Imagine this: A world of plastic and pink. Toys come to life to do their everyday activities as innocent playthings, not exposed to the evils of the outside world. A world where women have a majority of power and can obtain any job they desire. However one stereotypical doll starts feeling how her living owner feels. A sinking feeling of aging and death.
This is how I would describe the “Barbie” movie that was released in the United States on July 21, 2023. It was a global smash-hit, making $1.38 billion dollars and is currently the highest grossing movie of 2023.
There was really never a dull moment I could point out in the movie. The cinematography was always captivating and the distinction between the colorful Barbie world and the duller human world made the differences and struggles of both all the more evident. The main characters were all playful in a way, but not over-the-top when the scene called for a more serious moment. The tracklist, which doesn’t fit everyone’s taste, was well put-together and each song pushed the narrative forward instead of having it grind to a halt.
The themes presented in “Barbie” are surprisingly well-presented. One of my favorite scenes from the movie is the scene where Barbie, while in the real world, is looking for the human playing with her and making her have these thoughts of cellulite and aging, which she does not enjoy. She takes a rest on a bench, unsure of what to do when she sees an elderly woman next to her. She’s a bit surprised at the looks of the woman, since Barbies never age, but as she thinks about it, a tear rolls down her face. She turns and tells the old woman that she’s beautiful to which the old woman says, “I know,” before smiling.
This perfectly expresses how aging can be scary for those who are younger, and for Barbie it seems like the first time she’s seeing the “imperfect,” like aging and wrinkles as something unique and beautiful. The scene yells for people to embrace becoming older and the beauty in being able to grow old.
Another scene I particularly liked was at the peak of Barbie and Ken’s (rocky) friendship, Barbie expresses how she isn’t interested in him as more than just a friend. She tells him that he needs to find himself: who he is, what he likes doing and how he wants to express himself differently than Barbie.
The Barbies regain control back from the Kens, after learning in a hilarious scene that Ken lost interest after learning that the patriarchy wasn’t about horses. The Kens gain a new source of respect by the end from the Barbies and possibilities to move up in the world. Both the other Barbies and Kens also learn that they can exist without each other as well as two separate people. A quote from Barbie which I think brings it together perfectly is, “Maybe it’s Barbie. And it’s Ken.”