Barbie Review: You Can Never Get Kenough
Barbie is some of the most fun you'll have at a movie theater all year, but it may also be one of the most emotional experiences. The film is already on track to earn a Bar-billion dollars, because it's been able to reach into the zeitgeist for all audiences. For women, it’s expressing emotions they’ve been told to repress all their lives in the grandest, pinkest, girliest way it can. For men, the Kens’ story allows us to look past toxic masculinity and into a hopeful future, one with more beaches.
I’ve been a fan of Greta Gerwig since Lady Bird, and she does not hold back on any big swings in Barbie. For starters, Gerwig and her team have put together the most inventive production and costume designs of the year. They beg to be recreated so you can dress up with your friends before you head to the theater. The musical numbers, inspired by Hollywood classics like Singin’ in the Rain, offer a much needed Gosling-singing fix post-La La Land.
Both Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie deliver pitch-perfect performances as Ken and Barbie. While Gosling will leave you in stitches with every line delivery, it’s Robbie who carries the emotional heft of the film. Barbie’s journey from a clueless “stereotypical” doll to a being with feelings, pain, and love would not be as powerful without an actress as talented as Robbie in the leading role. The other Barbies and Kens are hilarious compliments to the core cast, with Issa Rae and Michael Cera standing out in particular,
I do unfortunately have some disagreements, especially when it comes to the narrative juggling too many stories, never giving each enough time to feel fully fleshed out. The script has its brilliant moments, but even those are delivered by characters that aren't given enough time for you to become fully invested. The film’s comedy worked much better for me than its emotional beats. It’s a minor complaint for a movie with so much fun and joy exuding from it that it became a cultural phenomenon as soon as the first set photos dropped.
Despite liking Barbie, I feel I’m still much lower on it than many others. Perhaps I had unachievable high expectations from the Barbenheimer hype, but it didn’t land with me personally as much as I’d hoped. It is, however, a unique vision from one of our best living directors that deserves to be seen on the big screen. Remember, you are Kenough.
#781 on my Favorites List as of this review
