The most anticipated movie of the year is finally here and of course, I was on the scene to see it immediately! I even switched shifts at work and worked 6 days straight so I could see the first showing on Thursday’s early screenings. And YOU KNOW, I came dressed in my Barbie best.
So what did I think of it?
Honestly, I LOVE it. I walked out the theater loving it, but as the days grew on and I kept thinking about it and discussing it with friends, I realized I love it even more. I wish I was able to see it again and again but my summer schedule is hectic as is with NYC race training and limited days off to occupy my time. I can’t wait til it comes on streaming and it becomes my bible.
So what was so great about it?
I want to say in short, but let’s be real, nothing can be told in short of this masterpiece of a movie.
The long answer is that Barbie is an excellent commentary on women today; the impossible expectations of us, the ridiculous contradictory standards we're held to, all the hoops we have to jump through to be women and how we’re expected to be always be perfect and good at so many things. America Ferrara has the best scene in the whole movie with such a well written monologue that I sincerely hope she wins an Oscar for. The movie comes off lighthearted and fun, yet clever and full of meaning and so thought-provoking as it calls out all the ridiculousness of society’s rules.
What I took away from the movie was that women are held to impossible standards, as well as men(but of course this is lost on the conservatives who only want to push one agenda that this movie is inherently anti-men and evil🤣), and to live a life trying to live up to them, you'll never be happy. You're always going to go through changes as you grow up and grow older, so as humans, we need to (1) be gentler to ourselves and our bodies, (2) more open minded to trying new things and embracing growth as we age and learn new things, and (3) brave in order to discover who we truly are and be unapologetically you without fear of rejection by society’s standards. It really breaks down boxing people into one gender role. Whether a Barbie or a Ken, you should be able to live your life authentically and realize you’re Kenough.
Also, another important lesson I took away, is that Barbie is not just a doll. She represents so much more. It's like that last part said in the movie. Humans only have one ending. Ideas live forever. Barbie is representative of the ever changing role of women, of what and who we can potentially be. We're always changing, evolving and we are stronger than people believe we are, despite the patriarchy. WE are who we decide we want to be, not society. And that's why you can be anything Barbie exists. Whether you want to be extraordinary or ordinary.
She really did pave the way because like the intro showed, before her there were only baby dolls and our role was to just take care of babies and play house. But Barbie changed the game. It's her car, her career, her Dreamhouse. It's Barbie's house. Not Ken's. Nor was it ever Barbie and Ken's. It was always Barbie’s. It was ALWAYS HERS.
And last but not least, the movie itself is visually STUNNING. Every outfit designed for the Barbies was absolute perfection. From the amount of pink and the different beautiful shades of Barbie pink, for me, it was like living in a dreamworld. If you ever wanted to know what the inside of my head looked like, it’s basically Barbieland. And I am absolutely here for it. It is symbolic of all the things women can do, all the while still looking pretty in pink.
I hope you all watch this amazing movie and I hope you absolutely love it. Or hate it. Whatever you choose, it obviously left an impact.
We’re all just Barbie girls, living in Barbie’s World. And remember, it’s a dreamhouse, m0th3rfu¢kers! (I can’t wait til someone makes a gif of that scene.)
