Overview: Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ is Each Hilarious & Thought-Scary
by Manuel São Bento
July 24, 2023
The Barbenheimer phenomenon has marked the previous couple of months main as much as this opening weekend in July with exponentially intense ranges of pleasure. After watching a heavy, haunting Oppenheimer (my overview right here), nothing like a light-weight, enjoyable Barbie to revive the usual temper… that’s, if Greta Gerwig had, actually, chosen to create a movie with none substance. With the assistance of filmmaker Noah Baumbach (director of Gerwig’s Frances Ha and Mistress America) as a co-writer on the script, the filmmaker chargeable for memorable films similar to Woman Chicken and Little Ladies takes benefit of the worldwide attain of the most well-liked doll in historical past, in addition to a packed forged, to ship one of the vital shocking tales of the yr.
I take advantage of the time period “shocking” as a result of, fact be advised, most viewers in all probability anticipate Gerwig’s Barbie film to be nothing greater than a foolish, harmless comedy focused at a feminine viewers, with out nice narrative care, complicated character arcs, or delicate themes. In any case, it is a movie a few doll for women… proper? Utterly fallacious. Solely individuals utterly unaware of Gerwig’s filmography and the distinctive qualities that make her one of the vital fascinating filmmakers working at this time would count on this film to not be worthy of our consideration.
Observing what 2023 has provided us so far, Barbie delivers, no doubt, one of many richest narratives of the yr. From the terribly thought-provoking social commentary – which can annoy a sure group of people that have super difficulties accepting the world because it really is – to the deep arcs of lead characters Barbie (Margot Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling), Gerwig and Baumbach craft a screenplay that may go away nobody detached, one thing audiences maybe solely anticipated from Nolan’s blockbuster.
Robbie’s Barbie, known as “Stereotypical Barbie”, goes on a journey of self-discovery by experiencing how the actual world works. Principally, she suffers a actuality shock that triggers an existential disaster, forcing the protagonist to seek for her place in a world dominated by the alternative intercourse in an oppressive patriarchy. It is proper right here that the aforementioned group will flare up and assault Barbie, blindly accusing Gerwig of pushing political agendas and feminist messages, in addition to turning males into “enemy primary” of society.
The issue is that this group not solely ignores the movie’s context and interprets all dialogue even barely important of the truths about the actual world as one thing offensive and pretentious, however above all, they “neglect” an entire storyline totally devoted exactly to the alternative expertise as lived by Gosling’s Ken. At no level in Barbie does Gerwig indicate that Barbieland is an instance of an ideal world, fairly the opposite. This “realm” is characterised as a utopian matriarchy, and it is actually by way of Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt), a pre-teen in the actual world, that the affect of the doll on the societal position of girls is severely criticized.
This group can also be fast to accuse Barbie of transmitting messages of feminine empowerment, however the film’s most empowering second is when Ken arrives in the actual world and feels seen, heard, revered, and looking forward to a future stuffed with potential, the place he can genuinely make a distinction and never be “simply Ken”. I think about this Gerwig’s smartest and most impactful artistic resolution in all the film: to show by way of Ken’s arc – and the opposite Kens – what Barbie, and the entire different Barbies, really feel in the actual world.
Are there moments of dialogue the place the method to discussing the feminine expertise within the patriarchal world suffers from a harmful generalization? Maybe, however Barbie by no means forcibly interrupts her narrative to situation any type of assertion. instance is the monologue of Gloria (America Ferrera), Sasha’s mom, which is able to inevitably be debated for a very long time. It really works each as sincere social commentary – the so-called “arduous fact” about life as a lady – and as crucial exposition for the opposite Barbies. However, as already talked about, Gerwig’s flick does not focus completely on a single matter.
Australian actress Margot Robbie is obliged to ship a efficiency that’s way more emotional than comedic because of her character’s weighty emotions all through the film. Barbie can also be a superb character research, not afraid to sort out delicate themes similar to private id, melancholy, self-love, and even sexual harassment. The target market is clearly feminine, however in the identical manner that males deciphering this movie as “anti-men” is just illogical, ladies leaving the cinema hating the alternative intercourse additionally lacks any cause.
That stated, do not let my feedback deceive you. Barbie has greater than sufficient content material to make viewers burst out laughing from begin to end, and the musical numbers with hilarious choreography and lyrics nearly had me crying with laughter. Gerwig strikes an environment friendly tonal stability between the extra dramatic narrative and the purposefully over-the-top, cringy comedic sequences. Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt’s soundtrack consists of a set of unique songs created by a few of at this time’s hottest pop artists – Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For” is fantastic – but it surely’s Gosling with the enduring “I am Simply Ken” music who grabs the highlight by that includes in essentially the most unforgettable musical second of the yr.
Frankly, Gosling fairly actually steals the present from the remainder of the forged. Robbie was born to characterize Barbie as a lot as Gosling was born to characterize Ken. Each deserve all of the reward after which some. Although probably as a result of Gosling has the liberty to be extra exaggerated and “additional”, the actor stands out a bit extra. His comedic timing is extremely spectacular and, for individuals who criticized the actor prior to now for delivering too stoic performances, there is no manner anybody can accuse him of this once more. The extraordinarily excessive ranges of Kenergy are an excessive amount of to deal with.
The remaining Barbies and Kens are simply as outstanding. All of the actors perceive completely methods to act within the extraordinarily foolish surroundings, placing their our bodies and souls into flawlessly portraying the numerous variations of each dolls. In my expertise, I could not cease laughing with Simu Liu and Kingsley Ben-Adir on the Kens’ facet, whereas Kate McKinnon – impeccable casting because the “Bizarre Barbie” in Barbieland – and Emma Mackey and Issa Rae are simply as fascinating deciphering the opposite varied Barbies. There’s even time for a cameo that may completely go away each moviegoer on the ground from a lot laughing…
DP Rodrigo Prieto’s cinematography distinguishes the 2 worlds brilliantly, just about all the time utilizing the identical “face-front” angle when the motion unfolds in Barbieland, avoiding sudden, shaky actions, whereas in the actual world, the cinematographer makes use of dynamic, less-controlled digital camera work. Thus, viewers can really feel the distinction between the 2 worlds, with out being conscious one thing has modified following the delicate transitions. I admittedly do not know whether or not the information in regards to the film exhausting the reserves of pink paint is true or not, however actually, it would not be that shocking. Not solely is the movie superbly coloured, however the constructed units are so mesmerizing to have a look at that at occasions I received misplaced wanting across the display screen in pure awe.
That stated, not the entire jokes land. Not the entire thematic dialogue is that impactful. However general, Barbie is nothing in need of distinctive in all areas.
Remaining Ideas
Barbie is hilariously meta, containing spectacularly humorous musical numbers, and an environment friendly tonal stability between over-the-top comedy and wealthy, thought-provoking social commentary. Inevitable awards are on the way in which to the brightly coloured manufacturing design, costumes, and make-up. Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach’s narrative unapologetically tackles fairly severe matters, from sociopolitical issues like patriarchy and sexual harassment to questions on existential crises, private id, self-love, and, in fact, the roles of girls & males in at this time’s society. Margot Robbie was destined to play Barbie simply as Ryan Gosling was born with Kenergy in his veins. They’re each completely unbelievable. It is a must-see in a packed theater.
Manuel’s Ranking: A-
Comply with Manuel on Twitter – @msbreviews / Or Letterboxd – @msbreviews