“Barbie” the movie took the world by storm on July 21, 2023, and became the highest-grossing movie of the year. Now with the film being released on streaming services, people have the chance to experience the comedy film once again at home.
The film can be purchased on Prime Video, YouTube, Apple TV, and Vudu for $29.99 and rented for $24.99. The run time is 1 hour and 54 minutes and is rated PG-13.
I have heard mixed opinions about the “Barbie” movie every time I ask someone about it. Some feel the film is hilarious whilst also giving a strong message, and others feel that the film is a bit on the nose, or oddly paced in some parts. Now that the huge hype around the film has passed and it’s come to streaming services, I decided to rewatch it and decide what I thought about the film.
“Barbie” follows the characters Stereotypical Barbie, or Barbie, and Ken as they journey to the new world and discover that it is the complete opposite of their own. Barbie leaves Barbie Land after strange things start happening during her day. Things like falling from her house rather than floating down, her feet falling flat on the floor, and tripping while walking.
Barbie and Ken make it to The Real World LA, where they begin their search for the owner of Stereotypical Barbie. In the real world, Barbie slowly learns what it is like to be human, while Ken learns about the patriarchy, as well as his new fascination with horses. Ken returns to Barbie Land before Barbie to tell all the other Kens about what he learned in The Real World. In the meantime, Barbie finds Gloria, a woman working at Mattel who has caused the odd things in her day.
Barbie, Gloria, and Gloria’s daughter Sasha go to Barbie Land, where they find out Ken has not only taken over Barbie’s Dream House and turned it into Ken’s “Mojo-Dojo-Casa House,” but has also brought the patriarchy to Barbie Land and thrown the Barbies out of office.
With the help of Gloria, Sasha, Weird Barbie, and the other Barbies, Barbie turns the Kens against each other and the Barbies take back control of the Barbie Land government. At the end of the film, Ken realizes he’s more than just Barbie’s boyfriend, and Barbie makes the decision to stay in The Real World and become human.
Though there are parts that may come off as more cringe-y than funny, the movie as a whole is one that I quite enjoyed. The humor is goofy and exactly what you’d expect from a movie about a doll coming from a whimsical land to the real world.
Through the lens of a naive toy, the movie pokes fun at the flawed aspects of society whilst also acknowledging the complexity of some issues such as the patriarchy and men’s mental health. I would say that in some moments, the message about these issues seems a bit on the nose, but that’s not to say that the message is any less important.
Past the humor and underlying message, I think one very notable part of the film is its set design. The Dreamhouses, cars, and furniture all look like plastic toys you’d find on a shelf, and the use of unrealistically green grass, fake palm trees, and distant backdrops that look like cartoons all make you feel like you’re watching a bunch of toys talk to each other, even though it is a live-action film.
The film also makes many references to real Barbies and Kens that have been released by Mattel over time, such as Video Girl Barbie and Allan, which further the immersion of the audience into the film and the concept of “Barbie Land.”
Overall, I’d say “Barbie” is definitely worth watching. The costume and set design alone are amazing, and the humor will no doubt give you a laugh or two. Though the film does have its moments where the jokes may miss or the message isn’t very subtle, it is one I really enjoyed, both for the humor and message, and strongly recommend it.
