we can pass on this one.