Austin Connolly

Honestly thought this movie was a brilliant balance between humor and message. It's something we've really lost in modern films. The ability to walk us to the edge of tears and then bring it back with a laugh. Reminded me of something like Toy Story or Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in that regard. That said, I also think the movie felt really progressive in a non-preachy way. It handles existential crisis, anxiety, toxic masculinity, feminism, and a bunch of other complex concepts and leaves you feeling like there really is no bad guy. Hard to do honestly. I think the best part of it is how it's a feminist piece that does an excellent job of empathizing that even the expectations of men in the patriarchy are debilitating for them. I think the tie-in that something as seemingly trivial as Barbie and as complex as patriarchy/capitalism is tied flawlessly to existentialism. The movie does a great job of not just bashing men or beauty standards set by Barbie or anything else. Really makes you feel like you're on a journey together and that we are all at the mercy of some societal constructs — but even those constructs are at the mercy of our mortality. That's really a deep message for a comedy about dolls but it's done in the least pretentious way possible. Really masterfully done honestly. 11/10.