“Barbie”—A unique take on a childhood classic
The new film by Greta Gerwig has “Barbie” jumping out of the box and into the real world!
The hit new film “Barbie” made its premiere July 21, bringing in an incredible $155 million on its opening weekend alone. The film surpassed the $1 billion mark in global box office sales just last week, making it one of the highest-grossing domestic films to be released in 2023. Its combined release with Christopher Nolan’s new film “Oppenheimer” created an online sensation—dubbed “Barbenheimer” by fans—which has taken over social media since the announcement of the two movies.
“Barbie” starts out as a bright pink, candy-coated child’s dream. The film takes a less light-hearted turn when the two main characters, Barbie and Ken, leave Barbieland for the real world after strange events begin happening in their perfect home.
Despite its cheerful exterior, “Barbie” takes on heavy topics in the real world. The film discusses important issues such as misogyny and patriarchy in a hilarious and sometimes heartfelt way. The dialogue is loaded with hidden jokes that are sure to make even the biggest skeptic chuckle, without overpowering the underlying message of the film.
“Barbie” manages to communicate an important message even with all the jokes and gaudy pink sets. The audience follows the iconic main character on her journey as she discovers the rampant sexism that exists every day in the real world, while also following Ken in his subplot of discovering who he is outside of his relationship with Barbie and dragging the rest of Barbieland with him.
The film stars Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, with many other influential actors gracing the cast list. America Ferrera plays a big role as Gloria, a mother and Mattel employee from the real world, who helps Barbie to find her true purpose. Ferrera gives a monologue on womanhood toward the end of the movie that has been praised for its impact and relevance from fans around the world. Gosling has also stood out to audiences for his performance as Ken, a character who shines a spotlight on the opposing issue of masculinity and men’s place in society.
Despite Gerwig’s unconventional design and story, “Barbie” has struck a chord with many viewers that is sure to have people talking about it for years to come.
Jaz Peterson is a Freshman at Utah Valley University studying Biology. They enjoy writing, making art, and working with animals.