Let's begin this review of the Barbie movie by saying that it started off on a high note. It was spotless and I anticipated being transported into a captivating fantasy world where extraordinary dolls came to life on the big screen. In that sense, my expectations were met.
This chain of events led Barbie to venture into the real world in an attempt to reclaim her idyllic existence in the toy realm. Ken, sneaking into the vehicle, accompanied her on this adventure, only to find themselves thrust into a world seemingly dominated by men. I was perplexed at how a company created by a woman found itself dominated by men, were they hired by her or did they come in and just take over?
In a world of playthings, the initial focus was on empowering girls to become capable women, with men serving as an afterthought. You can be capable, and you owe it to no one to be enamored with them, but this movie is messy. It took female empowerment on a ride into feminism toward the battle between Misandry and Misogyny after Ken got a taste of what he saw in the real world. I do feel obligated to highlight that even the all-male management team of Barbie didn't care about Ken either. The only place he felt like he belonged was in the make-believe world with his perception of what the real world was.
I really felt that Gloria could have introduced a competing brand that challenged the world of Barbie in a satisfying way. Despite my appreciation for the stunning visuals, and audio, I doubt I would choose to watch this movie again. This isn't a movie for girls if you don't want them to view Barbie in a lens beyond fun and imagination. Often children are forced into adulthood before the legal age by adults who want them to feel how they feel. It continues an unhealthy trend. Despite the overall message, this movie was unsatisfying at best.
Barbie is available for Blu-Ray + Digital, DVD, and in 4K for deep discounts.
Story 1
Visuals 5
Audio 5
Price 2
3.25 out of 5 Cool Points
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