'Barbie (2023)' by Newsahoot

Barbie experiences an existential crisis and goes on a journey of self-discovery.

Every day is a party at Barbie Land, where Barbie dolls and Ken dolls of diverse kinds live together. Unlike the real world, where men exercise more influence, Barbie dolls dominate this alternate universe. They are the doctors, pilots, astronauts, construction workers, judges of the Supreme Court, and even the President. While Ken dolls mostly just hang around at the beach. It's a simple, uncomplicated, and joyful place to be at. 

But one day, strange things start happening to our Stereotypical Barbie. She can no longer fly down her house. Her feet are not arched any more. She also starts thinking about death all of a sudden! All this is quite unusual for a doll, which makes Stereotypical Barbie feel confused and helpless.

Barbie learns that she must go to the real world and find the human playing with her. Only then can she rid herself of these ‘human-like’ traits. Ken, who is in love with Barbie, decides to go with her on this quest. As Barbie and Ken enter the real world, they are shocked to discover that it is nothing like Barbie Land. All roles are reversed here.

While Ken seems to love how respected and powerful men of the real world are, Barbie is saddened to know that women are not as empowered as she thought. In fact, Barbie dolls are not too beloved by young girls!

What does this new-found knowledge do to Barbie and Ken? How does it impact Barbie Land? Is Barbie successful in finding her human companion? Does she go back to being the perfect doll again? You have to see the movie to find out.

The Positives

The movie is an absolute visual treat! The beautiful set design of Barbie Land helps transport you into a magical world of merriment. The song and dance numbers keep you entertained throughout. The storyline is super unique and intriguing. There is no dull moment in the entire movie. It will make you cry, laugh, party, and think - all at the same time. 

The Negatives

Although Barbie is a toy for kids, young viewers may not be able to understand a lot of the film’s jokes and social commentary. The film tends to oversimplify the concept of patriarchy at some points. It has also tried to touch on too many topics (gender equality, human emotions, self-identity, existentialism, corporate culture, etc.), causing its main message to get slightly lost by the end.

Conclusion

All in all, Barbie is a must-watch! It’s bright, colourful, funny, smart, entertaining, and thought-provoking. There is something for everyone in it, be it men, women, or children. It leaves you pondering over the meaning of life and the beauty of being human. The movie encourages us to strive for a world where everyone is treated equally regardless of their gender.

We give the Barbie movie 4 hoots out of 5.

Note: If you are 13 years or above, make sure you wear pink when you go see the Barbie movie! If you are under 13 years of age, make sure you only watch this film with your parents as it’s rated PG-13 (Parental Guidance Under 13).