A fun departure from the traditional Barbie story, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movies transcend the boundaries of traditional film and social commentary. Gerwig brings new depth to the iconic doll with her signature charm, delivering a film that will resonate with audiences of all ages.
The release of “Barbie” generated endless praise. From the glamorous cinematography to the big-name stars, it was set to be a blockbuster. The film resonated with many because of its critique of gender roles, societal expectations, and the struggles of being a woman in general. However, while it had just as many supporters, some felt the film was too “woke”, cheesy, and overly exaggerated. What makes this film so multifaceted is the juxtaposition of comedic timing and serious plot. Contrary to what many claim, this film does not seek the superiority of either women or men, but advocates the empowerment of both genders.
Viewers might expect “Barbie” to uphold the doll’s cult image, but the movie instead reveals a sad and realistic truth. In fact, the driving force behind this story is how many women frown on the idea of Barbie. Many characters believe that she is not a feminist symbol. After all, their featured doll is a blonde, traditionally attractive white woman with “no cellulite at all.” The film shows Mattel’s attempt to solve this problem by going beyond stereotypes and incorporating Barbie dolls of different ethnicities and body types. But they all share a sense of “perfection” that, far from uplifting undervalued women, reinforces unrealistic standards. This is the internally misogynistic ideal that the Barbie movies are addressing. Barbie’s brand may pride itself on being “diverse,” but that diversity means nothing if it doesn’t actually represent its target audience.
The movie begins with classic Barbie in Barbieland. In Barbieland, Barbie is in charge and simple Ken is just there to cheer her on. Here, women hold powerful jobs, from presidents to elite athletes, but Ken’s job is at the beach. No, I’m not a lifeguard. beach. This supposed paradise is wonderful until Barbie learns that her real-life owner is having a hard time. As Barbie’s idyllic estate is threatened, we join Barbie and Ken on a journey outside to save Barbie from being torn apart. The cheerful and upbeat protagonist enters the real world assuming that female empowerment is the norm.
That assumption crumbles the moment she arrives. Swept into a patriarchal world, Barbie must fight to have her voice heard alongside her male counterparts, rather than gaining instant respect. Similarly, Ken begins to question his existence as a beach-loving bastard.
Most women can relate to the experiences portrayed in the Barbie movies, such as the heckling and everyday disrespect. A lot of people who didn’t enjoy the Barbie movies like to bring up the overblown depiction of misogyny in 2023, but let’s be honest. Most of the Barbie movie’s most ardent critics are men. And if you go into the theater already with a hostile mindset, it’s easy to ignore the amazing detail work behind the framework of the plot.
After all, when patriarchy returns to Barbieland, the entire country is turned upside down. The Ken family takes control and transforms Barbie into a passive and ambitious character. Their house has been transformed into a “Mojo Dojo Casa House”, with Ken and the others mansplaining and wearing mink coats that are suspiciously reminiscent of Andrew Tate. Influenced by the real world, Barbie Land changes from one extreme to another. If men weren’t the bad guys before, they definitely are now. right?
mistaken.
Barbie Land is meant to serve as a parallel world, the opposite of our own, and begs the question, “What would happen if women were in charge?” Many of the film’s critics consider the concept of Barbieland to be quite radical. Some people may support the Ken family’s rebellion. What they don’t realize is that it’s just an inversion of our world. Gerwig does not create such a sharp contrast to argue for a complete takeover of women. In fact, her orientation highlights the truth of the matter. This means that the superiority of one gender over another will result in constant dissatisfaction. The only option is equality. definitely.
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