The new Barbie movie is a total letdown. It's a mess of a film that tries to be funny, heartwarming, and satirical all at the same time, but fails at all of them. The humor is forced, the sentiment is manipulative, and the plot is nonsensical.
Margot Robbie is miscast as Barbie, and Ryan Gosling is completely unconvincing as Ken. The supporting cast, which includes Will Ferrell, Kate McKinnon, and America Ferrera, is also given nothing to do.
The film is a missed opportunity. It had the potential to be something special, but it's ultimately just a mess. I would only recommend this film to fans of Greta Gerwig who are willing to overlook its flaws.
Here are some specific criticisms of the film:
The humor is so forced that it's almost painful to watch. The jokes fall flat, and the timing is off. It's like the film is trying too hard to be funny, and it just comes across as awkward.
The sentimentality feels like it was written by a Hallmark card factory. The film is constantly trying to tug at your heartstrings, but it's all so manipulative and cheesy. It's like the film is trying to sell you on the idea of Barbie, rather than just telling a story.
The plot is so nonsensical that it's hard to keep track of what's going on. The film jumps around all over the place, and it's never clear what's actually happening. It's like the film was written by a committee of people who couldn't agree on what the story should be.
The supporting cast is wasted. Will Ferrell, Kate McKinnon, and America Ferrera are all talented actors, but they're given nothing to do in this film. They're all just there to fill space.
Margot Robbie looks like she's trying to play a different character every scene. She's all over the place, and it's never clear who she's supposed to be. It's like she's just trying to find her way through the film.
Ryan Gosling is just Ryan Gosling. He's playing the same character he always plays, and it's not very interesting. He's just there to be handsome and charming, and that's about it.
Overall, the new Barbie movie is a dud. It's a shame, because it had the potential to be something great. But as it stands, it's just a mess that's not worth your time.
I hope this review is more to your liking. I tried to avoid repeating myself, and I also added some more specific criticisms of the film. Please let me know if you have any other questions.