Directed by Greta Gerwig
Starring Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Ariana Greenblatt, America Ferrera, Simu Liu, Michael Cera, Will Ferrell, Kate McKinnon, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Issa Rae, and the Voice of Helen Mirren

“Imagination, life is your creation”.

Husband and wife writing team Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach certainly honour that lyric from Danish-Norwegian dance-pop group Aqua’s worldwide chart-topping 1997 hit Barbie Girl, creatively concocting this story in the first ever live action feature film for Barbie.

That’s about the only lyric from Barbie Girl honoured here, thankfully, for several other lines such as “I can beg on my knees” and “kiss me here, touch me there” now make me wonder if a predator such as Harvey Weinstein co-wrote the song and certainly wouldn’t earn this film its PG classification!

Two worlds will collide in Barbie. Just as there is on the shelves of our department stores and as I’m sure you’ve all seen in the ads, there is not one Barbie and one Ken, but several variations of each that all gleefully reside in the perfectly plastic planet of Barbieland. I’m pleased to acknowledge Barbieland is a place of inclusivity, even if certain inhabitants of its population might be labelled “weird Barbie” (played by a hilariously scene-stealing Kate McKinnon) and reside on the outskirts. The Barbie about to have her plastic bubble burst though is the original Stereotypical Barbie (who else but our very own Margot Robbie), along with her insecure sidekick, Ken (a wonderfully embracing Ryan Gosling). She must venture to ‘The Real World’ to find and help a particular individual in order to have certain human imperfections suddenly appearing, like cellulite, reversed. But Barbie is in for rude awakening (in more ways than one) and her quick trip is quickly extended when she experiences the disadvantages of being a woman in ‘The Real World’.

Let’s not beat around the bush. The chances of Barbie attracting a heterosexual male demographic not begrudgingly attending with their female partners are about as high as the film winning Best Picture at the 2024 Academy Awards ®. Those that do tag along or willingly go, do know that Barbie intends to make any big man-babies watching spit their dummies. For those of you, gentlemen, the conveniency of Oppenheimer’s simultaneous release here in Australia awaits you!

Aside from uniting and celebrating feminism in its various and victorious ways and having fun taking the mickey out of the Ken’s of the World, Barbie has some genuine depth to its themes of coping with change and gaining independence. While these may hardly be original, the messenger is surely one of great influence over its targeted audience and its delivery is reassuring. 

After Ken makes some discoveries of his own in ‘The Real World’ and a new powerful character becomes aware of Barbie’s visit, the plot heads into a direction that I’m still unsure was the best it could have opted for and seemed to slow the laughter it was provoking from the audience I attended with. Perhaps it gets a little too weird in ways itself? Or too deep? Perhaps it hits a flat patch? Whatever the distraction from utmost attraction might be, Barbie’s finale rekindles its winning formula and has a ripper ending that poses an irresistible sequel offering.

Barbie is showing in cinemas across Australia from July 20th.

Moviedoc thanks Warner Bros. Pictures and Universal Pictures for the invite to the screening of this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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