Spencer Trumbore

I was surprised but not shocked that Barbie is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. It succeeds in addressing the harm that the Barbie brand has done to girls growing up and is hilarious and touching in equal measure. It doesn't stick the landing addressing the roots of misogyny or toxic masculinity, but I don't think it beats the audience over the head with those concepts either. Some people disagree: Three families walked out of the theater when Barbie returns to Barbie World and finds out that Ken has brought the concept of "patriarchy" with him and taken over. I actually love this because it perfectly fills the gaping hole in this poor unrequited gigolo's heart. Ryan Gosling is easily the best thing about the movie, funny enough. I think that his just concerns were bum-rushed in this movie, but it really couldn't have been any other way. His purpose (actually and in his own mind) was to be Barbie's partner and she genuinely has no feelings or use for him. That's a big deal for plastic men and real men, but this movie doesn't attempt to disassemble men's rights activism or right-wing ideologies broadly. This is a hopeful movie that reminds men and women that they have value and a place in their worlds. I feel bad for children who were dragged out of this movie by their uptight parents.

The premise is insane, but you would be insane not to surprise yourself with this show. If you picked an episode at random, you'd have 50-50 odds of seeing either a slapstick caper filled with animal puns, or a vignette of an anthropomorphic character's life that is so compelling, so breathtakingly drawn, you could actually be moved to tears.