I saw the movie and I thought it was super clever and creative. Not perfect, but fun. Growing up, I spent a lot of time (probably too much) playing with Barbies. I had lots of Barbies but one was an older version, old-fashioned looking with shorter curly hair. I made her the "Mom" and she had to wear the same old- fashioned dress all the time. When one of the cooler, hipper Barbie daughters came back from college I had her say, "Mom, you haven't changed a bit." And the Mom Barbie said, "Yes, I always did like this dress." My Barbie playacting experience did the mom stands still thing mainly because I didn't like the looks of that particular doll. IRL, I have two daughters and I have not exactly stood still although my daughters have lived so much more and been so much more courageous than I've been. mostly I think, because of the difference in how we were raised.
I don't mind the spoilers. I'm seeing it on Sunday. I was gifted some Barbies as a child, but was never really a doll kid. I had zero interest in this film, but some friends want to make an outing of it, complete with pink shirts, so off we go. I am also not a fan of pink, so that required a trip to Goodwill LOL. We shall see! Speaking of Robbie, tho - have you seen Babylon? I've seen about the first 30 minutes. Curious how it will compare/contrast with Barbie.
I waited until after I saw the movie to read this post because I didn't want spoilers!
I thought it was great, laughed the whole way through. The one point I disagree with in your post is that the movie itself boils down the "elderly lady" to just beautiful. (Thank you for letting us know who the woman is and that she's a rockstar in her own right!) I think it was a fitting way for Barbie to compliment her because that's the only language she knows at that point, which is reinforced later in the movie- that her identity within her world is as "the pretty one" so calling Roth beautiful is essentially the highest compliment from her at that point. I didn't see it as shallow or lazy, I saw it as an early step in her journey to find out there's more to life than just your label.
Thank you for your write up. I didn't think too much about this film when I went into it. No huge expectations, just wanted to see how GG handled the subject. I am so glad I/we (my husband and me, at his insistence) went.
Regarding the Rhea Perlman in the kitchen. I hadn't thought about it the way you presented it. Perhaps I should have. I guess I was just thinking about when Barbie was invented, that would have been the more likely place women, mothers, grandmothers would have been found. The line you mentioned "mothers stand still so they're...come." I can see that line, again, dating back to when Barbie was created, so many mothers put life on hold while they raised the family often with little to no acknowledgement of their efforts. Many women did stand still so their children (boys and girls) didn't have to. I was too selfish to do that. Couldn't stand still. But glad my mom did. Of course I am sure my mom grew in many, many ways, but probably not in all the ways she would have wanted had she not had all of us (5).
I like the aspect of a mom (AF) whose daughter has outgrown her and her dolls. I don't have kids, but remember that at certain ages, it is so not cool to have Mom around. Cliche perhaps that that is how they rediscover one another, but I'll take the cheese here.
The tears that Barbie shed. I saw that as Barbie could feel. Barbie could now understand yes, there is pain, hunger, all of those real feelings eventually resulting in, death. (Wow, that's depressing)
America Ferrera's monologue was amazing. I cried. I felt like it was talking to me, describing so much of what I have endured for many years working in a male dominated field, regarding the aging process and so much more. So well done. Heard she had to do if 40-50 times. I can see why. Not just for delivery, but they way they incorporated it into the "cleansing" of the brainwashed Barbies, I liked it.
I really liked the film and may go see it again, just to see if I get more film references (loved that she paid homage to so many films). I never was a fan of Barbie. My mom didn't let us have them because they had boobs (so my friend explained, who knows if that is true).
Agreed, I love the ending. The happily ever after is that she has a va-jay-jay. Don't really care about Ken's "happy ending."
Me too! I love reading your response here, too. And yes, I also liked that they had the dubious daughter character seeing her mom with new respect thanks to the quest for Barbie, though mom didn't quite get a happy ending. ALSO got bored by the lengthy Ken resolution!
I saw the movie and I thought it was super clever and creative. Not perfect, but fun. Growing up, I spent a lot of time (probably too much) playing with Barbies. I had lots of Barbies but one was an older version, old-fashioned looking with shorter curly hair. I made her the "Mom" and she had to wear the same old- fashioned dress all the time. When one of the cooler, hipper Barbie daughters came back from college I had her say, "Mom, you haven't changed a bit." And the Mom Barbie said, "Yes, I always did like this dress." My Barbie playacting experience did the mom stands still thing mainly because I didn't like the looks of that particular doll. IRL, I have two daughters and I have not exactly stood still although my daughters have lived so much more and been so much more courageous than I've been. mostly I think, because of the difference in how we were raised.
Massively impressed at the level of detail you can recall!
I also LOVE the movie’s soundtrack. Esp the Lizzo song, another performer I’m awed by….
I could go into so much more detail. My Barbie fantasy life was rich and hilarious, but I already forgot the soundtrack...
This is definitely a flash opp for you…
I don't mind the spoilers. I'm seeing it on Sunday. I was gifted some Barbies as a child, but was never really a doll kid. I had zero interest in this film, but some friends want to make an outing of it, complete with pink shirts, so off we go. I am also not a fan of pink, so that required a trip to Goodwill LOL. We shall see! Speaking of Robbie, tho - have you seen Babylon? I've seen about the first 30 minutes. Curious how it will compare/contrast with Barbie.
Well... Babylon was a mess, IMO. Lots of fun visuals but too long and like a bowl of gumballs for dinner. Ultimately unsatisfying!
Still love her. Her work in I, Tonya gets my forever admiration
I think we might be Gen Xers of a similar age!
I waited until after I saw the movie to read this post because I didn't want spoilers!
I thought it was great, laughed the whole way through. The one point I disagree with in your post is that the movie itself boils down the "elderly lady" to just beautiful. (Thank you for letting us know who the woman is and that she's a rockstar in her own right!) I think it was a fitting way for Barbie to compliment her because that's the only language she knows at that point, which is reinforced later in the movie- that her identity within her world is as "the pretty one" so calling Roth beautiful is essentially the highest compliment from her at that point. I didn't see it as shallow or lazy, I saw it as an early step in her journey to find out there's more to life than just your label.
Yes. ANOTHER possible counterpoint! ❤️
Though FYI, the “elderly lady” note came from comments I’ve read from others. Not my words or the movie’s.
Thank you for your write up. I didn't think too much about this film when I went into it. No huge expectations, just wanted to see how GG handled the subject. I am so glad I/we (my husband and me, at his insistence) went.
Regarding the Rhea Perlman in the kitchen. I hadn't thought about it the way you presented it. Perhaps I should have. I guess I was just thinking about when Barbie was invented, that would have been the more likely place women, mothers, grandmothers would have been found. The line you mentioned "mothers stand still so they're...come." I can see that line, again, dating back to when Barbie was created, so many mothers put life on hold while they raised the family often with little to no acknowledgement of their efforts. Many women did stand still so their children (boys and girls) didn't have to. I was too selfish to do that. Couldn't stand still. But glad my mom did. Of course I am sure my mom grew in many, many ways, but probably not in all the ways she would have wanted had she not had all of us (5).
I like the aspect of a mom (AF) whose daughter has outgrown her and her dolls. I don't have kids, but remember that at certain ages, it is so not cool to have Mom around. Cliche perhaps that that is how they rediscover one another, but I'll take the cheese here.
The tears that Barbie shed. I saw that as Barbie could feel. Barbie could now understand yes, there is pain, hunger, all of those real feelings eventually resulting in, death. (Wow, that's depressing)
America Ferrera's monologue was amazing. I cried. I felt like it was talking to me, describing so much of what I have endured for many years working in a male dominated field, regarding the aging process and so much more. So well done. Heard she had to do if 40-50 times. I can see why. Not just for delivery, but they way they incorporated it into the "cleansing" of the brainwashed Barbies, I liked it.
I really liked the film and may go see it again, just to see if I get more film references (loved that she paid homage to so many films). I never was a fan of Barbie. My mom didn't let us have them because they had boobs (so my friend explained, who knows if that is true).
Agreed, I love the ending. The happily ever after is that she has a va-jay-jay. Don't really care about Ken's "happy ending."
Thanks Lisa. I love talking about films!
Me too! I love reading your response here, too. And yes, I also liked that they had the dubious daughter character seeing her mom with new respect thanks to the quest for Barbie, though mom didn't quite get a happy ending. ALSO got bored by the lengthy Ken resolution!