First part catches immediately and was surprisingly good and emotional. Second part about Ken felt more like a time filler and was a bit of disappointment.
Margot Robbie was super and nice small supporting roles by Will Ferrell and Michael Cera.
Really wanted to like it, but I found the whole thing very tiring after one hour or so, with the exception of some really inspiring moments like the "advertisement" sequence. Pretty mid overall.
The point they’re trying to make is a good thing.
But the movie is over explaining on one hand while the message is not that deep on the other. I hear a lot of people being confused about the point it’s trying to make.
Furthermore it’s just not that funny. Very overhyped.
Does not live up to the hype.
Not particularly feminist, not particularly funny.
And why does Ken turn into the bad guy from Karate Kid?
No idea why a Barbie movie had to make all the Kens unlikeable. Also think Ryan Gosling was miscast in this.
Best part was the pre-credits, with adverts of old dolls (mostly the bizarre ones that were discontinued) - and the Day to Night Barbie which I actually owned once upon a time.
Legally Blonde is a much better Barbie movie than the Barbie movie.
Terrific fun and easily the best communal cinema experience since seeing Glass Onion in a full-house.
It's a giddy, goofy film first and foremost - overflowing with jokes, self-awareness and playfulness. It's a reminder of some of the big broad comedies of the 90s and technicolour musicals of the 50s and 60s, but really its well of cinematic references run a lot deeper. Some very overt references and homages to some unexpected (and named) films throughout, but it's also drawing on films as diverse as Toy Story, Hausu, The Brady Bunch Movie, Playtime and more in the way it presents itself. All bathed in garish pink, of course - it shouldn't be any other way.
But yes: incredibly funny film. So many great laugh lines and visual gags (and even maybe the funniest narrator intrusion I've seen in a film), and that's why I'd definitely recommend trying to see it at a busy screening if at all possible. Gerwig is a fantastic comedic director and writer, and her cast is packed with great comedic performances. Robbie is in some ways the most grounded and emotionally-demanding performance of the lot, but she gets plenty of moments to shine as a comedic actor though. But it's definitely Gosling who gets the really juicy stuff here - his Ken is a delightful idiot, especially in the second half of the film as he learns about his bizarre idiot-version of the 'patriarchy'. It might be too broad to go the distance, but really it's an award-worthy performance IMO.
It's definitely 'a Greta Gerwig film', rising above Mattel's cynical motivations to craft something that feels like a distinct and worthy film in a short but increasingly impressive filmography. From her sheer efficacy in being able to do a lot in a very short scene to her wonderful work with ensemble casts, she's a brilliant filmmaker. You know when people give out about a director's voice being drowned out in a Marvel movie? This is a good example of why a corporate blockbuster need not just be a 'for hire' gig.
There is a satisfying emotional core here, and the film almost gleefully embraces the complex social status of the Barbie doll and gender stereotypes - this is relentless in referencing, mocking and deconstructing it all. And of course it reflects its own status as a corporate product that's as much brand management as auteur cinema. But while it certainly has a point-of-view, the film is so endlessly good fun and good-natured and all-consuming in its satirical targets.
Will it hold up as well as Lady Bird or Little Women on repeat watch? Probably not. The film is so restless and busy with ideas some definitely don't land, and of course it can't overcome some of its own inherent contradictions. But I can only repeat that I had a magnificent time. And seeing it with a delighted crowd, laughing along with seemingly boundless enthusiasm, reminded me of that particular magic of the sold-out cinema experience. Sometimes all you need is that one first screening with a game crowd for a film to leave a long-lasting impression.
Movie looks good and cast is fine......but don't get the movie and/or hype. Not a drama, not a comedy for who is this. Not bad not great. Just didn't do it for me.
If a 13th century 15-year old girl whose life consist of nothing else but milking goats for her feudal lord would ask me to explain feminism, I would suggest this movie, maybe.
For modern audiences I feel like it works in the wrong direction. All feminist statements are so simplistic and poppy that they reduce the whole problem to the size of a post-it. After a while, I got frustrated with every empowering scene and started loving every scene where Ryan Gosling would just ridiculize the gender conflict, which is the exact opposite of what was intended.
Greta Gerwig is a genius and I always knew her Barbie would be hot stuff and I'm glad general audiences agree (and are probably being exposed to the strangest stuff they've seen in a movie in a long time). Gerwig and co-writer Noah Baumbach are nevertheless out of their element and could have fallen on their faces. But no, Gerwig rocks it hard, balancing satire, silly comedy and colorful fantasy with toy nostalgia, touching adult issues, and existentialism. FEMALE existentialism. The movie wears its feminism on its sleeve, exploring what is meant to be an empowering toy that then turned into a symbol of sexism and using that as a metaphor for all women faced with the impossible demands of the patriarchy. Ken's role as an incel villain of sorts is mitigated by the Kens essentially being treated the way women are in the real world, so the satire is muddier there (or more complex, if you like). The doll characters are "being played with" and therefore act like children, which at once amuses and reveals the absurdity of what's being investigated, while also perhaps harking to how children are "programmed" with both good and bad ideas. Given the portrayal of Mattel in the movie, they seem to be good sports, though they stand to make pink camper loads of money, so the accusations levelled probably don't sting as much (it's even lampooned in the movie itself). Great dance numbers, funny jokes, background gags, imaginative world-building, fun meta commentary, a good mother-daughter story, beautiful production design, and Margot Robbie can still do no wrong. It's the runaway hit of the summer.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 23
jo027
It's a critic to Mattel, from Mattel. To sell more Mattel.Alias
This was as bubbly and as pop-feminist as I expected, but I didn't expect how weird this would getCodeV
First part catches immediately and was surprisingly good and emotional. Second part about Ken felt more like a time filler and was a bit of disappointment.Margot Robbie was super and nice small supporting roles by Will Ferrell and Michael Cera.
Pedr20
Really wanted to like it, but I found the whole thing very tiring after one hour or so, with the exception of some really inspiring moments like the "advertisement" sequence. Pretty mid overall.BLJNBrouwer
"Yeah, because actually my job, it’s just Beach."Axel Fritzler
"Im Allan. I'm Ken's buddy.And all his clothes fit me!
*starts to fight* "
Boei
The point they’re trying to make is a good thing.But the movie is over explaining on one hand while the message is not that deep on the other. I hear a lot of people being confused about the point it’s trying to make.
Furthermore it’s just not that funny. Very overhyped.
Neens
Does not live up to the hype.Not particularly feminist, not particularly funny.
And why does Ken turn into the bad guy from Karate Kid?
No idea why a Barbie movie had to make all the Kens unlikeable. Also think Ryan Gosling was miscast in this.
Best part was the pre-credits, with adverts of old dolls (mostly the bizarre ones that were discontinued) - and the Day to Night Barbie which I actually owned once upon a time.
Legally Blonde is a much better Barbie movie than the Barbie movie.
chunkylefunga
It's start's well enough but they just didn't need the whole men are ruining barbieworld bit.Barbie herself should have ruined barbieworld from her own negative experience of the real world.
I feel like there were two different stories of this movie, when really they could have been told seperately, in two movies.
MrW
Terrific fun and easily the best communal cinema experience since seeing Glass Onion in a full-house.It's a giddy, goofy film first and foremost - overflowing with jokes, self-awareness and playfulness. It's a reminder of some of the big broad comedies of the 90s and technicolour musicals of the 50s and 60s, but really its well of cinematic references run a lot deeper. Some very overt references and homages to some unexpected (and named) films throughout, but it's also drawing on films as diverse as Toy Story, Hausu, The Brady Bunch Movie, Playtime and more in the way it presents itself. All bathed in garish pink, of course - it shouldn't be any other way.
But yes: incredibly funny film. So many great laugh lines and visual gags (and even maybe the funniest narrator intrusion I've seen in a film), and that's why I'd definitely recommend trying to see it at a busy screening if at all possible. Gerwig is a fantastic comedic director and writer, and her cast is packed with great comedic performances. Robbie is in some ways the most grounded and emotionally-demanding performance of the lot, but she gets plenty of moments to shine as a comedic actor though. But it's definitely Gosling who gets the really juicy stuff here - his Ken is a delightful idiot, especially in the second half of the film as he learns about his bizarre idiot-version of the 'patriarchy'. It might be too broad to go the distance, but really it's an award-worthy performance IMO.
It's definitely 'a Greta Gerwig film', rising above Mattel's cynical motivations to craft something that feels like a distinct and worthy film in a short but increasingly impressive filmography. From her sheer efficacy in being able to do a lot in a very short scene to her wonderful work with ensemble casts, she's a brilliant filmmaker. You know when people give out about a director's voice being drowned out in a Marvel movie? This is a good example of why a corporate blockbuster need not just be a 'for hire' gig.
There is a satisfying emotional core here, and the film almost gleefully embraces the complex social status of the Barbie doll and gender stereotypes - this is relentless in referencing, mocking and deconstructing it all. And of course it reflects its own status as a corporate product that's as much brand management as auteur cinema. But while it certainly has a point-of-view, the film is so endlessly good fun and good-natured and all-consuming in its satirical targets.
Will it hold up as well as Lady Bird or Little Women on repeat watch? Probably not. The film is so restless and busy with ideas some definitely don't land, and of course it can't overcome some of its own inherent contradictions. But I can only repeat that I had a magnificent time. And seeing it with a delighted crowd, laughing along with seemingly boundless enthusiasm, reminded me of that particular magic of the sold-out cinema experience. Sometimes all you need is that one first screening with a game crowd for a film to leave a long-lasting impression.
boulderman
I thought it was very good, not great, but they tried the line from feminism to the real world well.Emma MaCrae could have had the lead role, I felt they toned her down in this
Earring72
Movie looks good and cast is fine......but don't get the movie and/or hype. Not a drama, not a comedy for who is this. Not bad not great. Just didn't do it for me.Duke of Omnium
In the hands of a lesser director, this would have been a stupid 90-minute toy commercial, trying to start a franchise.Coming from Greta Gerwig, it was an incisive and brillian satire that's going to start a franchise, but only incidentally.
Rubenvd
If a 13th century 15-year old girl whose life consist of nothing else but milking goats for her feudal lord would ask me to explain feminism, I would suggest this movie, maybe.For modern audiences I feel like it works in the wrong direction. All feminist statements are so simplistic and poppy that they reduce the whole problem to the size of a post-it. After a while, I got frustrated with every empowering scene and started loving every scene where Ryan Gosling would just ridiculize the gender conflict, which is the exact opposite of what was intended.
Siskoid
Greta Gerwig is a genius and I always knew her Barbie would be hot stuff and I'm glad general audiences agree (and are probably being exposed to the strangest stuff they've seen in a movie in a long time). Gerwig and co-writer Noah Baumbach are nevertheless out of their element and could have fallen on their faces. But no, Gerwig rocks it hard, balancing satire, silly comedy and colorful fantasy with toy nostalgia, touching adult issues, and existentialism. FEMALE existentialism. The movie wears its feminism on its sleeve, exploring what is meant to be an empowering toy that then turned into a symbol of sexism and using that as a metaphor for all women faced with the impossible demands of the patriarchy. Ken's role as an incel villain of sorts is mitigated by the Kens essentially being treated the way women are in the real world, so the satire is muddier there (or more complex, if you like). The doll characters are "being played with" and therefore act like children, which at once amuses and reveals the absurdity of what's being investigated, while also perhaps harking to how children are "programmed" with both good and bad ideas. Given the portrayal of Mattel in the movie, they seem to be good sports, though they stand to make pink camper loads of money, so the accusations levelled probably don't sting as much (it's even lampooned in the movie itself). Great dance numbers, funny jokes, background gags, imaginative world-building, fun meta commentary, a good mother-daughter story, beautiful production design, and Margot Robbie can still do no wrong. It's the runaway hit of the summer.Showing items 1 – 15 of 23