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Anna Grace Reddish

Professor Taylor Munsell

ENG Comp II

11 OCT 2023

NOT Ken’s Barbie

“Barbie” Film Review

“Barbie” was released on July 21, 2023. Greta Gerwig, director and co-writer of “Barbie”

created a visual masterpiece of the “Barbie world” with costumes, casting, and the history of

“Barbie” itself. No one else could have played the role of Barbie better than Margot Robbie with

Ryan Gosling as Ken, Issa Rae as president, and Michael Cera as Allan. Greta Gerwig shares a

feminism 101 story using a character everyone loves and remembers from childhood.

Stereotypical Barbie starts experiencing an existential crisis when her feet are flat, she

starts questioning death, and her water is cold. To fix this issue, Barbie must go to the real world

to understand what is going on and find her purpose. Ken joins her on this journey because his

existence revolves around being acknowledged by Barbie. When they arrive in the real world

barbie discovers how flawed the real world is and Ken discovers patriarchy. Will Ferrel, the

CEO of Mattel, tries to send her back but she is determined to find her human while Ken goes

back to Barbieland to teach them what he has learned. Barbie begins her journey of navigating

the real world and helping Barbieland.

For the exposition of this film, the filmmakers open up with background information

about how dolls have always been around, specifically baby dolls until Barbie was created.

Barbie taught young girls that they do not just have to be mothers, but that women can be

anything. When Barbie starts to question death and experiences self-doubt, she turns to Wierd
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Barbie for help. After Wierd Barbie tells Barbie she must go to the real world to figure out what

is wrong, she is taken aback by the real world and the sexualization she experiences for the first

time. Barbie is struck with a dilemma of self-discovery and finding out who she is. On her

journey of self-discovery, the male CEO of Mattel attempts to trap her in a box and send her

back to Barbieland. In the end, Barbie is forced to solve everyone’s issues, especially Ken’s.

“Barbie” is full of symbolism that adds to the plot. One of the biggest ones being

feminism and female empowerment. Barbie is a feminine icon, but the media construed her as

setting unrealistic beauty standards and gender roles. In reality, Barbie was created to show

young girls and women all around the world that they can be anything and everything

INCLUDING a mother. Costume design plays a vital role in “Barbie”, starting in the opening

scene where Greta Gerwig plays homage to the movie “A Space Odyssey”, Barbie is pictured in

the original outfit that the very first Barbie wore. Throughout the movie, Barbie’s classic outfits

and eras are pictured in the movie. From the start of Barbie’s dilemma, she talks about her issues

with her self-discovery journey in the real world which also reflects the young girls going

through their self-discovery as well.

Greta Gerwig does an astounding job of creating a movie about feminism 101 while still

keeping the movie funny and light with the narrator making jokes by addressing the audience. I

believe this is a great movie for genders of all ages, whether the movie resonates with you or if

you can learn something from it. My favorite relatable moment is Ken playing the guitar at

Barbie.

I believe everyone should watch the “Barbie” movie. Greta Gerwig casted this movie

perfectly and paid attention to every visual element and era of Barbie herself. While the movie

has some extremely emotional moments it also has so much humor involved. This movie will
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leave you with a sense of inspiration and empowerment while also wanting to call your mom and

say thank you for everything.