Today is National Barbie Day.
Synopsis
Barbie is a fantasy comedy film. Initially set in the vibrant world of Barbieland, Barbie (played by Margot Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling) embark on a quest when Barbie suddenly faces existential concerns about her perfect life. Their journey leads them to teenager Sasha (played by Ariana Greenblatt) and her mother Gloria (America Ferrera), who inadvertently caused Barbie's crisis. Together, they navigate real-world challenges and return to Barbieland to find it transformed by male dominance. With the help of allies, Barbie leads a revolution to restore balance. In the end, Barbie embraces her humanity, bidding farewell to her plastic life and embarking on a new journey of self-discovery.
Why Today?
On March 9th, 1959, the first Barbie doll debuted at the American International Toy Fair. This date is considered Barbie's "birthday" by manufacturer Mattel and is also celebrated as National Barbie Day.
Barbie was a box-office and critical success in 2023, being nominated for 8 Oscars, including Best Picture. On the eve of the Oscars, this seems like a serendipitous time to revisit it.
Review
A Barbie movie had no business being this good. Extremely fun and entertaining, with stellar, award-level performances from Gosling and Robbie. The world the film builds is rich and vibrant, accentuated by extremely well-executed practical setpieces. It's a great argument for giving creatives like director Greta Gerwig and co-writer Noah Baumbach creative freedom.