Barbie: A Review
By Scarlett Brisbin (she/her)
Pink, glitter, and perfection. Maybe, this stereotype is not all that Barbie really is. Sure, all those things are great, but to lump all women into a group is extremely unrealistic. The brand, Barbie, for many years, had not been universal and has been understandably stigmatized. Mattel for almost 70 years has persisted in the perfect image of a woman, Barbie, yet this dated idealization of a woman’s place has altered through time.
The iconic doll has finally received a live-action movie, starring Margot Robbie as the stereotypical doll and Ryan Gosling as the forgotten Ken. This film has become a new hit with bright colors and nostalgia for all generations. Barbie, directed by the praised Greta Gerwig, not only shows Barbie’s impact on society but how this criticized brand has changed. This long-due change has been noticed and also well-received.
Barbie has always pressured women to be uber-focused on careers or being a family woman; never both. Although some women yearn to invest deeply in one specialty, the majority of people, including women, want to have harmony. Throughout the beginning of the movie, these morals of single interests have been instilled, where Barbies lived one main function in life: to do their job. However, multiple interests, such as jobs or hobbies, were encouraged later on in the film. This hyper fixation on a single idea can be so isolating and outdated. As time has progressed, the choices of women have exponentially grown. Barbie represents the image of women and finally, Barbie can represent real women who maybe have many interests or maybe one main interest.
Since the Barbie motion picture has been advertised or hinted towards, all of social media has been invested in every aspect of the movie. As the movie’s release crept up, Tiktok buzzed with new trends or checklists to prepare for the summer blockbuster, including many trends such as dressing up in classic Barbie outfits or all hot pink. As soon as the soundtrack came out, the songs were all over the media, and clips of interviews from the cast were quickly circulating throughout every social media outlet. This movie has starred on the silver screen and every other screen for that matter.
Gerwig’s film has allowed women and all people to relate to the universal story of Barbie. Barbie is a definite must-watch, that encapsulates humanity’s beauty, but flaws as well. Life does not stay consistent, it constantly changes. Barbie, the picture, has shown the progression of society and the development within the film industry.
