Director Greta Gerwig (“Little Women” 2019) and her new film “Barbie” have taken the entertainment world by storm. Based on the Barbie fashion dolls by Mattel, this first live-action Barbie movie (after several animated features) tells the story of Barbie and Ken as they leave Barbieland to travel to the “real world” of Los Angeles, after they suffer an identity crisis. The entire world, it would seem, is alerted, and people in the real world go to Barbieland and visa versa.
Director Gerwig did an excellent job of creating a colorful world called Barbieland, and of having good character development (for a movie about dolls). There are elements of both comedy and drama in the film, with some good musical numbers thrown in. She also co-wrote the screenplay with her husband, director Noah Baumbach (“Marriage Story” 2019).
Margot Robbie is simply amazing in the title role. She brings the right balance of naivete and intelligence to Barbie, as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, with Ken tagging along. Ryan Gosling also does well as Ken; Robbie and Gosling play well off of each other. The talented supporting cast includes America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, Simu Liu, Issa Rae, Will Ferrell, Ariana Greenblatt, Lauren Holt, Connor Swindells, Jamie Demetriou, Emerald Fennel, Ryan Piers Williams, Helen Mirren as the Narrator, and Rhea Perlman making an appearance as Barbie creator Ruth Handler.
The very watchable “Barbie,” starring and co-produced by Margot Robbie, earned over one billion dollars at the box office, by far the biggest hit of 2023, good news for Heyday Films, LuckyChap Entertainment, Mattel Films, and Warner Bros. Pictures.
Barbie (2023)
cinema
My Review
Director Greta Gerwig (“Little Women” 2019) and her new film “Barbie” have taken the entertainment world by storm. Based on the Barbie fashion dolls by Mattel, this first live-action Barbie movie (after several animated features) tells the story of Barbie and Ken as they leave Barbieland to travel to the “real world” of Los Angeles, after they suffer an identity crisis. The entire world, it would seem, is alerted, and people in the real world go to Barbieland and visa versa.
Director Gerwig did an excellent job of creating a colorful world called Barbieland, and of having good character development (for a movie about dolls). There are elements of both comedy and drama in the film, with some good musical numbers thrown in. She also co-wrote the screenplay with her husband, director Noah Baumbach (“Marriage Story” 2019).
Margot Robbie is simply amazing in the title role. She brings the right balance of naivete and intelligence to Barbie, as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, with Ken tagging along. Ryan Gosling also does well as Ken; Robbie and Gosling play well off of each other. The talented supporting cast includes America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, Simu Liu, Issa Rae, Will Ferrell, Ariana Greenblatt, Lauren Holt, Connor Swindells, Jamie Demetriou, Emerald Fennel, Ryan Piers Williams, Helen Mirren as the Narrator, and Rhea Perlman making an appearance as Barbie creator Ruth Handler.
The very watchable “Barbie,” starring and co-produced by Margot Robbie, earned over one billion dollars at the box office, by far the biggest hit of 2023, good news for Heyday Films, LuckyChap Entertainment, Mattel Films, and Warner Bros. Pictures.