CAST: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Kate McKinnon, Alexandra Shipp, Michael Cera, Ariana Greenblatt, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, Will Ferrell, Emma Mackey, Hari Nef, Dua Lipa, Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Helen Mirren, John Cena, and America Ferrera

DIRECTOR:  Greta Gerwig

Barbie is an attack on your senses. In hues of pink and other similar pastels, all the possible Barbies live in Barbie Land where everything is perfect and everyone is happy all the time.

Set to pace with funky compositions by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, bubblegum anthems from Dua Lipa, Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice – we immerse ourselves in a feminist world of Barbies who do all the work in this world. Whether it is the Supreme Court or Presidency, cured cancer or won Nobel prizes, only women rule this world.

So much so that the Kens ( and also Alan) have really nothing much to do, They monitor the unspoiled shores of the land. While the sculpted figurines lack the ability to rescue a drowning individual or aid in any practical tasks, they do exude an attractive presence. It is the Barbies who take on genuine responsibilities and meaningful work.

Barbieland presents a feminist utopia, a striking contrast to our patriarchal reality. The narration by Helen Mirren enriches its narrative with a touch of enchanting storybook allure.

Barbieland’s lack of structural divergence from our world shouldn’t be surprising. The iconic doll has evolved into a vessel of political imagination, representing different possibilities depending on the era. Barbie’s ventures into space, her early ownership of property, and her ability to vote preceded many real women’s achievements. Her appearance has also adapted over time, reflecting society’s evolving beauty standards.

Within this pink-hued realm created by Gerwig, a stellar cast including Issa Rae, Emma Mackey, Alexandra Shipp, and Hari Nef brings various Barbie characters to life. However, at the center of this witty and entertaining comedy is Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie), the manifestation of Ruth Handler’s original vision with blonde hair and blue eyes. Her Ken counterpart, portrayed with heart and humor by Ryan Gosling (alongside Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and John Cena as other Kens), is akin to an Eve and Adam duo, where Barbie is God’s favorite and Ken acknowledges his shortcomings. Their fall from grace is not as morally righteous but equally dramatic.

When existential thoughts plague Barbie’s seemingly perfect life, she turns to Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon), a doll who has become the kingdom’s sage due to her traumatic past of being played with too roughly. At the outcast Barbie’s suggestion, Stereotypical Barbie, accompanied by an enthusiastic Ken, ventures into real-world Los Angeles to find her little girl. The connection between the Barbies and their human owners is loosely defined, so it’s best not to delve too deeply into the mechanics.

As they encounter the realities of the human world and how patriarchy shapes it, California challenges Barbie’s self-perception and empowers Ken’s. She realizes that her inspirational image may not be as grand as she thought. Gerwig ingeniously weaves contemporary commentary into Barbie’s interactions with real people, including the all-male executive suite at Mattel (with Will Ferrell as the CEO), Sasha, a rebellious teenager, and Sasha’s mother Gloria (America Ferrera), an enthusiastic toy-loving Mattel secretary.

The film avoids uncritically glorifying Handler’s creation, staying true to its early tagline: “If you love Barbie… if you hate Barbie, this movie’s for you.”

However, as Gerwig aims to maintain Barbie’s enjoyable nature while infusing emotional depth into the story, there’s a noticeable tension.

After an unexpected detour separates Barbie from Ken, she returns home determined to restore perfection to her life. But the homecoming takes a somber turn, with Ken having transformed Barbieland armed with his newfound understanding of the patriarchy.

Then comes Ryan Gosling in all his perfection – playing our muscular patriarchy in all its forms that Barbies try to dismantle.

The high point of Barbie is not storytelling but its amazing cast who seem to have all the fun in the world playing these characters. You feel the energy is infectious.

Enjoy it in theaters