Barbie – Movie Reviews by Ry!

Barbie – Dolls of Personal Worth: A Character Tale

Through the eyes of an individual, we all find ways to escape.  As we grow, the genuine touch of what marks these escapes stands out, but how we get there is another thing.  Sparks of creativity come in many forms, including film.  As stories are told, we are bound to feel something … and if its great it can be an unforgettable experience.  In this review, I look at the latest satire/comedy.  In a story about a toy, it rises above the expected detail.  From an intriguing premise, Barbie becomes an imaginative and endearing tale of individual worth.

In a world of fun and paradise, Barbie (Margot Robbie) starts to have thoughts of indifference.  At a crossroads, she sets off with Ken (Ryan Gosling) to rediscover what it means to be … Barbie.  With this film, there is a lot at play when it comes to storytelling.  On the surface, you have a general outline that mixes themes of ‘existential crises’ and ‘individuality’ with the onset of a popular toy brand.  In the beginning, you are brought into the story through narration about the creation of Barbie, the dynamic of the different iterations and how there is a separation between Barbie’s home and the real world.  This leads to the introduction of our main characters, including the rest of the Barbies and Kens.  Through whimsical dialogue, colorful visuals, and slow character build, we find that Barbie begins to question her own existence within this fantastical world.  After more witty dialogue, she learns she must travel to the real world to rediscover herself.  From this point the story begins to shift, leveling out characterization within the idea of ‘what is Barbie’.  Through comical moments, satirical situations and smartly written conversations, Barbie and Ken begin to see how their ‘icon’ has affected the world, providing a brevity of characterized moments.  Through smartly written dialogue, it creates a humanized thread of conviction.  As moments begin to level out between the idea and individuality, the journey starts to elevate within its own premise.  Through the idea, we begin to see the strengths (and weaknesses) within the character as well as ourselves.  This shows a story that rises above the material, creating a reflection on the qualms of power, strength of humility and perseverance of individual discovery.

As the journey continues, Barbie and Ken begin to change within the realities of the human world.  This layering within characterization leads to reflective conversations, dancing along the line of concepts and personal worth.  As the fracture between the two worlds deepens, it leads to some unforeseen circumstances for both realities.  As certain dominos begin to fall, the thematic aspect (of the film) is further elevated within the creativity of the world.  At a crossroads, this leads into a third act that bridges the thematic detail within the spectacle of Barbie’s iconography.  This leads to a triumphant climax and epilogue.  Barbie is a creative journey of how a toy can be so much more.  If you are a fan of satire, creative concepts, and character-based films, this is for you.  It is a redefining experience at the cinema, worth seeing on the big screen.

Full Score – 4.5 out of 5 (Award Worthy)