by Diana Gebbia, Contributing Writer 

If you grew up playing with Barbie dolls, you might have thought that her perfect body, gorgeous blonde hair, and ideal life were unattainable. But, if Greta Gerwig’s Barbie teaches us anything, it’s that women have a lot more in common with the iconic doll than we thought.

Barbie starts off with a scene plucked right from our childhoods. The titular doll (Margot Robbie) wakes up to another glorious morning in her dream home in Barbieland, the place that is every little girl’s dream. All the Barbies are role models with distinguished titles, like president, doctor, physicist, and Nobel Prize Winner. There’s also Ken (Ryan Gosling), but his only defining characteristic is his love for Barbie.

But suddenly, strange things begin to happen to the doll. Barbie’s perfectly arched feet go flat, her mornings are less than wonderful, and she starts having thoughts of death! It turns out, the lines between the real world and Barbieland are getting blurred, and the only way Barbie can fix it is by venturing there herself (with some unwanted help from Ken). Once they step into Los Angeles, the two are shocked to find that women and men are treated much differently in the real world than they are in Barbieland. Men have all the power and respect, and women are often reduced to objects, leaving Ken feeling inspired, and Barbie with another problem to solve.

Barbie is a discussion of feminism, motherhood, and societal pressures in a pretty pink box filled with humor, and tied together with the bow of a killer cast and boppin’ soundtrack. Although such messages can be seen as a lot for kids to digest, they’re presented in an entertaining, lighthearted, and appropriate way that can make even the youngest child feel empowered. And, the story exceeds expectations, with several belly laughs, niche references, and cheeky jokes — including ones aimed at Barbie’s manufacturer, Mattel, all made in good fun.

Robbie was the perfect choice for the “stereotypical” Barbie. Aside from her physical similarities to the classic doll, she perfectly portrays her childlike innocence to discovering the world around her, and making peace with her flaws. Gosling makes a statement about male fragility through his performance as Ken, and still manages to make him a likable character. And America Ferrera demonstrates how there’s still a child in all of us through Gloria, a human employed by Mattel who longs for the days spent playing Barbies with her now teenaged daughter.

Overall, the Barbie movie is a lot like the character herself: pretty at first glance, but deep and complex once you learn more. It’s almost two hours of laughter, a little bit of tears, and a whole lot of fun. Gerwig’s latest film will be a staple of pop culture for years to come. And it will serve as a much-needed reminder to girls that they can be whoever they want to be, without having to fit into society’s mold.

Rating: Loved It

Barbie is currently playing in theaters


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