Barbie is out in the present day – in case you did not already know.
Greta Gerwig’s extremely anticipated movie has been on the forefront of public consciousness for months now. The memes are rife, the teasers have gone viral, Ryan Gosling has been unequivocally simply Ken.
In fact, the previous few weeks main as much as the discharge have been no completely different. We’re speaking elusive premiere invitations, a dizzying world press tour, and a advertising and marketing marketing campaign that might rival any summer time hit this facet of the millennium.
With such intense hype, the concern was that the movie would fall brief, relying solely on social media pleasure to rocket it straight to the highest of the field workplace, with out truly being, effectively… as nice as we have been promised.
Happily, that isn’t the case. Not even just a little bit.
Barbie is, because the slogan suggests, all the pieces, however it is usually a lot greater than that.
Gerwig might have set himself an nearly unimaginable job: to make a movie that’s touching but enjoyable, that appears unimaginable but has one thing significant to say, that skillfully builds worlds which can be so lifelike but retain the magic of a long-loved model.
The movie hits each beat anticipated of it inside a brief sufficient working time, taking Barbie on a journey (actually and figuratively) from the familiarity of Barbieland to the fact of the actual world, the place there aren’t any girls in Mattel’s C-suite and building employees do not make you’re feeling empowered.
It is humorous too. Like, actually humorous. Enter anticipating a smile and you will get double it, however go away understanding that Barbieland has far more to supply than the brilliant pink dream homes and plastic seashores.
Barbie pokes enjoyable on the model’s lengthy line of discontinued dolls, together with the pregnant Midge and the superfluous Allan (he is Ken’s buddy!), in addition to the criticism Barbie has obtained over time for perpetuating unrealistic physique requirements for little women, and for preaching that girls ought to at all times be distinctive.
It is poignant with out being self-righteous, and feminist whereas nonetheless being accessible to a youthful viewers. Margot Robbie is outstanding in her portrayal of a stereotypical doll who slowly realizes that femininity may not be all she thought it was, and America Fererra is the proper individual to assist her get there.
After which there’s Ken – the Barbie-obsessed, beach-working, double-jean sports activities doll who goes on his personal journey of self-discovery with bachelor pads, mink coats, and the belief that the patriarchy is definitely working in his favor.
If ever there was a task Ryan Gosling needed to play, it was this one. Warner is clearly grooming him for his personal spin-off, and whereas that is Barbie’s world and Ken simply lives in it, that is okay as a result of Ken is Kenough.
Barbie has already been referred to as a triumph, and rightly so. It is usually referred to as “anti-man”, which it isn’t. It is a film made by girls, for ladies, about girls, starring a few of the most unimaginable girls in popular culture in the present day. And for some purpose Rob Brydon too.
It is a masterclass in meta-comedy, so definitely worth the hype – and thank goodness for that.
Barbie is now in Irish cinemas.
