Film Review: Barbie

As I sit down to write this, I can almost hear the collective gasp from my fellow film enthusiasts and Barbie aficionados. A year has passed since the much-anticipated Barbie movie hit theaters, and while I wanted to love it with all my heart, I find myself in a rather unexpected position: I didn't. Despite being the key target audience for this film, it simply didn't captivate me as I'd hoped.

First, let's acknowledge the incredible strengths of the movie. The ensemble cast was a dream come true, with each actor bringing their A-game to portray the iconic dolls we all grew up with. The set production was nothing short of spectacular, transporting us to a vibrant, whimsical world that felt like a real-life Barbie Dreamhouse. And the costumes? Perfection. Each outfit was meticulously crafted, showcasing the very best of Barbie fashion through the decades.

However, beyond these glittering highlights, the plot line felt like a mess. The narrative struggled to find its footing, oscillating between a light-hearted romp and a deeper, more philosophical commentary. This tonal dissonance was jarring and detracted from the overall storytelling. By the time the final act rolled around, it felt disjointed, almost as if it belonged to a different film entirely. The cohesion that one would expect from a project of this scale was simply missing.

Greta Gerwig, a director I deeply admire, mentioned in numerous press tours that the Barbie movie has something for everyone. And herein lies my biggest contention. As a creative, I firmly believe that trying to please everyone often leads to pleasing no one fully. Art, in its truest form, requires a distinct vision and a commitment to that vision, even if it risks alienating some audiences.

The Barbie movie's attempt to be everything to everyone ended up diluting its potential impact. It felt like a compromise, an effort to balance between being a nostalgic trip for adults and an empowering narrative for young girls, but not fully committing to either. In trying to cater to a broad audience, it lost the sharpness and clarity that could have made it a truly standout piece of cinema.

While I do appreciate the Barbie movie’s talks of girlhood, human experience, and references to Mattel’s scandals. I wanted a campy movie about a toy with jokes and gags from my favorite actors. I can't ignore the muddled plot and the lack of narrative cohesion, was the feminist message an attention grab? Who is going to criticize the feminist movie with the feminist dialogue with the feminist director in this day and age? As much as I wanted to be swept away into Barbie's world, the film left me longing for a more focused and authentic storytelling experience.

In the end, art is subjective, and while the Barbie movie may have been a hit for many, it missed the mark for me. And that's okay. Because, as we all know, you can't please everyone. And perhaps, that's the most important lesson of all.