I grew up in a Barbie household, as well as a deeply feminist household.

When I was a child, my mother encouraged me and my sister to play with Barbie dolls for imaginative play, alongside other toys like My Little Pony and She-Ra action figures. It was a world dominated by female characters, and I rarely acknowledged the existence of He-Man. However, as I got older and met other kids, I realized that this was not the norm. Everyone else seemed to know He-Man better than She-Ra. This realization left me intrigued about how Barbie, as a movie, would address the modern standards of femininity and feminist thought.

An Unexpected Movie about Ken

Heading into the press screening for Barbie, my expectations were set on a movie that would unpack and analyze modern standards of femininity and feminist thought. While I expected it to be entertaining and thought-provoking, I did not anticipate Ken taking the spotlight. As the movie unfolded, it became apparent that Barbie was about Ken, and the performance by Ryan Gosling stole the show.

Barbie’s Identity in Barbieland and Reality

In the movie, Barbie starts off as the stereotypical blond bombshell, living in a fantasy realm called Barbieland. It’s a world ruled by Barbies, embracing traditional feminine tropes, where even the president and Supreme Court are Barbies. However, Barbie is forced to enter the harsh world of Reality when her owner begins to experience existential angst that affects Barbie’s own psyche. It becomes clear that this is Ken’s movie, and that Barbie’s identity is closely tied to her romantic relationship with Ken.

The Arc of Ken and Toxic Masculinity

Ken’s role in Barbieland is one of frustration and a lack of purpose. He is happy only when Barbie acknowledges him, and his journey, as portrayed by Ryan Gosling, becomes the movie’s strongest throughline. The film cleverly uses comedy and satire to explore toxic masculinity and the men’s rights movement, as Ken becomes a men’s rights activist himself. This exploration is both entertaining and incisive, making it one of the movie’s standout elements.

Barbie’s Identity in the Real World

As Barbie enters Reality, the movie attempts to dissect her identity as a doll, a global brand, and a social phenomenon. However, it falls short in truly exploring the complexities of Barbie’s existence and contemporary American womanhood. The depiction of Reality is exaggerated and caricatured, providing a commentary on recognizable tropes but failing to fully address Barbie’s own journey of self-discovery.

Body Image Controversy

One aspect that the movie scarcely dares to touch upon is Barbie’s controversial body image. While Mattel has introduced variations of Barbie with different body types in recent years, the movie does not explicitly address this issue. Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Barbie does not embody the stereotypical Barbie image, but it does not delve into the larger conversation about body standards and body positivity.

Overall, Barbie is an entertaining and thought-provoking movie that explores themes of femininity, feminism, and toxic masculinity. While it falls short in certain areas, it manages to provide social commentary through comedy and satire, making it an enjoyable watch.