Barbie Movie Review - Thoughts of a lifelong Barbie fan

[@bratzliplogical]

I liked the first half of the movie, the second part I could have lived without! The whole dead and Barbie it's just eek for me and It's something I don't combine together! If I knew that the ending would be like that I would have skipped the Barbie movie.

[@DeanReen]

I think you aren't alone in that. It is very disconcerting bringing a toy associated with childhood and fantasy into the "real world" with all the thoughts of death etc.

[@bratzliplogical]

@@DeanReen it's just too much for me personally but I mean atleast everything else like the costumes, sets casting was top tier perfection. I guess you just can't have everything. I am very happy that the movie broke records and is doing good is just that I wish the ending was just that Barbie is driving back to Barbie land in her cute pastel matching outfit and a hat.

[@dollingupdexster]

I wanna see this movie soon. The dolls are pretty expensive. I think Alan needs to come back if his not already back. I think bratz needs a updated live action film next.

[@DeanReen]

The dolls ARE expensive! Even the simple play-line dolls. Ken was reproduced at one point but they should reproduce him again for this film. OMIGOSH! I remember that Bratz movie 😂 I loved it, not sure I could sit through it now though, so maybe you are right 💖

[@compactgirl]

I'm waiting for the movie to be sold in stores I haven't seen it but as a barbie fanatic in love with margo since she played harley I'm just gonna buy it maybe two copies one to open and the other one to save for the future ha.

[@DeanReen]

I get that! I kinda want one out of box too! They are SO expensive on eBay. It is ridiculous as they are still in stores 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@compactgirl]

@@DeanReen I haven't seen them in stores here in the states but still looking forward to buying a or two copies, my little son he isn't into Barbie but always asking wanna go see the Barbie movie I'm like nah I'm gonna buy it ha don't wanna spoil it.

[@fashiondolldreamer]

Great review, Deany! THANK you for calling out all the misinformation out there! We have spoken about this before.... in this day and age where all sorts of information is more accessible to us than ever before, there is literally NO EXCUSE for not doing research. (And research doesn't mean just watching a few videos on TikTok or KZbin ... they may be wrong anyway!) It just strikes me as laziness. I agree... Margot Robbie was perfect in the role. It would have been a completely different (and I bet way more cynical, one-sided and negative) movie with Amy Schumer and that gang. I was prepared to dislike Ryan Gosling as Ken and Michael Cera too, but they were great! Very entertaining. Something struck me while watching the movie; - you couldn't cast it just based on 'looks' alone, though Margot also fits that role perfectly from a physical aspect. The actors really had to have some of what I call 'chops' within them (meaning craft and technique) to pull off those roles. As many actors have said over time, it's not easy to do comedy (and a whole other level to intersperse that with drama.) And I also agree that it was more a criticism of a patriarchal culture than it was a criticism on men or women. Oooohhh Yeah!!!! It DID ignore Francie! That would have been cool to have a Francie character who was still eternally stuck in the 60's ( a bit like in the Brady Bunch movie! LOL even though that was more the early 70's... ) But I guess they could only fit so many characters in there. Imagine they even had Stacey make an appearance!!! So impressive that they wanted to avoid the usual CGI, (which is just so banal these days TBH!) Among the many layers of the film, I also got the message that we all tend to strive for this impossible perfection, and then beat ourselves up when we don't achieve that, which is inevitable. But does Barbie create or perpetuate that feeling or is it just something we do to ourselves regardless? Is she empowering instead? Ultimately, the very nature of a doll is that you can project whatever you want onto her, but it's YOUR choice, not the doll's. (And YES!!! Bring on the Mojo Dojo Casa house and make it change from Barbie's Dream House!!! And they HAVE to come out with the fur coat Ken, but I love your approximation of that look! )

[@DeanReen]

Thanks Spagbol! 💖 Exactly, all it takes is a simple google search. I find it so frustrating. I think it is because everyone is in a rush because they want to be relevant. You are so right! The actors really needed to have “chops”. Hahaha! I love the idea of Francie being stuck in the 60s. That would have been so fun and hilarious! Very true, I see Barbie as a mirror. She reflects that desire for perfection.

[@Elyasdollverse]

It’s really cool to see someone with so much knowledge about Mattel and Barbie. Even though… I don’t get the « we don’t see many boys playing with dolls »… and I’m confused cause except on the intro, is there any other moment when we see kids playing with dolls ? The « commercial » moment for the new Barbie, I don’t know I don’t remember seing that much kids playing with dolls in the movie

[@DeanReen]

Thank you 💖 It wasn't that there weren't scenes of boys playing with dolls, it was that there was no acknowledgement of it. Throughout the whole film Barbie "inspires" little girls and is a toy made for girls. There are barely any men that aren't represented as straight and gender conforming apart from one gay couple for a split second.

[@Elyasdollverse]

@@DeanReen ok now I understand, even if it disagree somehow cause, they made a lot of good representation just by having a transgender women playing in the movie. Any representation from the lgbt is a win for the community. Also, Mattel have just recently decide to be more inclusive which is why we see more boys in their commercial, which make me think the movie don’t take place in 2023 and could explain, also, the main target are women, a movie (blockbuster) made and directed by a women which is in fact really rare. Not every movie can be perfect and so far, this one is one of the rare to put so much without appearing as gay washing. I don’t know. Where so use to see gay that we forget gay isn’t the only one on lgbt

[@marcco44]

Hey Mr. Dean, love your review! sooo glad to see the Barbie movie become such a sensation around the world! remember your Barbie experience was/is TIMELESS. your 'once upon a time' where your spirit was free and innocent. you MUST ALWAYS hold on to that moving forward, and bring your sweetness and purity of soul into this cynical world -only where you can, i admit! don't ever cast your pearls before swine!!🙏🙏🤟

[@DeanReen]

Thank you 💕💖💕 I am too! I am trying to enjoy this time as much as possible before it is all over. That is such beautiful advice, thank you 🥰

[@Adv18]

Is Barbie not considered the first fashion doll marketed towards children? Because I have a bild Lili (I spent far too much money but it’s worth it) and when I hold her it comes really apparent that this doll was more of an ornament rather than a children’s toy. When I hold her and hold my ponytail swirl barbie I can see the difference in their structure, barbie I could throw at someone and knock them out, and BL I could throw and break. I can see how she inspired Ruth, but I do not think Ruth outright stole the concept from someone else, as Lili was not exactly made & marketed as a children’s toy

[@ThatGuyGabeToo]

Bild Lilli was originally marketed as a gag gift/decoration but German women and children started using the dolls as a play doll and the company started selling them in different outfits, it was an organic process not a marketing strategy. Ruth visited Germany and saw what was happening and went back to America and sold the phenomenon she witnessed as her "creation" and the result of her "watching her daughter" which was ALL marketing, basically her contribution is partially altering the plastic they were made of, rooting the hair and marketing directly towards children. That's why before wind of what she had done reached Germany she went and bought Bild Lilli's rights and licensing for the doll's likeness and then tried to erase her from the face of the earth. Ruth Handler was never a creative she was a business person, what she did create was all this imagery of her being the creator of something she simply sold behind the original designer's back... Sadly it is a story that has repeated itself with several toys time and again by many companies always resulting in the original creators dying in poverty and without recognition. The same thing happened with the cabbage patch kids, there's a very sad documentary about it here on youtube you can watch.

[@DeanReen]

Gabe is correct. She was originally made as a novelty toy for men but once they found out she was appealing to children they started making them for kids. That is when her face paint changed to become a little more sweet and they made loads of fashions for her. BTW, You are very lucky to own one! I am very jealous 😭💖

[@mpeg7523]

I agree with you It's more than one Allan N he came back in 1990 if I'm not mistaken...n Midge n him got married....he has a different mold n later used as Ken so when they release the Happy Family they gave him a different mold again...the one smiling So it's also not true that after the pregnant Midge she was also discontinued....n she is not promoting teen pregnancy coz she got married n if I'm not mistaken she was 22 (read it somewhere) N midge was also part of Barbie and the Dream house series n she also has a doll I am also sad that some characters was not seen on the film I have played with my two older sisters dolls in 1972 (walk lively n busy talking Barbies which I still have them today) n start buying my dolls in 1980

[@DeanReen]

Yes! He did come back! But as Alan instead of Allan but same difference 🤷🏼‍♂️😂 We all knew who he was 😊 I remember pregnant midge on shelves for years. She definitely wasn’t discontinued. I do remember people were upset that she was pregnant and didn’t have a wedding ring 🫢 oh wow! Walk Lively and Busy Talking are two of the most beautiful lines ever! How lucky were you! 🤯💖

[@trazanna]

Ok. One last. If Ruth Handler had never ventured to West Germany, stumbled upon, and purchased a Bild Lilly there would never be a discussion about who made the first Barbie doll.

[@nardo218]

The theme about Barbie recognizing her own mortality made me think of The Good Place: humans know they will die, so, "we're all a little bit sad." Barbie was a little bit sad but she didn't know why until she graduated to become A Real Girl. She couldn't go back to the dollhouse because she had Knowledge now, and that made her wise and a little bit sad.

[@DeanReen]

Oh, that is a good point. I bet it would be hard to continue playing "Barbie" once you had that knowledge. Ignorance is bliss I guess 🤷🏼‍♂️😂💕💖🌴

[@ToeKnife166]

I haven’t had a chance to see it yet because I have the flu 😢

[@DeanReen]

Oh no! I hope I haven’t spoiled it for you! I hope you get better very soon 💕💖💕

[@aerismith-k6b]

This was in no way a child's movie, I didn't know that when i took my 8-year-old and she asked to leave halfway through.

[@DeanReen]

I guess it depends on the child really. I think from all the promotion and the PG-13 rating that it was intended for a teenage/adult audience from the beginning. There are definitely parts not appropriate for children in my opinion, but I know my 10 year old niece is exposed to way worse on TikTok etc. which is out of my control so I didn't mind taking her to see this. She enjoyed it but my husband had to explain to her what a gynaecologist is 😂

[@vanessamccreadie6429]

🤗🔥💛❤🎉😍🎉🔥

[@DeanReen]

Thank you 💕

[@RamizAhmed-ky8sw]

I don't watch Barbie the movie but I love Barbie and Ken toys so much than movie is bore or brainwash.....

[@SDjilliaRE]

I liked the movie for the most part. I think Margot Robbie was very likeable, but I didn't like how they treated Ken at all. I don't mind him being a gag because it's true that little girls don't really like Ken. But the way they handled the gender politics was so messy. I was hoping everyone would work together in the end and work toward equality. Instead it's like they realize that being oppressive leaders and neglecting half of the population is bad, but decide that being oppressive is fine as long as the Barbies are in charge and the Kens are too dumb to care anyway. Without Stereotypical Barbie's growth, I don't think there would've been any resolution there whatsoever. It's a weird place to be though being a male doll collector that focuses on boy dolls. I know the brand and expect most of what I saw, but I love Ken and wanted better for him.

[@DeanReen]

Yes, it is unfortunate. It bugged me that they were all the same really, no individuality. I think they were trying to flip the real world on its head to illustrate to men exactly how it feels to be oppressed. But I do feel like it was a little too subtle to get the message across, and that is assuming many straight men were paying attention if they were there at all.

[@SDjilliaRE]

@@DeanReen I think everything with it was fine until the end. I think the patriarchy bits were funny and everyone had their own points. The Kens deserved more sympathy in the end though. It's weird when you consider that they've always been the oppressed class in Barbie Land and they led a revolution that was short-lived, only to become the oppressed class again because the real world (not Barbie Land) is unfair to women. I was really, really hoping they would've learned that they're only happy when they work together and have some Barbie And The Rockers type ending lol

[@Lars1996]

I’m not sure if I want to watch the movie. I’m just not in a place right now where I want to see Barbie come to the real world and experience all the complexities of human existence. I’d rather keep thinking of Barbie as escapism. I’ll stay in Barbieland 🎀

[@DeanReen]

I can understand that 💖 I think it was that part of the whole thing that messed me up a bit. It is definitely not an easy thing to watch.

[@Lars1996]

@@DeanReen thank you for understanding and your review 💖I love your Golden Dream girl and finally I know what to do with that little capelet thing 🤭

[@trazanna]

Google The Barbie Movie and see what happens 🥰

[@jameshamer481]

Are you near where the salt water crocodiles live?🎉🎉🎉

[@DeanReen]

No! Thank goodness! 😂😂😂 My brother lives closer but he is still 7 hours south of where they live. We still get snakes and spiders around here though (lucky us!) ❤️

[@jameshamer481]

@@DeanReen crikey! Lol

[@trazanna]

Bild Lily and Mattel settled out of court. Mattel put Barbie on the moon. This "controversy" is lame.

[@DeanReen]

Yes, that is correct. But to say she was the first when she wasn't is just plain lying. No one is arguing that Barbie isn't better 💖 Just for future reference, using the word "lame" this way could be offensive to some people.

[@trazanna]

@@DeanReen Barbie was the first marketed to children. Bild Lilly was marketed to men as a gag gift. It's offensive to some to imply that Mattel stoled the idea. Who made the first birthday cake?

[@DeanReen]

@@trazanna Bild lilli was originally a gag gift but then was rebranded as a toy. And if that is the argument you are going to make, then why is it fine for Mattel to claim being first? It sounds to me like you need to take a few deep breaths and think this through before making another argument. BTW, Mattel has stolen many ideas (like Barbie and the Rockers for example) and they actually brag about it! I don't think anyone is getting offended here apart from you.

[@trazanna]

​@@DeanReenI'm just a die hard life long Barbie fan. I think Bild Lilly started crying when they saw the money that Mattel was making. I doubt they donated anything to charity. I feel protective over Barbie.

[@DeanReen]

@@trazanna We all are, at least here we are. I love Barbie and started collecting the moment I stopped playing with her. I have loved her all my life. But I am also aware that nothing and no-one is perfect and I believe in honesty above all else. I wouldn’t blame them for being upset about their intellectual property being stolen and used to make huge profit. Anyone would be upset. Mattel may donate to charity but most charitable donations can be tax write offs and it would be good to look at how much they give to charity compared to how much the executives get. Also, have you seen the conditions their factory workers work in? My motto is love Barbie, but also love people and don’t turn a blind eye to lies and corruption.

[@ThatGuyGabeToo]

I didn't grow up longing for Barbie or playing with them myself, I did play pretend along my sister and she was Barbie and I was either a plushie or a rag doll clown I carried around all the time as a child, but whom I really and I mean REALLY longed for was Ken... XDDDD I was so curious about the cute guy in sexy shorts and what hid inside them and of course my parents would rather I asked for a toy machine gun or pistol and pretended to kill my friends than me drooling over the cute plastic guy or anything that didn't outright was heteronormative. XDDDD I never got a Ken despite always asking for one, what I did get were countless preachings of why I would never get one and I shouldn't ask again... The movie was a bit meh to me because of the lack of empathy I feel for the Barbie brand, but I can clearly see and have heard from others how it has many readings and it truly touched them and for that reason alone is worth a lot. I also don't understand why people always feel the need to use entertainment as their creed and base their moral opinions off a piece of media like if you watch so and so you will become gay, a transgender, a murderer and so on... If only it was as easy as watching a movie to completely switch who you are to something totally different none of us would be gay as our parents would've turned us straight with some magic movie during childhood... XDDDD God knows mine tried! All those politicians demonising the movie and saying is the end of traditional masculinity and it follows the oh so feared "gay agenda" really crack me up... Yet the actual criminals quoting and decorating their houses with posters of "Il Padrino" never get called out and such media has never received nothing but praise and recognition for it's influence on cinema and society despite the latter one not being anything positive if you ask me... I am happy to hear it is resonating with people and helped them understand themselves better... One take I did get from the plot is how it seems nowadays the Barbie brand is alive mostly thanks to an adult fan base as children don't resonate with the character as much as they used to... I guess in the effort of turning the brand focus into representation instead of aspiration it has kind of lost its footing in the children's zeitgeist. But what do I know? XDDDDD

[@DeanReen]

WOW. I don’t think I knew that you didn’t have dolls growing up. I can not relate at all 😂 I never really cared about Ken as a kid. I love him more as an adult. I had crushes on boys at the age of six-ish but I didn’t even realise there was anything in the shorts worth caring about 😂🤷🏼‍♂️ I had toys guns growing up and never really thought much of it, it was more a fantasy thing but I now see how it can be problematic. Oh no, you aren’t allowed to feel that way about this movie! 😂 Just kidding… but not really 😐😂 I find it so sad that people are getting so worked up over a film. You don’t like it don’t watch it. It is as simple as that. I feel like people should realise that by now. Funny thing is, when I was looking for the movie dolls I saw girls roughly around 13-14 desperately searching for Barbie dolls. I haven’t seen anything like it in years! I was kinda happy. My friend recently gifted dolls to a 11 year old collector. It makes me so happy that there are still people out there interested in Barbie. But yes, I think it is largely an adult fan base now.

[@ThatGuyGabeToo]

@@DeanReen I wasn't allowed dolls of any kind and funnily enough I was very precocious even as a child unknowingly and I would constantly be commenting on guy's looks and how handsome they were and it would drive my parents crazy... XDDDD So not even Actionman nor GI Joe were acceptable to my parents specially my dad who wanted to die everytime I said so and so were so handsome or strong... XDDDD As an adult I get it, you don't want your toddler telling you constantly in public how much of a hunk anyone is, but I was so naive and didn't know any better and I wasn't insulting anyone so I was always confused why they told me off... XDDD My first fashion doll was Licca chan and I got into her in my late 20's early 30's I guess I didn't feel the fashion doll bug because during my teens I styled and coordinated my 2 best female friends outfits all the time and then worked for a few years with model agencies coordinating looks and doing makeup for runways and magazines so I was doing what doll people do but with actual people, so the itch was scratched differently. Here in Holland not only Barbie, but dolls in general seem to be losing the battle on kid's interests they still sell ok-ish but there is no frenzy for them as I remember there was when I was a child and my sister daydreamed of dolls day and night with her friends. The Barbie extra dolls are all over the clearance isles of the local drugstore Kruidvat (a chain that's famous for very low price clearance items) today i saw the plastic poncho one was 7 euros and the one with shaved sides is like 11 euros and still no one is buying them... It seems kids nowadays only care for slimes, youtuber merch and videogames.

[@Hawaiianslug69]

This is the best movie ever made I'm usually picky with movies but it has everything I want in a movie

[@DeanReen]

Hahaha, I feel the same way! It is hard to tell if that is because I am a Barbie nut or if it is because the movie is just that good. Non-collectors seem to be loving it too though 🤷🏼‍♂️💕

[@Hawaiianslug69]

@@DeanReen yea me and my Nana went and she likes it also