Robbie is an excellent Barbie and is able to give body and emotion to what is, in essence, the personification of an idea rather than a character. She gets the laughs, the emotion, and the socio-political commentary with fluidity and anchors the film perfectly. If there is a detraction it is that she doesn't have the room to have as much fun as some of her cast mates as the straight person, the lead, who carries the film. Ryan Gosling as Ken almost steals the show as he's able to go bigger, broader, and has more wiggle room for oddness. He is, more so than some of the plotting or explicit dialogue, the most effective indictment of the patriarchy, going through various phases and transformations and discoveries, its a riot and conveys the film's messaging with an understated effectiveness. The supporting cast is stacked with talent and all are clearly having a ball, they too lock into the unique tone of fantasy, archetype, comedy, and commentary perfectly.
Visually the film is vibrant with incredible costuming, pitch perfect set design(especially in Barbieland and the Mattel headquarters) and much of it is actual sets with some cartoonish effective greenscreen work. It's evocative. The soundtrack is absolutely killer, and plays a crucial role in propelling the films momentum and energy. A real achievement for co-writer/director Greta Gerwig that she's able to translate her indie skill and creativity into a big budget blockbuster without losing much of anything in translation. The film is fun but also has a potent message, its really funny but has some real emotion.
An astonishing piece of entertainment in that it feels wholly unique even though its based on a 60 year old toy. A triumph in tonal tightrope walking.
Currently in theaters, coming soon to VOD.
Don't Miss It.
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