Wyatt Weed

Barbie is a confection that will fool you. While it initially seems lighter than air, it is filled with things to think about. Some of them may seem trite or obvious, but the thoughts and ideas in this film are the kind that bear repeating, especially for the young ones who still play with Barbies. And maybe for some of the older ones, too. One thing is for sure - I don’t think I’ve ever seen a film that looks like this. To take Barbie’s world and enlarge it, to make her Dream House, the accessories that fill it, her Corvette and her clothes full-size is a sight to see. And to also see Margot Robbie fake drink from an empty plastic cup in Barbie World, only to be shocked when a glass in the real world contains actual liquid is genius. As the movie itself points out, there is probably no one else more perfect to play Barbie. Robbie, along with Ryan Gosling as Ken, pulls a surprising amount of emotion out of a character that is literally plastic. When you are taking a dive this deep, there’s really no room to be cautious. Everyone involved from the actors to the art department to the effects crew hold their noses and jump into the deep end. The result is that while I didn’t belly laugh, I sat through the film with a big smile on my face and chuckled more than a few times. Bonus points to Mattel for letting the filmmakers take them to task on Barbie's occasionally controversial history. The film moves right along and doesn’t pause, and thank god for that, because finally we get a summer film that is under two hours. I was beginning to wonder if that would ever happen again. There are some in-jokes and visual references for those who are paying attention, and the film also has one of the best final lines I’ve heard in years. I urge everyone to put aside their jaded views and just let Barbie and her cohorts and their bright colors wash over you. At it’s worst it’s cute and fun to watch, and at it’s best it speaks to what women are up against in this world, powerfully captured by America Ferrera in a monologue/rant that will have men and women cheering. And as I said before, I’m fine with those sentiments being repeated.

Don't believe the negativity - go see this movie. It is better than Crystal Skull, and yes, I liked Crystal Skull. If you grew up with Indiana Jones movies, go see him off properly. This is a good film.