I TRIED TO AVOID SPOLIERS HERE. However, if you want to experience the Barbie movie with complete surprise, don’t click on the movie review link provided. If you’re on the fence about seeing what all the hype is about, I encourage you to go see the movie. At the very least, you’re likely to be amused. Or skip it altogether if you’re just not into it. Either way, I’m here for you. As for my opinion, I’ve already given it away. My husband even got into it and has claimed his Kendom – as you can see by the sign in his office.
I’ve been waiting with eager anticipation for the predicted blockbuster of the summer, Barbie. When it opened last week, we had it on our list of “must do” activities to celebrate our anniversary weekend. Being the Barbie uber-dork that I am, I donned my Barbie pink skirt and matching bright pink lipstick for a movie date with my husband. I could tell he was into it when he lamented that HE didn’t have any Barbie pink to wear, and I can now add this to the growing list of things I love about this man. Paul is definitely Kenough!
We were excited for this film, not simply for the iconic toy which I obsessed over until I was considered “too old” to be playing with dolls, but also for the talented writing and direction of Greta Gerwig. With nominations and awards already under her belt for Lady Bird and Little Women, I couldn’t wait to see what this incredibly talented and quirky human could pull off with a world made of plastic. Greta more than delivered for this Barbie fanatic. Without giving anything away, I’ll be speaking as generally as possible regarding a few themes that came through for me.
To say that I loved my Barbie doll collection is a complete understatement. I think I may have had 24 dolls – only 2 were Ken (often decapitated and lying under the bed, frequently ignored) and I can’t be certain if I added them in the count. To see the toys I played with as a child come to life on screen was a magical experience for me, and Greta made it happen in such a way that reminded me of a Wes Anderson film with its silliness and engaging cast. I felt as though I was at a reunion party of sorts, and I’m so happy my husband came along for the fun and to experience for himself ALL the things people are talking about this week.
Don’t think that this movie is all fluff though. As anticipated, it is becoming as controversial and complicated as society’s relationship with Barbie herself. While I loved playing Mommy to my baby dolls when I was little, Barbie gave me the opportunity to imagine a grown-up world where I had my own house, my own money, my own car, an extensive wardrobe, and a cute boyfriend who allowed me to be ME. A doll with boobs gave me an outlet for autonomy and empowerment that my baby dolls just couldn’t provide. Barbie, for me, was the full expression of what could be possible in the land of endless imagination. I do admit there was a sinister side of Barbie’s world lacking in diversity, and this fact wasn’t lost on me even as a child. For years, I would stand gawking at the shelves of blond Barbie dolls at the toy store, disappointed that I could never find a brunette Barbie. But that was the 1970’s, and Mattel tried to make up for it years later when I was no longer playing with dolls. I was happy to see that the movie didn’t shy away from the topic, taking on Barbie’s lack of representation – a few times directly head-on, but often hidden in jokes.
I never wasted time measuring my Barbie’s proportions or thinking of whether an 11.5 inch plastic doll could exist in the real world with her impossible anatomy. I was keenly aware that Barbie did not represent me, or any real girl, and never could. Even so, the ever expanding collection of my beautiful blond doll community was a solace at a time when I felt lonely and distanced from other girls my age. My Barbie World was such a source of joy and pleasure in my life that I reluctantly and finally gave it up at the ripe old age of 12, declaring that playing with dolls in middle school wasn’t going to make me appear any less weird.
From the doll world to the real world, Barbie boldly goes on to learn the complexity of being a woman. With half a century of experience in being female, I can vouch for the fact that it can be tough out here for us ladies. I’ve been accused of being too loud and being too quiet. I smile too much, and I don’t smile enough. I’m too nice, and I’m too harsh. I’m a slut for wanting to experience intimacy, yet I’m a “prude” for refusing unwanted advances. I’m too much, and I’m not enough. I’ve been called a shady bitch behind my back by women I’ve supported, and I’ve been described as difficult by men who disrespected my boundaries. I’ve been sneered at for being “pro-woman” and a feminist, as if those two things intrinsically made a male-bashing man hater. Being “pro-woman” doesn’t necessarily make you anti-man. While I do identify as a feminist, I am not and have never been a man-hater.
Whether you love the word or hate it, feminism, as defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary is: the belief in and advocacy of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes expressed especially through organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests. The idea of political, economic, and social equality for women has been around for a very long time and has always been a hot-button topic. With social media making it easy to finger-point and keyboard-fight, I’m not at all surprised that people are triggered about a movie that takes shots at both men and women. Have we lost our collective sense of humor though? The Barbie movie completely exaggerates the competition between the sexes in a comedic fashion. Isn’t it sometimes the purpose of comedy to help us laugh at our crazy behaviors as modern humans? I’d like to think so. As for me personally, I’ve not had this fun at a movie in ages. I was entertained, I laughed, and I even shed a few heart-felt tears. It’s not often a movie comes along that makes me feel ALL the feels, and this one delivered. Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie vividly brought the Barbie World to life, allowing this Barbie lover to experience it with child-like wonder. And what is childhood play without a delightful dose of silliness? If you go see the film, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Leave me a line to let me know what you thought. Whether you see the film or not, may you have a renewed sense of hope that women can say to each other, “I am your ally” and men and women can see each other as partners.
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