There is no denying that Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is going to be a game-changer in the entertainment industry. The question still remains, how? The classic Mattel doll’s story has been told so many times from the Fairytopia franchise to the Dreamhouse series and yet, this one just feels completely different.
This fantasy comedy film is directed by Greta Gerwig, who wrote the screenplay for this movie with her longtime partner, Noah Baumbach. As the name suggests, the film is going to be about Mattel’s iconic doll and, is in fact, the first live-action film made on the doll ever! Margot Robbie stars in the titular role of this film along with Ryan Gosling as Ken.
The film has an ensemble cast featuring America Ferrera as Gloria, Rhea Perlman as Ruth Handler, Will Ferrell as the CEO of Mattel, John Cena as Kenmaid, Helen Mirren as the narrator, Michael Cera as Allan, Ariana Greenblatt as Sasha, Jamie Demetriou as a Mattel employee and Connor Swindells as Aaron Dinkins. We will see various versions of Barbie played by Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Hari Nef, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Mackey, Sharon Rooney, Dua Lipa, Nicola Coughlan, Ana Cruz Kayne and Ritu Arya. Kingsley Ben-Adir, Simu Liu, Scott Evans and Ncuti Gatwa will play different variations of Ken.
Ahead of the film’s release, we are here to tell you why this film is going to be different and what it is here to explore. So sit back and read through to be convinced that this Barbie is going to change your life!
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5 Things We Think Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is Planning to Serve Us
Ken’s Villain Arc
We cannot take ownership of this argument, although we do support everyone who has been tweeting and Redditing this since the drop of the trailer. Ken’s origin story is something that has never been explored before and now, it seems too late. Late enough that it is Ken’s villain era, besties! Additionally, the tagline for this film reads “She’s everything. He’s just Ken”, strongly suggesting the male Mattel doll will have some crucial part to play in this story and, the way he hides in our titular character’s car to go to the real world with her hints to some intentions that this Ken wants to play out.
Breaking the Barbie Bimbo Stereotype
The notion that has muddled over the years is Barbie being a bimbo. For people who have grown up watching animated movies based on the doll know how wrong that idea is. Barbie is one independent woman who takes charge of whatever situation she is placed in. Just because our titular character has a good fashion sense and is blonde with blue eyes, does not automatically make her a Bimbo. Gerta Gerwig’s movie will possibly play on these lines making sure people remember this Mattel doll as the “Mother” of all.
Diversity in Barbie Land
Traditionally speaking, Mattel has never been inclusive when it came to its most expensive and iconic dolls. From the films to the stores, the doll has always been represented with some strict stereotypically beautiful features such as skinny legs, a small waist etc. With this new live action film, we are going to see Barbies of different body types and skin colours and, the same goes for Ken. There is nothing more important than this particular inclusion as it reflects on the doll’s evolution.
Existentialism as a Core Theme
Self-reflection is going to be one of the most important themes of this film. Barbie will take the doll into the real world and show the good, bad and ugly side making the character have an existentialist arc. From a doll to a real person, the journey our titular character will make lays the path for this very theme to thrive.
A Solid Satire on Capitalism
We think there is a reason why Barbie needs to step out of the Barbie Land and, it has more to do than just self-reflection. The trailer does not shy away from showing us how the Mattell world thrives on selling Barbie, more than empowering young people with some substance or message through the doll. It is a capitalistic world and we are living in it. Gerwig will hopefully not sugarcoat this particular revelation as she decides to show us the good and the bad of the doll in the real world. I mean, even this movie is a comeback trick for the company and we are a part of it!
Barbie will release in theatres on July 21, 2023. The tickets are live now!
Let us know in the comments below what you think this upcoming movie should explore!
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