ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

2 years ago - Philip Carr

Its still packing them in whatever!

2 years ago - Catherine Williams

I agree, Cath. I was disappointed... Maybe my expectations were too high - I love everything Greta has ever done. But because the story wasn't clear or strong enough, I found it boring at times too. Still, in its own small way, it's changing the world - onwards and forwards!

2 years ago - Claudette FLINT

Even the trailers are terrible. But maybe it is aimed at little girls and we are too old to appreciate little girls'stuff? By the way, even Walt Disney would have done that!! Aaaah the things money allowed! At least it is not a WMD or is it? Why righ wingers would hate the film? In France it would be the left wing intellectuals. Whatever your political tendency, one should be able to appreciate the standard of human intelligence. Perhaps the AI would not have produced the film... how embarrassing.

2 years ago - Xenia Glen

I agree, but Cath, look at all Barbie has spawned... "‘Big as Marvel and DC’: After Barbie’s success, Mattel plans for 17 more films from Polly Pocket to Hot Wheels. Vin Diesel, Tom Hanks, Lily Collins, Lil Yachty, and Daniel Kaluuya are among the A-listers involved"

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/barbie-mattel-polly-pocket-barney-b2383568.html

If Vin Diesel plays Barney, that would be so great...

2 years ago - Louise Monaghan

Hi Cath
Well, I did love the film but I am an older woman who could completely identify with it and found it very funny and surprisingly deep. And I did think that that closing scene summed the whole thing up beautifully. Maybe it's an age thing? Women of a certain age were laughing out loud as I did myself. It certainly isn't a kids' film though and I'm surprised so many people seem to be taking them. A little girl sitting next to us was restless after twenty minutes but her mum was having such a good time she didn't want to leave.
I do think our life experiences effects how we respond to stories and this certainly seems to be true in Barbie's case. I had a Tressie and a Cindy and a Skipper and a Barbie ...

2 years ago - Alexandru R

Ahhhh I was so happy to read this :))))) I thought I was the only one who felt the film did not live up to the hype (to put it mildly). I share your disappointment - it's not great. Alas, my Mattel stocks are making me a pretty penny!

2 years ago - Lynwood Shiva Sawyer

I always loved Greta Gerwig's work and actually thought the film was brilliant. Then, again, I thought the same thing about Triumph of the Will.
I'm not anti-feminist, but I found the long-term social implications of the film troubling.
Essentially the opening sequence (indeed extremely powerful) conveys the message that playing with baby dolls is disempowering and destroying items related to it will unshackle young girls.
All the women my age and ten-years honed their maternal and nurturing skills from playing with baby dolls, as were the young girls in the film.
A dear friend who works in a very upscale Atlanta toy store said that 15 years ago, they would sell ten or twenty baby dolls per week. Now they are lucky to sell three or four but do sell dozens of princess costumes. On Mother Daughter Day at the store, they will have 150 mothers and daughters in identical princess costumes.
What are the implication of Western society when most women would rather snag a Prince Charming (aka a "Triple Six" - 1% of the male population) than be mothers?
And if Ryan Gosling himself is a simp, what chance do we mortal men have?
Career and motherhood aren't antithetical - my mother was a groundbreaking career woman, and my dad and brothers never had a problem with it, nor did I have any issues with my high achieving late wife.
I think the problem is not feminism, but neoliberalism, but that's another post.
Some interesting social trends relevant to the subtext of Barbie in the US, GENERAL observations all supported by extensive research. People are quick refute the the results with individual counter-examples and arguing theoretical behaviours, but OVERALL:
* The Paradox of Declining Female Happiness (1% per year since 1970);
* 45% of women between ages 25 and 44 will be single and childless by 2030;
* 57% Of Single Adults In U.S. Not Looking To Date;
* ~80% of Women Will Only Date ~20% of Men and Consider the other 80% Unattractive. Hello, Ken/Ryan. Welcome to the Friend Zone. Doo-DOO-Doo.
If you are so inclined, please attack the research and not me.
One aide, a friend pointed out the clinic Margot Robbie entered in the film is on the street corner of some of the most expensive real estate in Santa Monica. Where on earth (or in Barbieland) did Robbie get the money to pay for an appointment. Even with great insurance, it's still gonna cost her a couple of hundred bucks.

2 years ago - Tony Franks

I saw the film with an item that I'd read about firmly in my mind...
...that the director, Greta Gerwig, wanted to embrace those who hated the Barbie doll, as well as those that loved the doll. Now, if true, that is quite a high bar to set for yourself.

I reckon she pulled it off. A strong feminist angle, tick. Some poking fun at the absurdity of the freakish doll, tick. Digs at Mattel, the mega-corp, tick. Although it wasn't a very funny film, and there were bits I didn't 'get', and it had some boring bits, she achieved her goal and made a friggin' big hit film. Well done Greta.

2 years ago - Ian Vernon

Hello Cath, I totally agree. I hoped to watch some mindless escapism but it frankly irritated me. From start to finish, this was all about Mattel. All under the guise of a take on gender equality wrapped up in"fun". I thought the best thing about this movie was the incredible marketing campaign the studio had done (Which usually tells me it is not as good as they hoped). I have had enough dealings with studios in LA to know how they work. It is likely to win awards for set design, and possibly costumes. But the new campaign stating Ryan should win an Oscar is insane. Yes, there were moments he excelled and was fun, but most of the time he was "phoning it in". This is a case of "the emperor's new clothes".... The simple answer. It's an "okay" fun movie that is trying to be something more.

2 years ago - Caroline Bottomley

I loved it, despite expecting to hate it.
And where else in the mainstream film-world is there a land where women are fulfilled, self-actualising and supporting each other?

2 years ago - Franz von Habsburg FBKS MSc

I still prefer Buzz Lightyear !