ACCLAIMED director Greta Gerwig has brought Mattel’s iconic doll to life in Barbie. Stefan Bradley, Tom Parry and our resident Barbie expert, Talana Daff went to check it out.
SB: Tom and I have absolutely no experience playing with Barbie dolls when we were kids, or even watching those animated shows and movies. So, we’re excited to welcome our ‘Voice of Barbie’ to this discussion, Talana!
TD: Thank you very much, it’s great to be here. I had an entire box of Barbie dolls; no Kens, but definitely a Skipper and a Midge! And a lot of Extreme Sports Barbies – most on-purpose and by-design, and some that became Extreme Sports Barbies by being spun around on the washing line.
TP: Radical! This particular film takes place in Barbieland, a faraway fantasy world where Barbies and Kens are sentient. One of the dolls, known as Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) is having an existential crisis, and must travel to the Real World to return to her normal, oblivious self.
SB: When I heard a Barbie movie was coming, I assumed it would be for girls under eight. I was quite confused watching these trailers with more mature themes, which ended up being a genius marketing move as this became something everyone must go see!
TP: I agree with your point about the genius marketing – the trailers gave no clue as to what Barbie was about, and after seeing the movie, I still have no idea what it’s supposed to be about!
TD: I was worried that it would feel like watching one long advertisement, and there were elements of that; but it was self-aware and self-deprecating enough, and it explored ideas that made the film seem more than a marketing ploy.
SB: It’s about Barbie, it’s about women, it’s about men as well, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
TP: I think Barbie works best as a comedy – the script falters somewhat when it tries to offer political and social commentary, such as when it reflects on the doll’s place in the modern world.
TD: I agree – I think the film could have offered a bit more nuance with those social issues. I don’t think they should have left the commentary out completely, but they could have handled that a little bit better. Also, some of the parts that were supposed to be an emotional climax felt really awkward, and kind of flat.
TP: Not all of the jokes land. We were in a packed theatre of over 200 people at Sale Cinema, and the gags where the three of us laughed really hard, most of the audience didn’t find funny at all, and vice-versa.
SB: On casting, Margot Robbie is just perfect for the title role – when you hear the name Barbie, she’s definitely the first actress you think of.
TD: I didn’t even question that casting decision!
TP: Ryan Gosling as Barbie’s beau, Ken was never questionable at all in terms of his physique or appearance; but I wasn’t expecting him to wholeheartedly assume the role – this is the most eccentric and loveable he’s ever been.
TD: Yes, I think he might have taken method acting in the best direction anybody ever has. He definitely brought that Ken-ergy! I do particularly want to mention the practical set design – I think building a physical Barbieland set was a great decision. It gives the film a specific aesthetic feeling that reminds me of playing with toys and the television shows I watched as a young child. The set and hand-painted backgrounds are also reminiscent of mid-20th century technicolour films, which feels very appropriate given Barbie’s 1950s Californian origins.
TP: Agreed – it felt like you were living in a plastic Barbie playset. So Stefan, as a non-Barbie person, are you recommending this movie?
SB: Yes! If I had a child under 10, I’m not sure Barbie would be appropriate viewing – some of the jokes were a bit adult-oriented. For everyone else, it’s creative, has a lot of Ken-ergy and I think Greta Gerwig’s direction is heartfelt. It’s like the unexpected smash hit, The Lego Movie, because it makes fun of the toy and brand itself.
TP: Barbie is confusing, could be funnier and could use sharper messaging, but at the end of the day, it’s pretty inoffensive. Practically everybody could watch this movie and get something out of it. But as our Voice of Barbie, Talana, what did you make of it?
TD: I am strongly recommending it. Anybody who is interested in film production would find Barbie amazing; even those who didn’t play with Barbies as a kid, or who are into more indie, existential, conceptual films, rather than blockbusters, would enjoy this blockbuster!
Barbie is rated PG for crude humour, innuendo, coarse language and slapstick violence, and is currently showing at Sale Cinema.
