It’s not every day when a movie about a child’s toy touches the souls of its audience and brings awareness to social issues. Then again, we are living in extraordinary times we never anticipated (the Red Sox and Cubs both have World Series championships, and American politics resembles trashy reality TV).
In fact, perhaps it is an even more fertile era to bring all the inequalities of society to the masses?
When Barbie (Margot Robbie) suddenly thinks about death in the matriarchal utopia of Barbieland, she is instructed by the wise, but incredibly battered, Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon) to venture to the Real World and find the girl, who is playing with her, and resolve whatever distress she is experiencing. As she makes her way through the Real World, she discovers life is, in fact, not as perfect as she and the other Barbies and Kens have trusted it to be.
While accompanying his girlfriend in her quest, unappreciated “Just” Ken (Ryan Gosling) discovers Patriarchy, which he intends to introduce to the rest of the Kens in Barbieland.
With elaborate colorful sets (there have been rumors that this caused a shortage in supplies of pink paint) reminiscent of the golden and silver era of Hollywood, accomplished director Greta Gerwig throws in familiar storytelling themes about consciousness, ranging from the creation and fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. This is in addition to cinematic references dealing with similar themes, particularly the opening scene parodying 2001: A Space Odyssey.
The characters and audience must wrestle with the discrepancies between the hopes and ideals of Barbieland, where young girls can pretend they have successful careers filled with proper recognition and achievement, and the bitter reality of the Real World in which women still struggle for equality and are held to different standards (and sometimes are even blamed for men’s failures).
This is all perfectly summarized in a rant that my mother still raves about, delivered perfectly to the national treasure that is America Ferrera.
Patriarchy still exists, one man assures Ken, it is just better hidden now. Throw in the charming and silly humor peppered throughout the movie (particularly the performances of Ryan Gosling and Will Ferrell as antagonists we actually want to see more of), and simple-yet-extravagant special effects, and we have ourselves a film that will be immortalized as a classic.
Having spent much of my formative years in an all-guys environment (thank you, Xavier High School), Barbie exposed me to the daily frustrations experienced by women across the globe from dealing with benign assumptions to malicious violations of human rights.
And having not been Mattel’s target market for Barbie while growing up, the movie introduced me to the expanded universe of Malibu Barbie and her friends (who would have expected Michael Cera to steal a scene as Alan?).
As Award Season is set to conclude with the Oscars on March 10, we cannot help but observe the irony that Ryan Gosling was given a nomination for Supporting Actor as Ken, while star Margot Robbie, who took us through a transformative experience, got nothing for her performance. Like Ken in his new enthusiasm for Patriarchy, Gosling was given the glory for Barbie’s own movie, which even he lamented.
When we learn that nominations for the awards take place akin to political lobbying, should it be a surprise that such omissions happen? Have we learned nothing after all these years that once people find an easier route that compromises morals, they will exploit it?
Barbie is, without question, one of the best movies of the year. I do not see it taking home the prize of Best Picture, I believe it will go to Oppenheimer (see the review here).
But even if Barbie wins it all, I do not believe Margot Robbie will always remember and be proud of this movie because of the Oscar in her house, but rather the countless women who have spoken to her since its release about how it touched their souls, and recognized them and their own personal struggles wrestling with patriarchy.
About the Author: Though no longer a resident of Lyme, Kevin knows he can never sever his roots to the tree of his identity. When not attending to his job in Boston, he is committed to ensuring a better grasp of current (and past) releases of cinema to his home community as he strives to leave his own mark in the same field that has always been his guide to understanding life. If you enjoy his published reviews here on LymeLine.com, follow him on his website at ‘The City of Cinema‘ and read more of his unique insights into entertainment.