Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse isn’t Always Perfect

Barbie Review: 3.5/5 🎀 (SPOILERS)

It’s a Barbie Blowout across the country as fans doll up to see one of the most anticipated films of the summer. From director Greta Gerwig, Barbie is an empowering, action-packed adventure for teens and adults alike, touching upon the dichotomy of toxic masculinity and feminism through quirky writing and catchy melodies.

Throughout its 1 hour and 56 minute runtime, the film pays an immense homage to the nostalgia of the Barbie franchise through its intricate sets. Barbieland, although explored less than I would’ve liked, screams everything childhood and memory lane. However, the amount of time spent in the “real world” was shockingly minuscule; seeing more of Barbie knocking punches in our universe could have been a much better set up for the final scene, which I’ll discuss soon.

The writing is what you’d expect from a classic Gerwig film: snarky, on-the-nose, and heavily left to the interpretation of the audience. I think this worked against her favor most of the time, barely leaving viewers with any time to process each half-baked jab as they were delivered, but nevertheless, there were several moments that caught me laughing off the edge of my seat. However, this is where I arrive at my issue with the film’s ending. It’s a tear-jerker, for sure, but despite its classic Greta fashion, nothing in this movie warranted that emotional ending for Barbie. There was not nearly enough character development or sprinkles of this dynamic shift in style present anywhere in the film. Unfortunately, rather than watery eyes, the conclusion left me with questions and an urge for some sort of closure to this fast paced story.

This movie is IMPORTANT. I believe it’s a film that all people should watch regardless of their age, gender, or status solely because it is a phenomenal commentary on the social imbalances within our system. Greta was tasked with the impossible in crafting this film, and it’s hard to please everyone; the most vital part is that she’s creating conversation, and for that, I applaud her. 🎀