I finally watched Barbie, starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, and I have to say—I really enjoyed it. Directed by Greta Gerwig and based on a screenplay she co-wrote with Noah Baumbach, the movie is based on the icon dolls from Mattel.
Going into the movie, I expected something colorful and fun, but it ended up being much more entertaining than I anticipated. It was funny, creative, and had enough going on to keep the whole family interested.
One of my favorite things about the movie was how it incorporated so many different versions of Barbie and Ken. Anyone familiar with Barbie toys will recognize the idea of Barbie having countless careers, outfits, personalities, and styles. The movie took that history and turned it into an entire Barbie Land filled with different Barbies and Kens.
Margot Robbie was a great choice for Barbie, bringing plenty of humor and personality to the role. Ryan Gosling was especially hilarious as Ken. His over-the-top performance provided some of the movie’s funniest moments, and the relationship between Barbie and Ken helped drive the story.
More Than Just a Toy Movie
What surprised me was that Barbie wasn’t simply a movie designed to sell toys. The filmmakers took characters that have been part of pop culture for generations and built an actual story around them.
There are plenty of jokes and ridiculous situations, but underneath the comedy is a story about Barbie and Ken trying to figure out who they are and where they belong.
As a collector, I also enjoyed seeing how the movie played with the enormous history of the Barbie brand. Barbie has been around for decades, and there have been an incredible number of dolls, characters, accessories, vehicles, houses, and playsets. The movie found a clever way to turn some of that toy history into part of its world and humor.
A Movie the Family Enjoyed
The best part for me was simply that my family enjoyed watching it together.
There are movies that try so hard to deliver a message that they forget to be entertaining. For me, Barbie remained enjoyable and hilarious while still having a storyline that gave the characters something meaningful to do.
It also reminded me why toys like Barbie become collectibles in the first place. They’re more than pieces of plastic sitting on a shelf. They can remind us of childhood, family, different periods in our lives, and the pop culture we grew up with.
Barbie takes something generations of people recognize and gives it a completely different life on the big screen.
My takeaway: Barbie was colorful, clever, hilarious, and simply a fun movie to watch. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling worked well together, the different Barbies and Kens were used creatively, and most importantly, my family had a great time watching it.
And sometimes that’s exactly what you want from a movie.
What did you think of Barbie? Did the movie bring back memories of any Barbie or Ken dolls you had—or still have in your collection?