this barbie is a bad feminist 💖👠🌴 (barbie movie review)

[@aurelia6254]

in my opinion the dealbreaker being cellulite wasn’t that barbie was scared of ‘being fat’ rather that she was scared of imperfection. the barbies are made of plastic- which is smooth, untextured and untarnished- so i would assume even the plus size barbies don’t have cellulite as they are portrayed as plastic, untouched dolls without any textural ‘flaws’. therefore, the cellulite is an abnormal human feature to barbie and so she is scared of it and immediately deems it as imperfection and ruination of her perfect life. we all know cellulite is normal and natural, but barbie doesn’t and seeing her life change before her including on her own body would’ve been the depth of the dealbreaker. or maybe i’m just too analytical and looking at things that aren’t there.

[@jackie9397]

No you’re completely correct!

[@cassielcruzchavolla809]

Yep, you're right

[@YeseniaV122]

That what I was thinking

[@m.i7211]

I agree that the implication of having cellulite wasn’t that she was fat but that she was imperfect, but I still think that having her age would have been a better choice story wise.

[@marinatomasc]

I also think that celulite is those kind of problems that are almost invented by The beauty ideal. The kind you don't notice untill some beauty market start telling you it is a problem, and for me I felt it made sense as something she would fell having more contact with human insecurities

[@albarmz3430]

Cellulite is more an allusion to the plastic perfect skin of barbie, than gaining weigh. Slim people also get tons of it. No escape if you have human skin.

[@MaidenOfHusbands]

I think the people who watch this film criticizing the cellulite part, completely forgot what the cellulite part even came from. None of them probably even knew what cellulite was until Barbie started having insecurities about getting cellulite, LITERALLY BECAUSE OF A REAL HUMAN BEING PUTTING THAT EMOTION ONTO HER (Of course Barbie is going to be insecure about it and think it's an imperfection, LITERALLY BECAUSE the real world forces women to believe that it's an imperfection, so women can hate themselves and try to change themselves to please men and society (to then bully them about trying to please men and society so they hate themselves more))..... It's literally meant to be a joke. Honestly, if anything, the other Barbies probably think cellulite is a form of imperfection like how pieces of a Barbie's leg would be slightly chipped here and there if a dog bit her, type vibes.

[@Emily-xr6ny]

exactly, there’s a plus sized barbie (lawyer barbie?) who margot’s barbie is close with, surely if the cellulite joke was about weight then why wouldn’t plus size barbie have it? it’s a joke about perfect, cellulite is closer to acne or dark circles in this context

[@SarahBright]

I agree!!!

[@namehere4954]

Yeah I was like she doesn't know what cellulite is.

[@soot9145]

I'm chronically ill and used to be underweight because of that and I still had cellulite. Now I'm a bit overweight and have just as much cellulite🤷🏻

[@gh0stfaquerie]

I disagree that it doesn’t make sense for Barbie to end up wanting to go live in the real world. I really think the scene on the bench, where she cries for the first time and tells the old lady she’s beautiful, is everything. That scene really felt like Barbie learning how to empathise with others in a very deeply human way that she could never really experience in Barbieland, and since empathy is often referred to as being one of, if not the, key component in being human, the scene really feels like Barbie becoming human.

[@mauve9266]

I also rlly like the fact that she has this interaction with a woman she specifically doesn’t know. I think it adds to the humanist message of the film and makes it feel more effecting. Like there’s something about just her alone that evokes this strong reaction out of barbie. Not what she means to barbie, not through anything she could do for barbie through a relationship but just her like that was enough. Idk, I think I’m explaining it badly but I thought it was sweet

[@akanaeru9359]

exactly!!! not only that but she looks around at all the people around her and sees both the happiness and sadness of everyday life! I dont understand why she was saying she ONLY had bad experiences

[@geo.nerd.]

@@akanaeru9359agreed, and those experiences you named happened after she steps out into the real world and is just immediately accosted by sexism, which I think is the only way that can be introduced and portrayed. It’s basically culture shock.

[@brianaguilar8283]

@@geo.nerd.last time I checked, you get arrested for slapping someone on the ass in public, and the movie didn’t show that guy receiving any consequences

[@gummy5862]

@@brianaguilar8283Depends honestly. The police probably aren’t gonna go on a manhunt for him, but it’s interesting that she and Ken were apprehended but not the ass slapper. That didn’t make sense. I also don’t know how Barbie had the intuition of self-defense when there’s no such thing as violence or sexual assault in Barbieland. Barbie hands also don’t close (well if you’re sticking to the source material lol), so I don’t know how she knew how to make a fist and punch.

[@ariellagoichman3513]

I think Barbie getting cellulite was a perfect breaking point. Because, even though there is a plus size Barbie in Barbieland, all of them are still made of smooth plastic. So the idea of skin that isn't perfect plastic is as foreign in Barbieland as getting a grey hair or a wrinkle.

[@carlathecaptain1709]

I kind of agree. Cellulite doesn’t mean you’re getting fat. I don’t think that was the point. Everyone can get cellulite without getting fat.

[@ionabab7274]

I agree. I’m underweight due to disability and trying to gain some weight, but I’ve always had a bit of cellulite on parts of my body. It’s just genetics.

[@ceecee4729]

True but cellulite is often associated with weight gain in media... and honing in on her mortality by feeling tired faster, not having kenergy, wrinkles, basically age related... would have made the bench scene make sense... cuz with all that Barbie has seen in her life... seeing an older person should cause fear first... it's only after understanding the life and wealth of experience the woman has... she realizes beauty isn't just skin deep There's many other ways i wish this movie went... and to the gynecologist as the last line was not one of them... it was a funny ending... but the end messaging was so wonky... it just didn't make sense...

[@ionabab7274]

@@ceecee4729 Yeah but cellulite is often *incorrectly* associated with weight gain in media. Just because it is, doesn’t mean it should be. I personally found it really validating to see Barbie, as a skinny woman, have cellulite (I know that’s just a silly personal thing, but it made me feel better about myself). Skinny people can have cellulite and fat people can have no cellulite. It’s generally more obvious on fatty tissue, but it was cool to see it included.

[@porassrivastava8242]

Then why did she find the old woman pretty irl? 😭 movie was mid I'm afraid.

[@starduvalley]

One of the best things to come out of this movie: You are Kenough, everybody.

[@trinaq]

Precisely, Ryan Gosling stole every single second of his screentime!

[@mayaleeleng]

I NEED that to become an actual sweater! 😫

[@thebeesknees2503]

@@mayaleeleng it is actually! but its only available in the us :c

[@cheese6197]

I bought a shirt from Amazon that says that 😂

[@botanicalitus4194]

@@trinaqidk everyone was saying Ken was the best part of the movie but I dont see it. He was just kind of meh to me, and how exaggeratedly airheaded he was wasnt funny to me it just felt too tryhard

[@PricessaY3k]

Cellulite isn’t to do with being a larger size, it’s a textural thing, all human sizes have cellulite and no barbies of any size have cellulite She’s not afraid of gaining weight and that was never brought up, she’s afraid of not being smooth plastic

[@pattychurra]

Exactly! Cellulite is normal in any size of body, gaining weight wasn't mentioned

[@BreakofDawn]

Exactly I’m quite skinny and have lots of cellulite. And I have a lot of friends who are thicker than me who don’t have any at all. Anyone can get cellulite and associating it as a “fat” thing sounds way more offensive

[@pattychurra]

@markstein2845 this is cellulite: "the name for collections of fat that push against the connective tissue beneath your skin. It often appears on your thighs, stomach and buttocks. Cellulite makes the surface of the skin look lumpy and puckered, or appear dimpled." You might be thinking of stretch marks?

[@blakasmurf]

Well I'm hear to man splain... she's scared of not being perfect stereotypical barbie. The cellulite is just a trope to portray that her world is falling apart with the flat feet being the final straw.

[@scarletbabushka]

This is what I came here to say myself. Everything in Barbieland is perfect, and cellulite is typically regarded by society as an imperfection. They could have given Barbie acne instead and it would have had the same effect.

[@aquaarietta]

Barbie did have positive experiences in the real world, though. One of my favorite scenes was her on that bench near the park just observing everyone and noticing the beauty of the world and feeling real emotions for the first time. That's what plants the seed in her that the world is more than the awful things she had also just experienced.

[@kaatyblue]

she literally says "that felt achy... but good" when she cries for the first time, like, she just can't go back to living like a non sentient being after experiencing being sentient even if there's pain involved

[@jayla3282]

I guess a lot of ppl, me included, felt it just wasnt enough, as mg said, because its so broad it ends being unrelatable and honestly aimless

[@cheesecake134]

The scene of her telling the old woman she was beautiful was so touching. The way Margot laughed and happy cried at the same time was really moving. 💖

[@lukeshoo]

She has zero positive experiences with any men in the real world. It is a sexist portrayal of reality.

[@rowenalumacad8348]

​@@jayla3282it's just saying that even the littlest moments like that observing people living life would want you to also live and experience life even if it sucks sometimes

[@taleytaleytaley]

I personally am OVER the "snarky teen/child that's smarter and more well spoken than everyone else" trope. I teach teenagers. They are incredibly smart, enlightened, and often grossly underestimated. But they have excessive faults, blind spots due to inexperience, and a ton of misplaced confidence that it seems like the majority of Hollywood writers go out of their way to not showcase.

[@glocrowhurst]

I honestly thought the teenage character was pretty flawed. She's mean, she's too cool for her wonderful Mom that loves her, and some of the leftist talking points she makes land in a goofy way. When she called Barbie a fascist, the entire audience laughed, myself included --because that's SUCH a Teenage thing to do. (also a person who teaches teenagers!)

[@luanaaraujo9869]

It's satire 😐

[@planckismus]

@@glocrowhurst exactly lol, she said Barbie was a fascist 😂 how did that monologue not show fault, blind spots and a ton of misplaced confidence.

[@thesevenkingswelove9554]

She has OVER CONFIDENCE tho, not the same as intelligence

[@Ash_W04]

The teenager was obviously a joke I thought. Who would take someone just randomly shouting fascist seriously? And that’s coming from someone who probably holds similar beliefs to the teenage character up to a degree

[@melodywong8265]

Ken's arc is the one that actually represents the feminine experience. 1) feeling like you exist to support someone else more in power 2) realising that the real world is a "patriarchy" which celebrates "masculine strength" 3) mimicking the image and symbols of "masculine strength" so that you too will hold power 4) realising you were just playing the role because you felt unseen, powerless, and do not know your true self 5) try to find yourself while continuing to live in a society which pressures you into gender roles, when you are now fully aware the roles are merely "ideas"

[@treehann]

Most men can and should go through steps 2-5 too!

[@TenArashi]

Yeah, this is what confuses me so much! The Kens are the second-class citizens of Barbieland! Barbie is a privileged member of the elite! Whatever Ken goes through in the movie, it's so WEIRD to attribute it to 'the patriarchy hurts men, too': it's a story of a member of an oppressed gender who finds out about a different world where they're on top, tries to implement it in their world, is easily manipulated into having the status quo restored, and then reacts with excitement and relief because... it's better to be the subservient gender? Because they would only ever screw up being in power? What?? The movie very very clearly treats the Kens as parallel to IRL women and vice versa, and yet still wants to treat the Kens like just privileged whiny white guys. It's such a weird, honestly anti-intersectional and radfem-y idea.

[@melodywong8265]

@@TenArashi yes totally! well said. barbie is an IRL man. they just switched the body parts lol. barbieland is a patriarchy... a world where e.g. "doctors" are valued more than "pregnant woman" (a lifesaver vs literal lifegiver), where laws, state, capitalism are seen as the only order and system, above morality, family, community, even spirituality or nature, are literal products of patriarchies

[@ryanallen2647]

Thank you Barbie shows the toxic side of masculinity and femininity. It shows equality which isn’t feminist or patriarchy

[@noobsmoke79]

I actually thought Ken was the modern young male who feels purposeless and turns to misguided and toxic people like Andrew Tate and other Red Pill gurus for advice. They tell him to “hold frame” and make him feel like his worth is tied to being able to attract women for casual flings. Barbie tells him his worth is not defined by validation from others and that he is already “Kenough.” I want that shirt btw!

[@msfthe1st117]

I honestly think the movie works best when read as a coming of age story for Barbie, grappling with her brand identity and metaphorically replicating the often abrupt way in which children leave the realm of childhood safety (represented by Barbieland) into adulthood (represented by the harsh reality of the Real World).

[@msfthe1st117]

less exploration of feminism through Barbie and more so exploration of Barbie through feminism, exposing her perfection to the contradictions with which we perceive her with.

[@rachellydiab]

this is so spot on!!! I feel like people desperately want to apply gender politics to this- and i know in some ways its unavoidable- but if you just let it be a sweet story about a few people figuring their shit out then its So Good 💖

[@maruty2108]

Yesss

[@littleseaturtle]

you get it, thank you

[@m.i7211]

I don’t think you can call it “applying gender politics” when the movie clearly wants to send a message regarding gender issues… That said I like op’s take on the movie that it’s a look on Barbie through a feminist lens and not the other way around.

[@taylorgayhart9497]

The scene after the Kens have taken over, and Margot’s Barbie is breaking down, and she tells America’s character something along the lines of “I can’t fix this, I’m not one of the smart Barbies, I’m just stereotypical Barbie, not good enough for anything” I have NEVER felt so *seen* by a movie!! The re were so many layers to it all, like the way Ken was lost because his identity was wrapped in Barbie is very relatable to someone who has a tendency to lose themselves in relationships.

[@hazalmaral8368]

Also stereotypical barbie saying stuff like I cannot believe I said that was not a classic bimbo I am just a stupid women moment like the video states as it is. She does not have a clear purpose like the other barbies hence she has never thought of her self as being smart. So she just surprises her self. I think many of us as woman realize as some point that we are smart because it is never accepted for girls to be smart. Society values a beautiful women more that it values a smart women.

[@OReily08080]

Yes, I love this break down

[@Thea_ai_artist]

ur stereotypical...

[@OReily08080]

@@Thea_ai_artist stereotypical Barbie?

[@mfirdanhb]

​@@Thea_ai_artist tbf it's kinda satire the movie anyway

[@Mari-zb1ge]

I think the negative scenes in the real world were important for Barbie to understand that the world is not like she thought it was. But the key scene in the real world I think is when she sits on the bench and appreciates the beauty of everything and especially her talking to the older lady and seeing a future for herself she never had thought of (and seeing another life she could have). As far as Gloria and Sasha I think they could’ve given Gloria more of s backstory and love for the character but I think the scenes of Barbie remembering Sasha growing up were really good. Lastly I think the movie did a good job at showing Sasha’s shift in her views, it was definitely done more through subtext though. Anyways that’s my take

[@CCela1608]

Exactly. She DIDN'T just experience negativity in the real world, she had the moment on the bench with the old woman where the beauty of the passing of time, the fear but wonder of constant change that encapsulates the human experience, which barbie had never had in Barbieland. She feels all this despite the hardships and negativity she also experienced in the real world. She still chooses the human experience because of the beauty of it despite the hardship and it is a wonderful message for us in the real world.

[@maruty2108]

I think Barbie entering into the real world for the first time symbolizes how girls enter her teenage years and the bubble pops and you become “a women “ in men and society eyes. You start to doubt about your confidence. Edit: men, stop crying. You guys don't get it, get over it.

[@genesisstanley8163]

I can see that🤔💗

[@sophiaannnn]

Yes, it’s one of my favorite themes in media ever. the way female adolescence is a loss of innocence all at once. People are constantly telling you when you’re a girl that you can do anything etc and then as soon as you grow boobs or start being s3xualized the world is suddenly much scarier

[@tamiresamaral2714]

And that's exactly why is not possible for her to go back, because its the same for us when growing up, even knowing that reality is what it is

[@elblooderino]

@@thecanadakid7622this is so off topic and inappropriate…….

[@thecanadakid7622]

@@elblooderino yeah, it is a bit innappropriate, sorry. deleted it.

[@camillefaith2005]

The commentary wasn't perfect, but it was absolutely a conversation starter and I'm not gonna lie the emotional moments really hit for me. It gave me such a strong feeling of nostalgia that I probably wouldn't have grasped at a younger age. (I'm 18 and I grew up with Barbie dolls) It also hit different seeing it with my 52 year old mom who also played with Barbies as a child. It's also just come out at a very transitional time for me. I just graduated high school and I am about to enter college and by proxy adulthood so the themes landed even harder.

[@yexazabala2908]

i had the exact same experience! i've started college some months ago and Barbie has been the most influential thing in my childhood, and my mom always supported that even though she isnt a big fan of pink nor she has played with barbies when she was a child. But watching the movie together i can tell you we both ended up crying like crazy!! We saw each other represented in Gloria and Sasha, and fell in love with the message of the film

[@adrielayson749]

Yeah the commentary was more snarky than it was constructive. I cried at seeing the scenes of Ruth Handler and Barbie. Even the parts about America's Monologue and her memories about how close, her and Sasha were, to say they were undeveloped is a bold statement.

[@safirak7988]

I disagree with the "flat feet = human => gross" argument. I think flat feet in Barbieland are gross because they are unnatural, it's like seeing hands without nails. Uncanny and weird.

[@free2bkittenforever]

But plenty of Barbies in the 90’s had flat feet lol. Including Skipper and some actual Barbies so this confused me

[@josephdarpa1179]

Yes, really weird just like commenting on a Barbie movie

[@1saamor897]

@@josephdarpa1179 BOOHOOO IM SOBBING WAAAA

[@RandomJtv]

@@free2bkittenforever: I think the flat feet thing was also a commentary on the expectations of women, that wearing heels is a defining factor of womanhood / being a woman. I didn’t take it as a factual thing that Mattel had never released a Barbie with a flat foot. Because even at the very start of the film when you see all of the women dressed up as Barbie, some of them are in flat sneakers and boots.

[@blakasmurf]

@@RandomJtv It wasn't THAT deep it was just to highlight she's becoming imperfect... Stereotypical Barbie is "supposed" to have feet made for heels so it was just a trope to make the changes seems extreme. She needed a catalyst to go see weird Barbie and set her on her journey... it's what movies do

[@idrinkandiknowthings9738]

I agree with the criticisms but I also feel like this was finally a movie just unapologetically just fun for the girls and I really am tired of tearing things down that are just fun. We can always do better socially in every space but can’t we also just enjoy when something is made for us without being hypercritical that it wasn’t a feminist masterpiece

[@justatinyhalfling]

I haven't seen such an unapologetically girly film since Legally Blond, which was and still is iconic and impactful. It is important and rewarding to delve into criticism of any movie, yet even with its flaws, Barbie will be a powerful rewatch for me whenever I need a confidence boost. :)

[@Unsweetened8618]

And if they went that route. It would've felt like "Disney Life Size" 2.0

[@ambiguoussarcasm]

Facts

[@jackie9397]

Thank you🥹

[@pir2251]

This is why Barbie will make a billion dollars. It's the ultimate female power fantasy and ppl justifiably find escapism in that

[@valentinariquelmel.1665]

I feel you glossed over one of the most important scenes in the movie, Barbie with the older woman in the bus stop. It is very significant because this experience sparks her interest in the real world and real women.

[@basicismymiddlename]

No she didn't. While the scene was touching, it quickly faded away. ModernGurlz infact gives a better way to tackle that scene. Instead of focusng on the fact that she's getting flat feet, Barbie could have woken up with wrinkles or gray hair,introducing a fear that most women face in this industry, ageing. She is afterall 64 years. This then would not only make telling the older woman she's beautiful more touching, it would say that its ok for women to age because in hollywood, The minute you loose youre youthfullness, youre done. I mean at the raw age of 30, a models career could easily end if they haven't solidifed themselves as a pop culture icon. This then would tackle a serious issue and even to some extent, highlighted a very crutial issue women face in this industry, sparking conversation and makng women realise that they are beauiful, wrinkles and flaws.

[@TheMuseSway]

I agree with Modern Girlz with this. It was a touching short moment. Quickly overshadowed by the spontaneity of everything else in the movie. The movie had too much going on. It brought out a point then pulled away from it. Mentioned another then quickly overshadowed by humor. Perhaps most of society has some short attention span issues but some people want to actually dwell at the deeper points before being pulled away for a long dance number.

[@kbanghart]

​@@TheMuseSwayI disagree, I loved all the issues touched on and gave my family and our friends lots to discuss.

[@juliennecordy5111]

Exactly. And because she was becoming more in tune with her 'humanity', she was more able to recognize 'real beauty' rather than stereotypical beauty standards. It was an awesome moment and just enough to make you think.

[@brandyzulu7561]

in defense of gloria: it IS shown how her colleagues don't listen to her and how her daughter's snarky to her, but i think the real crowning achievement is that she doesn't change just because she's aware of the sexist double standards imposed on women. she has to go back and still live in a society that's still going to impose those standards on her regardless of a change in character or personality. the point is she's ordinary, and many women, while being hyper-aware of these standards can't do anything about it. that's why she proposes the ordinary barbie at the end; she's moved by barbie's ordinariness bc she herself is too. like many of us.

[@lararys7765]

And that makes Barbie real, which is what happens at the end of the movie. Sooo many people are not understanding the symbolism of Barbie becoming real. It's a lot deeper than youtubers are realising.

[@nocturnalrecluse1216]

Simp

[@blakasmurf]

@@lararys7765 It's a movie! It's about as deep as a paddling pool! Ok Einstein you've got a whole comment section. Explain what every KZbinr's not realising???

[@Bubaiel]

@@blakasmurfare you okay?

[@Bubaiel]

@eyabuni It is so baffling when people say “it’s just a movie it’s not that deep” like movies are meant to incite these types of conversations and make you feel emotions that’s the POINT 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@samp3622]

After a decade of superhero movie fatigue, I was so happy to see a fun summer blockbuster film that was targeted towards a feminine audience. Even though the feminist themes were surface level, it still has better feminist messaging than anything Marvel has released.

[@neilwiththereeldeel]

and this is why all the Marvel Criticisms, whether the movies are art or not, are absolutely irrational and retarded

[@jms855]

Why should a comic book movie have a feminist message?

[@morganmidnights]

@@jms855because women exist in comic book movies

[@udontevenwannaknowbruv]

@@jms855 Because a lot of boys and men watch ‘comic book movies’ and it influences their ideas of women. If women are only portrayed as helpless, sexual and nurturing beings in comic book movies, where they only play a part if they’re the love interest, if they are a victim of the protagonist’s opponent having to be saved or if they are the mother/caretaker of the protagonist, then guess what boys are going to think the worth of a girl depends on?

[@janaforkel1]

@@jms855why should a movie about a plastic doll have a feminist message?

[@ItsCatGurl]

I’ve watched this movie twice and I have to MASSIVELY disagree about the comedy. I don’t think comedy belittles a message, I actually think sometimes it enhances it. Sure, you might lightheartedly laugh at something that does indeed touch on a tough topic but those moments of true heart hit even harder and act as a sobering message. I’m in my late twenties and can happily say I’ve cried multiple times during this film and adore it. Sure, could it have delved deeper? Maybe! But I also don’t think it needs to. Look at all the conversations we’re having because of it. I do agree though, the Mattel scenes needed to go 😭

[@Emily-xr6ny]

it also can’t be ignored that comedy has always been viewed as a man’s game. There’s a huge stereotype that women aren’t funny, so to have a female led comedy by a female director is a HUGE deal

[@SarahBright]

I agree with you.

[@erinkathleen9610]

Agreed I think they gave better critiques of patriarchy/ misogyny and gender rolls through the satire comedy than the parts where it got serious. Although there were some more serious emotional parts that I did connect to like when Barbie was sitting on the bench people watching and when she told the elderly woman at the bus stop she is beautiful.

[@Juliette5044]

When I watched I found it both, funny and very sad. Because I found it relatable and touching!

[@lovelilly140]

I think it’s extremely important too bc the men who went to watch are 100% going to be paying more attention to the comedy that’s calling out the patriarchy/misogyny than when the barbies are blatantly talking about it

[@notayoutuber4496]

Tbh not every movie catered towards women has to have a groundbreaking feminist message. The only criterion for a good "men's movie" is "Is this movie entertaining?" And I don't see why "women's movies" have to adhere to stricter standards

[@victoriaa7128]

Well, I'd say for this movie it's because it pretty often spouts feminist talking points without any nuance or depth. I really wish it was just a fun, entertaining movie, even if it didn't say much. But just because it looks fun, doesn't mean it was fun. That's of course my opinion. I liked looking at this movie and enjoyed the performances, but it didn't feel like the celebration of Barbie that I was hoping for. I felt like I was being lectured half the time.

[@cotebecerra3978]

I agree, but if you are trying to give a feminist message, give it right.

[@gummy5862]

This comment is so bullshit, this movie definitely tried to have a message and tried to take a feminist angle. They just did it half-baked. The men’s movies you must be referencing didn’t try to have any of that social commentary, or they were more subtle and they left a lot more to interpretation. Barbie was pretty in your face about it.

[@melissam597]

Ditto with female characters

[@gisela_oliveira]

Mamma Mia is a movie for women that doesn't talk about feminism, is just a fun movie

[@LooksByNaheemah]

I don’t expect this movie to be all things at all the time. I think it was intentionally a simple take on feminism explored in a very complex way. Especially for a story that is very authentic to the doll

[@freyayayaya]

I kinda felt like Sasha (and her friends) really were similar, and a nod, to Bratz. She is a lil judgemental because she's a teen, but in the end she is the one that wants to help save barbieland with her mom. When going into barbieland, her clothes still have that bratz-theme (loose pants & cool tshirts combo) whilst her mom has the barbie aestethic. (If i remember correctly, one of her friends in school was named Jade!!)

[@basicismymiddlename]

OMG!, Thats such a very keen observbation especially because in the 2000's Brats gave barbie such competition. I mean teenagers who own a successful fashion magazine, have crushes while balancing school work too. What could be more teenage than that. and this took roleplaying out of the picture and felt like Bratz understood teenagers while barbie was for children and older women like Grace and not teenagers like Sasha. I'm positive Gretta never ment for this to be the case but with her, you never know. If i ever achive my dreams of beciming a producer, i should make a Barbie bratz crossover movie.

[@NoraBhsas]

⁠@@basicismymiddlenameThat would be amazing! Wish you the best luck of becoming a producer 🙏🏻

[@emyconfer9641]

yeah someone said that all of her friends were actually named after Bratz dolls! Not sure how true it is but it's fun to think

[@jessey3721]

Barbie does have a genuine and meaningful, positive experience in the real world with the older lady on the bench. In those few seconds, Barbie is able to see the beauty of someone who has lived an entire lifetime in the "crappy" real world and still is able to maintain a positive outlook and self image. It impacts Barbie to hear the older woman say, without hesitation or apology, that she knows she is beautiful. Not only that, but, the montage at the end. The one filled with instances of all the other, beautiful, things it means to be a woman. Even being privy to a small portion of that is enough to solidify for Barbie that it is enough to want to leave Barbie land behind. It sends the message that, though the real world still needs to fix a lot of its issues in the way women are treated... being a woman, despite the obstacles, still has a unique beauty to it. At least that's how i saw it.

[@Krsh7]

I saw it as a hateful anti-men poorly done , throat shoving feminst movie pushed to children (yeah its rated PG-13, but parents will take their little kids to see it and the company knows that.) Why is a kids toy movie filled with sexual and political themes?

[@hakidonmuya9807]

@@Krsh7 how is it man-hating? :)) it literally shows a flipped perspective of how women used to live for decades. It shows the reality of how women are treated(sexualised, catcalled, and not taken seriously a lot of times). It showed toxic masculinity when Ken didn't accept that Barbie did not have feelings for him and he punished her for it by taking her home and acting the way he did. It showed how men make women to feel bellow them and use them for their own comfort and pleasure when they get power over them. I really do not understand people like you. The movie is quite profound if you have the intelect to grasp it. It speaks about existentialism, feminism, the patriarchy, motherhood and girlhood. Go out more and maybe talk to some real women to see how they see things.

[@iateyursandwiches]

​@@Krsh7meh avatar the last Airbender was an amazing show that had political (and maybe a couple more inconspicuous) sexual themes yet was was literally for kids. Kids aren't as dumb as you think they are and thinks don't have to completely talk down to them for them ro enjoy it. Besides, I hate when people like you,usually men/those of a more privledged race(white), say dumb shit like this. As if girls don't experience sexism(and in some cases depending how fast they develop, actual sexulization) at young ages. as if black kids dont experience racism at young ages. Wake up and smell the fire. Just because you got to keep your childhood innocence for the longest time doesn't mean the every or even most of us, had that privilege.

[@Beatmyguest001]

@@Krsh7oh shush. What a load of over emotional uncritical nonsense. Not everything has some evil over the top villainous agenda.

[@hellomynameisanna_]

@@Krsh7 talking about sexual themes in a film about a kids toy. ever seen a transformers movie?

[@keleneds]

I actually agree with almost all the critics especially the shallowness of the characters but I still find so refreshing to have a camp, girly and fun movie! Especially when seeing all the girlies dressing in pink for the movie, having fun etc so I hope it is only the start of more girls girls movie like that who will become more refined!

[@mir7020]

this! while it does lack deeper feminist themes, i feel like it's a great conversation starter and can pivot the way for young girls who only learned about the system through this movie. i still hope that they tackle the themes better in the supposed sequel, but for now i really like what we got.

[@etheric1]

Yeah I don't know if I have rose tinted glasses because going on the first day and being around a bunch of excited dressed up women was so cool and I've only had comparable movie going experiences that felt like spaces for us at screenings of Spice World and But I'm a Cheerleader, but it is exciting to see a movie that is so for us and I hope the box office turnout shows that we are a demographic that should be catered to.

[@anthonyalles1833]

indeed, if only the characters in _Barbie_ had the depth and development of the characters in the _Transformers_ movies...

[@keleneds]

@@etheric1 exactly! I feel like nowadays it’s rare to see a bunch of woman from different age and stuff all together having fun and just relating to a fun movie!

[@gogopartytime]

Agreed! I could see it evolving into a campy cult classic similar to Rocky Horror Picture Show where everyone gets dressed up to see it and sings along.

[@m20047]

i really liked the movie, i definitely didn’t view it as a serious, groundbreaking feminist story more of a satire and it works that way, also very wholesome my inner child is happy all the little details/barbie lore were so fun if you understood them. however i agree gloria and sasha and their relationship should have been more fleshed out + the movie definitely could of been an extra 40 mins longer to be more satisfying and have more depth but it’s definitely one of my new comfort movies!

[@isobel_mary]

THANK YOU SO MUCH for explaining Gloria and Sasha's lack of character, scenes and development!! Oml, I felt like I was going crazy bc no one talks about how rushed their whole arcs are. And Greta can manage big casts, so I was pretty disappointed. The cognitive dissonance monologue feels so generic to me, and America Ferreira having literally no character played a huge part in that. (I also had no idea what her name even was and I've seen the movie twice)

[@emmablack1230]

The movie had an issue with overlooking the actual women in the story

[@dfsnsdfn]

Ironically I feel like treating Barbie as though it should be a "groundbreaking feminist masterpiece" not just a comedy that is satirising issues related to gender, highlights one of the films key points. Women and the things women make are always judged to a higher standard than men and things they make, and it's ok to just be ordinary. I love that this movie invited discourse and is a great conversation starter. If you're going to watch a movie to learn nuanced and deep feminist theory you're looking in the wrong place. EDIT: To be clear I appreciate critique and would largely agree that the feminism is pretty surface level. But even that is unusual in mainstream cinema and deserves to be celebrated. The movie is not above critique but it's also silly to treat a 90 minute comedy like it can (and even should tbh) discuss all the nuances of feminist theory!

[@SuperJust4girls]

Yes. It's not that deep... it's just supposed to be a fun movie 😩

[@danielledelrosario1393]

this!!!

[@Rosie-xm7ry]

YES they literally said it in the movie 😭 people always feel they have to be extraordinary when its ok to be ordinary barbie. You’re kenough as you are

[@mushroomshrub]

Also like... it's a movie for tweens. Introducing a young girl to a palletable, broad strokes, on the nose idea of feminism isn't necessarily gonna stop her from growing up and reading bell hooks. It might even be the first step on the path that takes her there.

[@simrabawany2546]

Yeah its simultaneously too feminist for men but not enough for some women, which is literally such an ironic statement.

[@TheLastNoel]

Personally, I loved how this movie highlighted how both men and women are affected by the systemic issues in our world caused by the patriarchy. The Kens’ fall from grace is clearly caused by the pressure on men to be perfectly put together, in control, never emotional (excluding anger), have the perfect body, get girls effortlessly, and overall just be soulless, Godfather-loving macho men. This can be juxtaposed by Allan, who I believe is a representation of a man who does not fit in with the others because he is not traditionally masculine. Gerwig did a phenomenal job showcasing the effects these “ideals” have on men and the women around them, and how this isn’t what Ken is. Additionally, I love how the film showed how unattractive this is to women lol. This isn’t a film that hates men, it’s a film that hates the system that favors men (specifically heterosexual, white, able-bodied, conventionally attractive men)

[@trinaq]

Agreed, I loved how they addressed patriarchy, but I was slightly disappointed that the Barbies just went back to having everything their way again, with the Kens being treated as mere accessories again.

[@TheLastNoel]

@@trinaqwell, they didn’t end with nothing. It showed a gender-swapped version of how women have to climb the ladder in the real world. It wouldn’t make sense for them to get everything automatically, especially after the tirade they just went on. Think of it as when women entered the workforce during WWI. Important positions in our government and corporate conglomerates didn’t just fall into their lap. They had to fight tooth and nail for it. Now, it’s happening to the Kens.

[@janellimarie]

@@trinaqThe narrator explained that the Kens would begin to gain power as slowly as women in the real world…

[@TheLastNoel]

@@janellimarieexactly

[@20000dino]

Well yeah, but it inherently leaves genderqueer people and gender non-confirming people out of the picture. That’s a huge but unfortunately expected oversight (because… Barbie).

[@ffx2fan122]

I love your idea of having Barbie spend one day in the real world! As for Gloria, I wish they would have made her a low leveled Barbie designer. We could see her in a creative slump or bored with coming up with the same thing over and over (maybe a little jab at some complaints mattel gets about Barbie's style) and then after meeting Barbie, she feels more connected to the doll she is helping to design for.

[@trinaq]

I wished that they'd done more with Midge, Allan or Sasha. Those characters felt wasted, especially Midge, and she barely got to say anything, if I remember correctly.

[@TheLastNoel]

I’m pretty sure Midge was just a gag at Mattel, but it would’ve been great if they showed how Barbie can be respected and powerful while also being a mom (but hey, we got that with Gloria lol)

[@fake.it.flowers]

same with skipper 😢

[@daeity1]

@@fake.it.flowers i really hope the sequel kinda takes on the other barbies. also other characters in the animated movies to adapted as well!

[@RogueVideoRaven]

Sasha started out strong but fizzled out towards the end so I wish she had more to do. I did like that Midge was a ‘jumpscare’ character though but she should’ve teamed with Weird Barbie

[@danicee]

Totally agree. I really like the idea of Midge as a parallel to Gloria and her daughter. There seemed to be an air of shame about her character in Barbieworld, even when the Mattel CEO walked by her. And no one seems to interact with Allan, not even the other Kens. It could have been a good opportunity for him to dissect/address the negatives of patriarchy since he was so against what the others were doing and wanted to leave for the real world, as well.

[@anto4380delaguaridaa]

I think it is unfair for us to expect this movie to represent every single aspect or angle of feminism, because no movie would live up that expectation. Yes, the feminism seems at times superficial here but considering it's a PG-13 movie, I think ti will be a great introduction for girls growing into teenagers,

[@suzygirl1843]

It's more developed than Don't Worry Darling.

[@magimerlyn9596]

Sure, but the barbies' solution to the whole kens taking over thing was to go back to oppressing them. Considering Barbieland's matriarchy basically works the same as the patriarchy in our world, just with the genders swapped, it's hard to see that half of the story as feminist at all.

[@eliawillinger4329]

@@magimerlyn9596 personal i think it points out how in the alternate universe where the men are oppressed it still functions the same wa and it points out to us as viewers that while wanting all female things is fine in some cases it would still function similarly and then we wouldn't necessarily reach the equality we claim to want. it points out that equality means exactly that. that everyone is treated equal . i do understand what you're saying and do agree in some ways but do always think that if we look from other perspectives we can learn more. so i am just providing a different lense for u to look through and learn.

[@magimerlyn9596]

@@eliawillinger4329 exactly. The biggest difference between the two worlds is the existence of the concept of violence. Before Ken brought back the human concept of violence, Barbieland didn't have it.

[@jaimarshall6043]

I believe that was the point of the review. That he movie tried to tackle too much. That it may have succeeded more, if it had focused on a few key issues, rather than trying to say it all. I enjoyed the suggestions and ideas presented 😊

[@SpandexTree]

I thought it was weird when America's character suggested making a Barbie that was a mom. And it's like, Midge is right there...

[@cheerextremeladies]

I think the difference is that midge has no choice but be a mom, while Gloria was suggesting a Barbie that can be anything she wants to be (including having children or not) and still be the same Barbie

[@mascara1777]

I guess a working mom. I didn't become a mom until later in life and I was SHOCKED at the outright discrimination that still exists from employers. I saw a lawyer but could only only afford the $300 consult fee not the thousands I need to pursue a lawsuit

[@mhawang8204]

There’s a reason they made Midge pregnant but not Barbie. And she got discontinued 😂

[@blakasmurf]

Ew Midge...

[@emmablack1230]

I don't like how they belittled Midge. She had a poster but not a line. They said a pregnant doll was "too weird." But why is that weird? Because pregnancy is weird and should be hidden or at least covered? There is nothing wrong with playing with a pregnant doll and it can be a good way for kids to learn.

[@Iknowitsweird]

The woman sitting next to me in the theater couldn't stop crying when the credits rolled. While I also think the film tackled too many themes and missed a lot of opportunities (why didn't Gloria and Midge get a moment??) I think there will be people who are profoundly affected by the straightforward message that women should exist as they choose to

[@stellarr.r]

THIS. womanhood is beautiful & seeing that hit hard for a lot of us because we’re taught that it’s not.

[@Vortex_ICEcold]

Who tf cries over a stupid movie like this lol

[@stellarr.r]

@@Vortex_ICEcold who tf takes time out of their day to judge & hate on people they’ve never met 💀

[@sim9373]

Ok… but my sandwich isn’t gonna make itself

[@famousflow12]

​@@sim9373Then you better get in the kitchen and make it and don't forget to add mayonnaise 🤡 .

[@helloitsmealeks7958]

I do not mind the "shallowness" of the movie because I am very emotional and if it had run any deeper I could not have enjoyed the aesthetic and jokes because I probably would have cried the whole time. It is pink and fun and just enough to make people think and that is what I hoped for. Also, we needed two musical scenes.

[@SuperJust4girls]

I agree with that. I had some moments that were too close to home.

[@CosmicFox808]

I completely agree about too much Ken. Could have done with a much shorter musical number. I love your idea for having Barbie stay in the real world for a night, hanging out with the 2 human characters. That was SUCH a missed opportunity.

[@music4life813]

One of Enchanted’s major wins was getting us to understand why Giselle would choose the real world

[@Larissa-zt6nr]

i disagree.... her main reason is bc of a guy (and his daughter) then the realworld itself

[@arrenshepperd6146]

@@Larissa-zt6nr that is just as simplified as when someone says, Ariels main reason to go to the human world was for a guy.

[@mhawang8204]

Not really. Giselle brought the magic with her. Animals helping you clean or people doing a whole choreographed musical number in Central Park don’t happen in the real world. She experienced an unreal version of the real world.

[@saltedcaramel88]

delusional, barbie better than that crap

[@UncommonPlans]

The only thing I disagree with in this video is that cellulite equals being fat. It does not and never has. All women of all shapes & sizes are capable of having cellulite. I think the use of cellulite is just another way to show how Barbie isn’t perfect and was becoming more of a real life woman. I do agree that using aging would have been more meaningful but I don’t think the cellulite was used as a reference for her being afraid of gaining weight.

[@CountGrishnakh]

I'm 5'7, 117 lbs, and still have thigh cellulite if I squish the skin on my thighs together 😐

[@fleurelise997]

Your analysis of the film's treatment of key themes and issues really clarifies the main challenges with making this film a serious treatise on the experience of women and social roles. I think that the filmmakers did not want to offend anyone and wanted Barbie to have broad appeal. But it ends up being too light to have a sharp satirical focus and too weighed down by cynicism to be truly comical. It's a toy picture they tried to turn into a major cultural event. Barbie reminds me so much of the Brady Bunch revival movies, but the thing is the Brady movies were really entertaining and laugh out loud funny enough to hold your interest for the entire film. It was hard to stay awake at times during Barbie. They focused so much on the visuals and costumes and not enough on a compelling storyline.

[@Ella-gb7no]

weakens the emotinal impact? bro i disagree, i was SOBBING at the montage scene, there were its serious sad moments- especially for a comedy, not a drama. and yet it still managed to be heartfelt and touching. Also, i disagree with the will ferrel thing. i thought he was hilarious and i loved his performance, one of my favorite lines form the film was the "im the son of a mother and the mother of a son" thing. i was literally laughing out loud at that. yes hes played comedic characters like that a lot, but thats just cuz hes GOOD at it. just my opinion.

[@Pinkladyisv]

I also found myself crying at the montage too. I absolutely loved this movie!

[@kittycolours]

The montage was the nail in the coffin for me, I’m even tearing up just thinking about it. To me, it was to show how ever since her creation, Barbie was there for little girls and women alike. She has had every experience of a little girl and every adult because Barbie was made to be every experience. Barbie isn’t just a plastic Bimbo, Barbie is what it is like to be a woman.

[@Ella-gb7no]

@VanomtheFurryLose girl tf? i cry because the movie reminded me of my childhoood. if thats "soft" to you, even though its not, then fine by me cuz ill cry whenevr the hell i want

[@d.v.7494]

Summary for those that didn't get the movie: Mattel wanted to keep the Barbie brand alive by making a movie for any woman old enough to feel nostalgic about Barbie. NOT FOR KIDS! Yet at the theater I saw a bunch of kids. 🤷‍♀️ The whole movie is supposed to be satire of Barbie lore, how little girls tend to play with Barbies (ex. Kens have no homes, they are an accessory for the Barbies, how everything is "perfect", etc), and satire about how ridiculous the patriarchal side of society is by showing you how ridiculous a matriarchy is in Barbieland. Now, the juicy stuff. The whole movie is filled with metaphors! Yes, Barbie represents a doll but she is also supposed to represent a little girl growing into a woman! She realizes that her body is that of a woman and that it can be objectified now when she gets to the real world. The real world represents growing up and realizing how things work, how things are different than what you expected as a little girl, how not everything is perfect and how you have to deal with it anyway because you are an adult. The fact that she is developed and does have a vagina, the realization that she will eventually age and die, hence the scene with the old lady at the bus stop, these are all things she already knew as a little girl but that where never at the front of her mind until now that shes growing up. The Margot Robbie Barbie represents specifically a girl that is growing up, that is doubting herself, and doesn't know who she is, the other barbies generally know who they are or who they want to be (ex, doctor, president, etc) but the main protagonist doesn't. Yes Mattel tries to prevent havoc from occurring but it also represents how corporations target young girls and women as consumers and try to put them in "boxes" to solve all their problems and sell them "solutions" or fixed identities to make money. Barbie looking for answers with a corporation didn't solve anything. So later in the movie she seeks answers with her creator who can very easily represent god or a mother figure, telling her that yes, they created/birthed her but that she needs to be the one to decide who she is and who she wants to be. Barbie decides to leave fantasy land and go to the real world where she can find herself and confront reality and mature as a woman. Ken also represents a boy reaching manhood. He does not represent all men, he only represents those who wanted to take the easy path, those who chose to keep the mentality of immature boys instead of putting in the hard work in becoming men. Ken doesnt decide to find himself, he ties his self worth to female attention and trying to seem more cool/masculine than other Kens. When he goes into the real world he doesn't feel objectified even when is being objectified and sees all attention as good attention. When he goes to the real world he seeks jobs with other men (lifeguard, etc) but these men tell him that he still needs to put in some work to become something (prepare himself, learn skills, etc), so he decides to take the easy path instead and goes back to the fantasy world to try to gain power there by force. At the end of the movie he realizes that his self worth doesn't depend on a woman, that its ok that he doesn't know who he is or what he wants to do with his life yet, but that he needs to try to figure it out, even if it takes work. The whole movie shows that both matriarchy and patriarchy are stupid. That both men and women can be shitty to eachother when they cling to eachother for self worth without at least trying to figure out who they are outside of a relationship and the work they need to put in themselves as they grow from kids to adults to face reality. In other words its about both men and women maturing before they can come together in a healthy way.

[@vivianchiong]

you explained all the story beats so well!!

[@adrielayson749]

PREACH!! SAY IT LOUDER!!

[@d.v.7494]

Allan is also immune to the Kens' antics because he represents a healthy mature man. He is the only one that is a FATHER (he comes with the Midge doll) and also knows of the real world/adult world!

[@marinatomasc]

Yes!! Just Yes. You explained so many fellings I was having since I saw the movie.

[@PhyynRR]

your takeaway is better than the movie, ive seen it 3 times now(to make a video rewriting it to be more feminist) and i didnt get a few of those metaphors at all while watching, but im glad you came up with those.

[@koteek8657]

You hit the nail on the head!! Most things felt rushed. We didn’t have time for emotions to sink in, or for us to witness the “why” behind characters’ personalities and directives. I love you idea of replacing the Mattel subplot with Barbie spending a night or two in the real world, to truly experience more of what humanity is like. She could really pry into Gloria’s character too. That would give so much more meaning to the movie as a whole.

[@kellyb7561]

i disagree about barbie only having negative experiences in the real world. she has that beautiful moment in the park when she really gets to take in the world for the first time. i also think she had a great time talking to ruth in the mattel building and probably enjoyed the car chase where she gets to meet gloria. even though i do really agree that she should have spent more time in the real world i don't think its fair to say she only had negative experiences.

[@bethanysingsmrs849]

i dont get why she told that grandma that she was beautiful

[@CoquetteCygnet]

@@bethanysingsmrs849it’s mainly because she’s learning to appreciate the real world, and things that aren’t plastic like dolls. For her to call the old lady beautiful is a sweet moment because she feels a connection to other women in the real world, and though they’re not Barbies, they’re still beautiful to her.

[@CCela1608]

She also sees the flashes of memory of the teen girl growing up and how bittersweet and beautiful that is, how experiencing all the changes over time is what it means to be human and that is beautiful. She connects all these things and can then see the beauty of the old woman too

[@tatiana8050]

I disagree that the jokes take away from the seriousness, I feel like it’s appropriate for the movie to sort of “ignore” the seriousness up until the end. It’s reflecting Barbie and how she doesn’t start to really understand the seriousness of what happened until the end of the movie, then she is forced to deal with it, like life. 12:17

[@asterionismo]

"The films approach to womens empowerment felt like an intro to feminism instagram graphic" EXACTLYYYYY 💯

[@brysiax3]

Agreed, but I wouldn't say that it is necessarily a negative

[@NotAnotherKuromi]

​@brysiax3 Do you not think the film covering feminism in more depth would be a good thing?

[@andthatsondana]

I love your takes on movies, and I respect your opinion, but I have to disagree some on this one. I saw Barbie a few days ago and I have felt more emotionally attached to it as time has passed. I think it does an excellent job of explaining the message while still being lighthearted and funny. The first point of yours I disagree with it that when they make jokes, it under cuts the message they’re making. I don’t think that’s the case at all here. Most of the time when trying to discuss a serious topic (like misogyny here) it causes (typically men) to not listen or understand because they feel they are personally being blamed. But if the message is being given with quick quips and jokes, the people who need to hear the message are more likely to listen to it. I would have liked to see Barbie have one positive experience in the real world, but I think Mattel is important. It shows that even things made for women are still run by men. And I don’t think Gloria’s character is bad either. I see her as a representation of all women, a Y/N of sorts. And her big speech doesn’t change her personality because it’s something that all women know and understand and live already. So she’s not making a leap of judgment. I also disagree with the “Barbie not realizing she’s smart”. I think it mimics how as children grow up, they start to realize they know more than they think. Like I’ve had instances where I’ve explained something scientific, only then realizing just how much I know. I don’t think it makes her look stupid, I think it’s realistic. In the end, I think it is a well done feminist movie. It appears shallow, but it “lures” in people who wouldn’t normally watch any feminist content. It’s lighthearted to allow the points to hit a little softer. Meaning, it’s a fun movie to watch at the time, put provokes thought after. I respect your opinion though! Everyone having their take on movies is important :))

[@rowenalumacad8348]

YOU TOOK THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH THANK U!!

[@agirlwithdreams15]

Just because you like the film doesn't mean OP is wrong. The Barbie movie is shallow, and it's ok to admit

[@sophiaarias9341]

@@agirlwithdreams15they never said it wasn’t shallow, but that it serves as a nice introduction into feminism. Barbie is a very mainstream character and pop culture staple. I don’t think anyone should have expected the movie to serve as a great thinkpiece on feminism, when its target audience is very broad. there’s also going to be a lot of young girls who watch this film, so while it may appear shallow to you, Barbie could be the first step on a little girl’s journey to female empowerment. if you want a deep dive on feminism, you can look elsewhere. but i think making the movie heavily focused on the intricacies of feminism would undermine the entire film, which is supposed to be campy and fun. zootopia is a very shallow take on modern-day racism, but it’s a decent introduction for children and a way to start a conversation.

[@beakiddo9532]

Exactly!!

[@qtdeshina]

I am a 28 year old clinical children's therapist, and I agree! I love this movie.

[@cristinasponk]

25:05 i think you missed the point!! Every woman has cellulite, regardless of their weight: meanwhile, the barbies don’t have it because they’re supposed to be made from plastic, not human skin. Also cellulite shows up during adolescence, waaay earlier than gray hair, so I think it fits the coming-of-age aspect of the story. I do agree with the other perplexities you’ve expressed about the film tho

[@agirlwithdreams15]

Not every woman has cellulite, and some men do

[@ejstrunck]

I was so looking for this in the comments! The cellulite isn’t about getting fat, it’s about being human. Literally anyone can have it.

[@itzelwind5813]

Yup im skinny and i have cellulite its just a thing humans can get

[@pwnership3292]

Ken was not the villain, he was the antagonist.

[@rangoooo2312]

Ken was not water, he was H2O

[@bangband1]

@@rangoooo2312 Learn the difference, google is right there.

[@blakasmurf]

Ken's neither he's the hero. He saved the whole film... It wouldn't be nearly as funny without him!

[@cinnamonroll96]

@@blakasmurf he is the antagonist. girl he was one of the funniest characters in this movie (weird Barbie, Alan were also awesome) but let's not forget his antagonistic side is the parody of a sexist and patriarchal man over the course of this movie. And the movie was freaking awesome regardless. He did not save the movie. He was an important part of it! So of course he’s essential and of course it wouldn’t be as funny without him. He’s the type of person the film is making fun of and doing satire with. Edit: So you laugh at him bc he’s a joke and a clown. You don’t laugh bc what he says is funny and he’s a role model and inspiration (unfortunately a lot of dudes did not get this memo). Even the serious part of the song was a mirroring of what women experience in the real world. Being an accessory not their own person, being defined through their husbands, boyfriends. Being systematically overlooked and ignored, disrespected and put down. Not seen as their own person worth of being recognized, given credit where credit is due etc. Or even that their success and hard work, achievements and performance is being credited to their husbands and bf. Not something most dudes can relate to, bc they are not the “and Ken”. Only the „friendzone“ and not getting this kind of undivided attention and simping/adoration (like with the guitar scene on the beach) part was mirroring something dudes can relate to. But that was more of a parody, also with the whole „check me out, I’m great at doing stuff” thing. The song didn’t end with being enough. The part about being enough as you are, is the important message. But that didn’t come from ken nor the song but Barbie. Somehow a lot of dudes act like he or the song said that though? Which I don’t understand. And this one is so important. You are enough. You don’t need a bros or a woman’s undivided attention to be worthy of something. You are kenough. And you shouldn’t define yourself and your whole being over another person, be it a friend, be it a partner, be it parents or children or whatever.

[@d6421-e9c]

​@@cinnamonroll96Oh, so when the Barbies were ruling and treating the Kens like dumb boyfriends it's okay, but it makes Ken the villain when it's the other way around, so you're saying sexism towards men is okay and it makes Barbie a heroine t stop the patriarchy, so imagine if Barbie was the villain and someone said she was the hero that saved the movie, you would probably agree just cause she's a woman, it's feminists like you that piss me off, you women get everything you've ever wanted yet still bitch about your lives being awful, and you don't actually do something you just bitch, if you wanted to help out help the women who are still getting harassed or raped rather than whine about a guy staring at you, and the modern feminists of today are just hypocrites! Just to let you know I'm a woman, just shows how the feminists of today are failing so much even a woman can't agree with their ways anymore, you guys are just spitting on your ancestors grave at this point🙄

[@flordeespinart]

I have had cellulite visible since age 12. I enjoyed the cellulite joke. yes there is fat/plus sizr Barbies in Barbieland but they are dolls! their skin is smooth, cellulite free because they are plastic! in the real world being fat is not equivalent to cellulite. and that is something they did, that even though Margot is labeled as bombshell she has cellulite because she is human

[@justatinyhalfling]

The scene with Barbie and the wonderful lady at the bus stop will stay with me forever and that alone is enough for me to be glad this movie exists. 🥰

[@KellyLatiolais]

I found myself crying uncontrollably at that part!

[@justatinyhalfling]

@@KellyLatiolais Me, too! It was such a wonderful way of saying so much about female aging and the importance of seeing the wonder in it, simply by showing two visually very different women acknowledging and appreciating each other's worth and beauty. A powerful scene.

[@nmejiag5030]

Fun fact: Gerwig had to fight with Mattel to not delete the scene because she thought, rightfully, that it was the essence of the movie she wanted to make.

[@trinaq]

Preach, it was so sweet, and honestly made me happy cry. The lady is played by award winning costume designer, Ann Roth, and not the real Barbara Handler, as some may believe.

[@phoebevaughan5095]

Best bit in the film for me!

[@missbellaiza]

My only flaws in the movie: 1. How fast Sasha and Gloria changes. Gloria’s speech is beautiful but it didn’t win me over because how little she was developed. I agree that Barbie should’ve stayed in Gloria’s house for a day, just like how Giselle from enchanted stayed in Robert’s house for more then a day. 2. Ruth as a mother and Barbie as a daughter would’ve been expressed better. The mother daughter expression could’ve been pushed more. 3. I think because it has too many conversation and discussion that it overlaps and overdoing. It does some showing and not telling, some not all. I feel like they should’ve condensed the overstated conversation and expand on the relationship with Gloria and Sasha and have Barbie express the ugly side of life like getting old, grey hair, etc. and other common human things, then it would’ve been better. I would’ve preferred if their messaging was subtle, the humor is pretty good. I feel like some things were condensed through editing, but because of this movie, I doubt it won’t win any awards. I see this movie getting an Oscar or two. I feel like the feeling and commentary of the movie hits better with the sound off sadly, but I’m not entirely disappointed seeing it, is a relief. I just wished there was more to be added. The music, visuals and the acting are phenomenal, just wanted more. Barbie the icon is great, but I would’ve loved Barbie the character. I’ll still rewatch it, it’s not bad, is like a 9/10.

[@1-h2k]

Exactly. Although I love the bench scene, like 5 minutes of her there does not convince me that she's convinced that the human world is way better. Having a plot line where she hangs out with Gloria and Sasha would be amazing AND if they got to develop Gloria and Sasha's relationship with each other while Barbie is there would be even better. That way Barbie can see human struggles with relationship but also the beauty of family and overcoming issues. If the plot was more about aging and complex human relationships and emotions, this would be a beautiful movie. I was way too taken aback by the fast pace, lack of character development and overlapping satirical plotlines to really enjoy this film, but it just needed a little tweaking tbh

[@mochi8847]

I totally agree, that's my main problem with it. Though I adore the message and what they were trying to do, I feel like it's such lazy film making and writing to explain the entire feminist dialogue instead of displaying it through meaningful actions, character development, and symbolism. Like you said, too much tell, not enough show. I know Greta Gerwig is an absolutely fantastic director but I think she was just too caught up here in making it a kids AND adult movie. Kids need the message to be straightforward. Adults can handle it being more nuanced and therefore, more impactful. But, by combining audiences, it was just a weird mix of language children could understand with topics adults have to deal with. I also think in today's modern society, we are geared towards more superficial movies, rather than those which are in-depth and require a lot of intellectual thought from the viewer, so that's also part of it. I was really excited for this movie, but ended up being disappointing in it unfortunately. I think the real feminist movement though was how everyone gathered to watch it, which was so heartwarming and endearing.

[@kakerumasumoto3275]

Only but made 3 reasons damn

[@robynlee143]

I think a lot of people are making the mistake of taking the film more seriously than it takes itself.

[@ipunchedu8884]

@VanomtheFurryLose it's satire so you have to take it partially seriously but not completely, otherwise you fall into the trap of what satire does

[@UnicornLoft]

​@@ipunchedu8884yee

[@selrox879]

The conservatives are having a meltdown lmao

[@infalliblle]

r word

[@thesevenkingswelove9554]

​@VanomtheFurryLose it's mostly satire tho, you are not supposed to take it as literal since it's also a work of fiction.

[@359339]

The bus stop moment was my favourite, and I think her saying the line to a total stranger is really important. It's not a message of "you're beautiful on the inside." I read it more as Barbie finds it beautiful that this woman's visible aging shows she has lived a long life (instead of the same day over and over). Maybe Barbie simply finds her beautiful because she's something new and organic. I think Barbie doesn't have to have positive real world experiences to convince her to become human - I think it's enough that she isn't satisfied with being a conceptual object anymore. But I otherwise agree with a lot of the review. I think Sasha could have been integrated a bit into Ken's arc, since she's introduced asserting power over others at school to make herself feel important. They could compare patriarchy to juvenile posturing in a more sincere way. Also the non-Margot Barbies should have gotten their own musical number.

[@sayo2990]

14:43 isn't true, as evidenced by the scene at 14:52. One of the major things Barbie learned from her time in the real world is that human things like aging can be beautiful and rewarding. Also, she did have other positive experiences, in the most human way ever. Bonding with Gloria and Sasha while in a genuinely high stakes situation with Mattel was a way for Barbie to see the joy and positivity even when things are going to shit, which imo is a very human experience to have. Yes, the harassment and disrespect are experiences, but so are the laughs and companionship.

[@cristenkray5192]

The only thing that really bothered me ab this movie is the ending tbh. SPOILERS!!! Like I’m tired of the “non-human ends up becoming human,” trope and I think it’s frustrating. Also, Barbie being a shallow entrance point into feminism makes sense considering who wrote & directed it, who starred in it, and who the intended audience is. It was never supposed to be THE pentacle of feminist theory & rhetoric, it was meant to be a very surface level crash course.

[@dearvermin]

Exactly I think the way they portrayed feminism was slightly shallow but good for wider audiences. If it went any more into it it might’ve potentially alienated some people and overshadowed the movie as a whole. Also I’m glad it’s not just me who thinks the barbie turning into a human was kinda boring 🚶🏾‍♀️

[@cristenkray5192]

@@dearvermin THANK YOU!! Ugh I was sitting there with my friends and going “but WHY though??” But then we got distracted by Barbie World.

[@dearvermin]

@@cristenkray5192 I don’t blame you the barbie world was sooo pretty 🤩

[@amysomething3370]

​@@dearverminYeah, and also, feminism has always been growing and changing. And the same feminist has different views as they gain more life experience and meet people. So it makes sense that it was very surface level feminism, even for the characters. I liked her going to the real world though😂

[@simpleton3781]

I totally understand the disdain to the trope of nonhuman to human with the last line. But in an interview Grewig placed that line to note that Barbie was stepping into her own autonomy and Grewig wanted to show that a humanizing and non embarrassing experience of watching a beloved character have a claim over her own body for the first time ever. It’s actually some her and Robbie fought to keep in the film Edit: I totally agree with u on your second comment and my first reply was to give context to the scene and how I personally feel like although it uses the trope it uses it well given what the director wanted to talk about

[@trinaq]

Ryan Gosling should honestly be in more comedies, he's clearly great in them. Also, Will Ferrell's character and the Mattel executives didn't need to exist, I honestly kept forgetting about them.

[@emd476]

Ikr. Even just from the trailers I didn’t know what they were going to do with them, especially because Will Ferrell as an antagonist in this role is so similar to his role as President Business in the Lego movie.

[@CC-ce8md]

Literally every time they disappeared I forgot all about them. Then they popped back up and i was like oh yeah, these guys... Literal object permanence of an infant, watching this movie

[@cuzwhynot253]

Omg I see your comments everywhere 😂😂

[@loryndabenson2118]

I thought they were escaped Ken dolls and that's what took them so long to catch Barbie. Alan mentioned how there are other Ken's that escaped and living as humans so I just assumed that's what they were since they were so agreeable to Barbie and were awful at trying to catch her.

[@erinkathleen9610]

I actually liked Will Ferrell but I do think the Mattel scenes could’ve been used to better establish other characters

[@BillBrasky5351]

I actually found the scene where Barbie and Ken renact Streetcar Named Desire, but with Ken at the upstairs-- shouting down to Barbie--an interesting deconstruction of gender performativity, as we see the Ken's performing what they've been told is masculine, making evident the more subtle, insidious ways societal norms shape and shame the individual to conform to societal expectations. Ken is in the traditionally dominate, higher space, having taken over Barbies house, yet he feels truly powerless and threatened by Barbies autonomy, being on the ground but able to walk away as Ken suffers, trapped in his despair and awesome power ballads. However, the performativity is exposed even further when Ken reveals he really wasn't interested in Patriarchy after he found horses weren't involved, but was expected to perform anyway. The combination of satire and sentiment reflect the tonal duality of Bojack Horseman, another fantasy comedy that replaces the gender politics with just, soul crushing depictions of mental illness. Also, Ken's name, written in the Metallica font on his black leather fannypack really embodies the thin line between masculinity and parody. Regardless, I want to buy that fannypack so bad. Gotta get that merch.

[@AnnelisR]

Fun fact: Metallica’s official Instagram reposted a photo of that fanny pack 😂

[@BillBrasky5351]

@@AnnelisR They're just leaning into it, lol. Love it. Just Ken Debuted at #4 rock/streaming charts. It payed off.

[@prettybird2392]

Honestly. I kinda found Sasha annoying, even though I love Ariana Greenblatt.

[@iantempleton313]

She also didn’t even really learn anything or change. Her arc was just tossed to the side

[@finland4ever55]

I don't like how she literally calls barbie a nazi. and when you consider barbie was based on a german doll and looks like s stereotypical german, the "fascist" thing also indicates that she's anti-german and it makes me uncomfortable how not only is that a possibility, but.... there's been a very weird and icky thing where Reich-related words like "fascist" and "aryan" are now being normalized as casual things to throw around. For example, if you're white or blonde and someone hates you or is talking about race, so many times they just call you an "aryan". These aren't words we should be using outside of talks about WW2.

[@elblooderino]

@@iantempleton313i think this is my main problem with the character as well. i don’t have a problem with her being overbearing, edgy, and annoying with how she delivers her politics because that was (at least, in my pov) intentional. she’s an adolescent who is coming of age into womanhood and she’s trying to make sense of the world - particularly sexism and ways to unpack/challenge it. she views the world with a very black-and-white lens like many young people with underdeveloped politics do, hence why she lobbed heavy critiques towards barbie like calling her a fascist (even though she certainly does not qualify as such), instead of understanding her as a complex figure who has both positive and negative influences on our culture. she comes around in the end and makes amends with her perception of barbie, but this and the reconciliation of her relationship with gloria are kinda underbaked in comparison to other conflicts in the movie.

[@botanicalitus4194]

@@finland4ever55wait, but that was the point. She called Barbie a fascist, which she clearly wasnt. That was literally the joke. It was making fun of how hyper cynical many young people are in the modern world and how quickly they jump to extreme conclusions and labeling people with extreme labels. Also, nazism and fascism still exist in the modern day, so its ok to use those words to describe people but only if its accurate. Like Richard Spencer

[@kawaiimadeline3]

That’s Ariana Greenblatt? She’s so much older now that I didn’t recognize her.

[@zombiemannequinrobot]

I think it’s important to remember that it’s an immense privilege to have even an intermediate concept of those ideas. Most Americans do not have the leisure or the access to a lot of information we take for granted to sit for hours bouncing these ideas off each other, reading, researching, etc. This film is made by a toy company about the toy product that made it billions of dollars and put it on the map in collaboration with one of Hollywood’s oldest largest studios. It was never going to give feminism with fangs. It’s about a children’s toy with the approval of its ceos who are represented as simple dudes who want to have tickle fights. Like… come on. It is also a comedy made for a broad audience which again most Americans are not talking about these things at length. For instance, my dad only cursorily knows some of this through me. He’s a truck driver who barely takes vacation because he can’t afford it. That’s how most Americans live. This may be elementary to many of us but will be the first time grappling with these ideas for many. And honestly it’s ok to refresh yourself on old concepts and have light fare about it. I would’ve loved a comedy like this as a child to introduce me to these conversations in a way that presented them as safe to have. I had things like Legally Blonde and All I Wanna Do growing up but this is much more pointed which is useful for girls coming up who may throw this on for a sleep over.

[@kaatyblue]

wish i could like this comment multiple times

[@karentapia8868]

This!!!!!!

[@abigailsmith4308]

This comment. Thank you! As a viewer outside the US in a country with a depressing number of feminicides, this movie was an excellent frothy introduction to feminism, especially for women who aren't so steeped in the privilege associated with being so deeply knowledgeable about THEORY. Not every woman needs a full on advanced course in feminism for a film to sufficiently connect to their lived experience and validate them, and this movie did enough to connect the dots for those unfamiliar with the broader points within feminist theory. Stop expecting Andrea Dworkin for 90 minutes and let the girls have fun 🤩

[@adrielayson749]

THANK YOU SAY IT LOUDER TO MODERNGURLZ!

[@lovelylanafansweetie4240]

Yesss ❤❤❤❤

[@penthousewhippit]

Just watched this again after watchign the disney adkorable characters one and I'm now seeing a pattern of studios being afraid to let an emotional moment exist without ruining it with a punchline

[@firstnamelastname534]

watch overly sarcastic productions videos abt lampshading and bathos if you wanna have these feelings completely validated lmao

[@1940semochild]

I really liked the "Margot Robbie is not the person to cast if you want to make this point" line and it got the biggest laugh in the theater when I saw it. But upon watching the movie a few times now, I have to agree. Barbie was having a real moment of vulnerability in grappling with her identity and purpose in the Barbieland community that a meta joke about the actress wasn't needed. The core issue for her was she didn't serve a real function in that society because she did not have a high powered career, was not professionally accomplished. To harken back to what she said earlier she was just likeable and pretty. Its a genuine emotional moment she has and what she's unpacking that I wish they leaned into more without the joke and before launching into Gloria's monologue immediately.

[@fizzteria]

i literally loved the way you put and interpret everything i totally agree the way you said "little boys are allowed to grow up and retain their childhood interests and hobbies, but little girls are expected to stop playing make believe" like that actually hit me so hard i teared up

[@_Sakidora_]

It's also not true.

[@katfujioka212]

@@_Sakidora_ It is if you live in a very conformist environment where traditional gender roles are maintained. I grew up basically like a boy and am neurodivergent, so dont really see the importance of social norms and gender role rules. When I grew up a little, I kept a lot of my wacky/childish hobbies, and was seen as a freak by the other girls who'd felt pressured to become adult before they were ready...

[@_Sakidora_]

@@katfujioka212 Possibly, but you can't generalise about the whole country based on your specific upbringing.

[@dummy3300]

That's silly boys are told to grow up way more than girls, boys are just more persistent with their hobbies because they get less social attention

[@lastman7409]

​@@katfujioka212what hobbiws were they ans where did you grow up?

[@becalauren4654]

I feel like Barbie showed pink, pretty, girl power world where matriarchy and feminisim rules and men are accessories and when they travel to the real world we are shown the patriarchy, the men in charge, the exact opposite of the female empowered Barbie land where the women are treated like objects. The political side of this film showed that both extreme patriarchal and matriarchal worlds extremely hurt the opposite gender.

[@zljmbo]

which isn't really true, there have been cultures that adopted matriarchal system that helped with reducing violence and death caused by land distribution. men are hurting other men even in the system we are living right now

[@Tarikkb]

⁠@@zljmboyes violence does go down but that’s not the only issue humans deal with , overall it’ll be better in some areas but it will also create its own issues , also matriarchy can also become oppressive , any group given the most power can later become oppressive no matter with what intentions it starts out with , with this movie ofc it didn’t cover every area of matriarchal and patriarchal oppression but it did touch a few points

[@frenchbread7909]

Im not sure about extremely. In the Barbie world, men are treated as accessories and ignored but they’re not harmed and abused. It’s a comedic film but I doubt the Kens fear for their life when they are around women vs a world with patriarchy where physical/sexual violence is a constant threat for women

[@etheric1]

@@frenchbread7909 This, and also when Barbieland is a matriarchy the Kens are pretty much just ignored, the worst thing that happens to them is the Barbies don't really consider them that much. When it becomes the Kendom the Kens have taken over the Barbie's houses, taken their careers, and turned them into sexualized maids. There's a difference between indifference and exerting control.

[@lachlainegordon806]

In the words of Simon Debeuviour ( I can’t spell her last name), “its the notion of power that needs to be destroyed”

[@frozenweevil4022]

it felt for me like it tried to have its cake and eat it too; tried to be existential but didn’t develop, tried to be camp and self aware but then tried to be serious in the same breath. it was pretty short and didn’t leave much room to explore.

[@twilightfades_7]

💯 agree!

[@depressivelife2406]

your pfp is absolutely cursed. i love it

[@igortoons7287]

I don’t think that motherhood should be a plot or an angle on the movie it’s literally mention to exemplify that before barbie girls only were expected to be mother, I think that Barbie it’s everything but a mother, as kids had the toy for that, so I preferred the angle of the creator instead of a mother, even though Ruth refers as mother

[@igortoons7287]

Also the trope on “omg I’m so smart” it’s literally exemplifying the thought on a kids playing barbie as smart or as incredible as they want to, like in cartoons

[@emmangarcia8658]

the fact that theres a barbie president and a nobel prize winner is still not an excuse for them to know what that entails as a whole just as a child doesn’t know either of it when they’re playing with that, and actually yes barbie saying “omg did i just say that?” it’s a great line that proves the previous point, it seems like all the barbies in barbieland are awear of the posibilities and carreers for women in the real world but still they are clueless about what all those things actually entails, so when barbie gets to the real world and knows a new perspective she has the ability to talk with a human knowledge of what being a nobel prize winner or a president entails, instead of talking like the clueless doll that she used to be

[@emmangarcia8658]

+ also, the idea of barbie and motherhood and the fact that barbie can also be a mother is not something that stays with midge in the movie, by the end gloria says that the new barbie can be everything, maybe she wants to be a president, maybe she don’t, maybe she wants to be a mother le maybe not but either of it, it’s okay, THAT shown that little girls can imagine with it and that the idea of barbie (and independent and empowered “woman”) it’s not separated with the desire of also wanting to be a mom, yes maybe that part shouldn’t be as brief as it was in the movie but is still there, just wanted to remind you

[@stellarr.r]

yeah i saw that “omg did i just say that” part as like “oh my god yeah… that is me. i am smart.” like a snap back. like she forgot who she was for a sec and then was impressed with herself bc that’s WHO SHE IS. i feel like me & a lot of other women i know sometimes forget their own power just due to day to day life and when you snap back into it, it’s shocking and amazing

[@LaneyEP]

“we have to always be extraordinary but somehow we’re always doing it wrong” I feel maybe the mark was missed on this one, whirl sure its a very surface level and bit cheesy but thats the point! its just a fun movie about transitioning from girlhood into women hood and the territory that comes with. The audience for this movie are for all people of all ages and sends a very understandable message especially to young girls. I feel saying that this movie wasnt “deep enough” is totally looking over the main point of the movie. If you watch tbis movie with the intent to criticize you will always find something wrong with it. Its ok to just watch a movie for fun and have fun watching a movie!! its not always about the deeper meaning of things

[@marespinosa-fj5zm]

sure its not always about the deeper meaning of things but greta gerwig obviously made this movie with a message and intention to get that message across to a very wide audience. with that said, when you center an entire movie around an idea of feminism such as this one, you cant seriously just say "just enjoy the movie it was just fun!" when the ENTIREE movie is LITERALLY about the hardships of being a woman and living in a patriarchal world. you can have fun while also critiquing its weak spots

[@NiseGen-13]

​@@marespinosa-fj5zmMajority of the movies were catered towards men and screams patriarchy. How comes there is no "Deep Discussions" about it like what you are doing? Additionally, the original poster is right. You overlooked the main point of the movie and only pointing out what you wanted to see. For audiences who sees the movie with open mind and not look for things that isn't there, they understand the message of the movie. The message of the movie is that it is OK to be normal and not be perfect. It is OK not to be like Barbie, a very perfect being that every girls in the 90s dream of. It is OK to be YOU and not being just an accessory to Barbie.

[@marespinosa-fj5zm]

@@NiseGen-13 tell me youre joking pls! barbie is a movie centered around feminism. the entirety of it is a message, a statement, about the patriarchy all of it is. when i went to watch this movie i was expecting a fun movie abt barbie discovering the real world however while watching it i realized its abt living in a patriarchal world. i understand the message of the movie but that doesnt mean it was executed well and makes it exempt from critique. have fun enjoy the movie but be open to discussions about the films goods and bads.

[@NiseGen-13]

@@marespinosa-fj5zm You don't have to defend yourself. If that is the only thing you wanted to see then that is the only thing you see. There is no point teaching the dog how to speak when it only knows how to bark.

[@marespinosa-fj5zm]

@@NiseGen-13 if you cant handle criticism get off the internet. this movie was made to spark discussion and if you cant open your mind to other people's points of view, then i dont know why youre even bothering trying to counter my opinion. the wise man can change his mind; the stubborn one never.

[@JossSCarlisle]

1. This is a personal anecdote that really isn't objective on the overall quality or commentary that the film provides but this movie really helped me to better connected with my identity as a trans person. Very specifically the line that Gloria says, "I'm just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us." There have been so many times that I've decided to put on pants (which aren't inherently masculine, but make an AMAB person like me present more masculine) instead of dressing more femininely because I wanted people to like me or take me more seriously. It helped me acknowledge the screwed up privilege in that but also how much I'm willing to let other people's perception of me affect how I express my gender identity. Which brings me to my next point... 2. This movie did the right thing by not trying to be an academic breakdown of feminism through the lens of Barbie. There's a reason why it was the highest grossing film over the weekend, and that's because it was able to capture an audience that previously had not really been a part of online discourse. I never thought of this movie as a movie attempting to give a younger generation an in on feminism. They're already on the internet and they're already a part of the "discourse." I've always thought this movie was meant for the working mom who comes home from work, makes dinner, and then goes to bed because she has work in the morning and she has to take her kids to school. Those kinds of parents don't have time to be apart of the online discourse or the discussions we've been having about feminism and as a result, they've not been given the space to express how they've been affected by a patriarchal society. It's why I think, despite being a feeling expressed online for a while know, Gloria's monologue works well. It has been heard but not by this audience. 3. I also think that this movie has a better grasp on the goals of feminism than other mainstream movies that claim to be feminist. The beginning of the movie looks like something straight off the end of Camilla Cabello's Cinderella. They're all girl bosses because that's what a feminist is right? The movie shows us that feminism, and feminist movements, have always been about the freedom of choice and the freedom to choose your own path. You should be just a mother if that's what you want, you should be able to be anything you want, and that's true feminism (at least from where I'm standing). It shows how patriarchal thinking is toxic to everyone, including men who don't know how to define themselves outside of what society thinks they should be. Overall, I do think the movie is doing A LOT, and to some extent I agree that Gloria should have been a bigger part of the movie. As someone who identifies as transfemme/nonbinary, I also think that this movie is VERY binary and it doesn't hold a lot of space for people like me who don't fit perfectly in the binary. Any criticism of this film (except for the criticism that it's a man-hating piece of trash) I've seen so far is valid and I understand the reasoning behind it. It's not a perfect film for me but at the end of the day I think this movie is doing a lot more good than it is bad. There's so much joy in this film and I think that's something that everyone needs.

[@cyrilmarasigan7108]

Wow! What a great summary

[@ExtraordinaryDork]

Excellent summary!

[@missnoneofyourbusiness]

Underrated comment

[@pixie4184]

I actually really liked the Mattel exec’s storyline, because it further highlighted the message about the patriarchy in the real world and I think added to Barbie’s crisis. She was expecting a group of women to represent Mattel, but instead was met with a bunch of old men who made all the creative decisions on Barbies, Will contradicting himself as a feminist head of the company many times, like by calling Barbie a jezebel when she didn’t do exactly as he wanted, and barely coming up with any names for prominent female figures in their company. Although they wasted precious screen time by showing the executives chasing Barbie, they still played an important role in the movie. I took it more as a smart reference to how many male politicians are the ones making decisions on female bodies, much like the executives do about what Barbies are and aren’t acceptable.

[@CaseyGreene-h9f]

I got the feeling the execs were supposed to be the main villain at some point but Mattell maybe didn’t want to go there. I thought the weakest part of the movie was when Ken took over tbh I thought it would have tied the themes together more cleanly if Mattell took over Barbieland instead and she had to save it using her own imagination or getting the Barbies to take it back.

[@_Sakidora_]

Except Barbie was invented by a woman, Mattel was run by a woman for years, there are women on the Mattel board now and the US is not a patriarchy. If it wasn't for the whiney scene where whatsherface winges about how hard it is to be a woman you could take this as a satire of feminism, the real world being as much a fantasy world as Barbieland, a world in which every man is a leering, bumbling idiot, something only feminists are stupid enough to believe.

[@marplu]

@@CaseyGreene-h9fyes honestly these two plot lines really confused me. I didn’t know what to focus on

[@mascara1777]

Us women should be choosing life always.

[@MyOrangeString]

Interesting take! however, I still think the exec part of the movie is one of the most cliched one, it's really the low hanging fruit of a feminist take on anything. Gloria's monologue, being all tell not show, resonated far more with audiences than the "show don't tell" exec storyline which was bland and cliched.

[@Tinybeequeen]

Your suggestion of having her stay in the real world longer is amazing, I really wish they’d done that 😩

[@sashhhaa4874]

frr I thought Gloria was gonna take Barbie to her house too 😭😭 and Barbie was gonna stay in the real world for a bit longer 😅

[@itsallaboutaz]

I think one element that you loverlooked is that to some extent Barbie & Ken are developed as if they're children in the begining in Barbieland, and Barbies journey to becoming "human" is a reflection of the journey of growing up from childhood more than anything else, which is very often when women start becoming self aware of the world around them and the fact they're treated differently. I know that some people might just say its because its meant to be like children playing with dolls, but it seems all very intentional, when Ken learns about patriarchy he takes it back to Barbieland and introduces it in the same way a child might, even going as far as to have a fake/play/pretend battle exactly like little boys do, which I think massively plays into the simplification of some of the messages and themes, because they're learning about them much in the way a child would with no prior knowledge of these concepts. I also feel like Greta would've gone further with a lot of these themes, but I think her and Margot were probably quite aware of trying to make this messaging as palatable as possible to sell to the masses, and people are still calling it "man hating" even with how light and comedic it is, even some women won't support its feminist message. I dont think its a perfect movie, I wish Gloria had far more development, and Ken took up precious screen time that should've gone to developing Barbie (But perhaps its intentional commentary on how even in a Barbie movie the male character has more development than her?), but I think it does a much better job of spreading its message than you give it credit for.

[@TertiaryQuota]

People are calling it misandrist because it makes them uncomfortable 💀💀

[@ryanparker4996]

​@@TertiaryQuotatheyre calling it that, because it is 🤡

[@mauve9266]

I love the interpretation of the movie as a coming of age story. I think especially at the beginning (pre puberty) it adds another layer as to why Ken is so eager to cosplay adulthood like he wants to have a sort of sexual relationship with barbie but he doesn’t know why like a lot of younger boys (and men) are told sex is important and their ability to have it with a woman is what makes them a man. It’s also a reason that when barbie entered the real world the objectification and misogyny she experiences is so extreme. Like that’s how it FEELS when you’re 13 and ogled at by men sometimes 3,4 times your age.

[@itsallaboutaz]

@@ryanparker4996 I dont know how you can say that, if you've actually watched the film its actually very sympathetic to Ken and he somewhat gets more development and growth than Barbie, they flipped the roles of how women were treated in a 1950's world, if it makes you uncomfortable or makes you think its "man hating" - then you have no grasp on how women, or any othered group of people were actually treated for the majority of history, because it was far worse. If you think that its misandrist its only a reflection of your own thoughts on women and how they're treated.

[@MegaMilenche]

@@itsallaboutaz God, you don't make any sense.

[@thomascardenas4656]

I wish they had done more with Alan

[@anonymous-wb9tn]

yeah he was so funny

[@trinaq]

Agreed, I've missed seeing Michael Cera in projects, and I loved that he got the chance to be funny.

[@thomascardenas4656]

@@trinaq I know and he was the only ken who didn’t turn into a jerk and I feel like he wasn’t rewarded for it.

[@finland4ever55]

Yes, I loved Allan, and I like Michael Cera. I think Michael's having a big comeback and they didn't use him enough in this movie

[@finland4ever55]

@@trinaq He's having a big comeback. I mean this, and the new Scott Pilgrim cartoon on Netflix.

[@KingoftheShibas]

I think it also would have been interesting to explore how the production of ‘mojo dojo casa houses’ into the real world affected boys and their perception of masculinity like barbie affected young girls in the way that it reinforced unrealistic standards of beauty and achievement onto them

[@daimanekeyre2259]

you are right but the movie wasn't about men issue but girls

[@emmablack1230]

I don'r actually think Barbies irl were reinforcing "unrealistic standards and and achievement onto them." Barbies are blamed for negative body/self images when it is society telling the kids that that's how they are supposed to think. All studies of if dolls like Barbie negatively impact kids either came back as inclusiveness or having a positive affect.

[@anaa1834]

can't belive THE barbie movie has more Ken focus and screen time than every other barbie movie ever 😭😭

[@pankreas2195]

We have to acknowledge how Ken is the character that gets the most development throughout the movie and I'm convinced it was because while Ryan's portrail was eccentric, it was also extremely sensible and nuanced.

[@TheDreamingJune]

Honestly Ryan was the best part of the movie for me. He made Ken - an otherwise dumb goofball - into someone who is likeable and also very sympathetic. I hope he gets an Oscar nom for this role.

[@shanabloom8165]

But Gloria’s biggest hardships were shown in the two montages of her and Sasha’s relationship since Sasha was a little girl. It shows that she’s sad that the child-like imagination in Sasha is fading away and that she’s gradually being ignored and brushed off by her daughter who used to double as a friend.

[@IMightBeVanny]

Yeah, I just wish that plot point got more screentime.

[@emmablack1230]

the issue is that those characters, as well as other's, didn't have enough screen time for a fleshed out arc when they needed on- or at least more personality

[@noahisntanartist]

Cellulite isn’t necessarily caused by being overweight. There’s a number of reasons, many of which are just “symptoms of being human”. So I’d think the cellulite joke is justified. Also, cellulite such a non-issue in my opinion, and that’s part of the chuckle.

[@joannelee5574]

Thought the same!! All humans can get cellulite, I felt that it was pretty clear that the Barbies were being super dramatic over a very normal human thing, like flat feet LOL

[@emd476]

I agree with your points about motherhood, but I think the film shied away from addressing it with Barbie specifically as it’s just a tough needle to thread with the core messages Mattel wants to send. The film starts out with the idea that Barbie put into girls minds for the first time that they can be more than just a mother, they can be anything they want to be. This is her highest achievement to them. For Stereotypical Barbie to leave Barbie land, enter the patriarchy, in pursuit of mother hood… it’s hard to make sure you’re not framing it in a way that looks like she’s going back in the kitchen, or possibly saying something about people who are intentionally childfree. I do think it addresses you idea a bit by ending in the OBGYN’s. It could be a joke about her not being plastic anymore, or it could be the first step in becoming a mother, without needing Barbie to have a man. (Apologies if any of this is wrong, my tickets are for friday, I just couldn’t resist hearing your take and I don’t care about spoilers)

[@catcat2607]

Was there a specific scene that showed she became human to become a mother? I think it was the whole point about wanting to do the imagining instead of whoever is playing with her in the real world. I could be wrong. And I think the OBGYN was just a call back to the having no genitals joke earlier in the movie.

[@MaidenOfHusbands]

Literally what are you guys talking about? What about any scenes in this movie gave you guys the idea that she wanted to be a mother, or wanted to go to the real world to experience motherhood? What are you guys talking about? What scene made you guys think this? What part of the movie's themes even gave you guys the impression that this was about motherhood? This is about individuality. This movie is literally about individuality and separating yourself from the sexism and feminism. It's literally about fixing society for individuals, being an individual, and being human.. which is apart of being an individual. The scene at the end is literally a joke about her being human/plastic. She never had genitals, a joke told a few times throughout the movie... Of course they would make another joke about Barbie's genitals and her finally being able to get some/see some... If you guys should have gotten ANY misunderstanding with that scene, I would have personally misunderstood that it was talking about trans women or something... But motherhood? What are you talking about????

[@user-ct5ni6zl1b]

I got no sense of Barbie wanting motherhood as her end goal in the human world... or her ending in general. I think it was just to live life how she feels she's meant to.

[@mastersnet18]

Why do feminists think motherhood is such an anti-feminist thing I’ll never understand.

[@MaidenOfHusbands]

@@mastersnet18 You don't understand?... Seriously?... Do you not know what history is? Some feminists think motherhood is anti-feminist simply because of how men treated us. Did you forget how man treated women? Did you forget what men forced women to live like? The history of women is right there in your hand, instead of somehow trying to belittle women or feminist and just questioning their behavior, you could have looked on KZbin or Google on why feminists believe what they believe.. Women were treated, and still are treated quite a bit like breeding machines who only exist to pop babies out for men, and to be sex objects and sex slaves to men. Even though men consider children as their own, and somehow believe that their child is what their father is (without being what your mother is because then that would give women some form of power and equalism), they STILL forced women to be "slaves" and take care of all the children and never get a break from taking care of the children.. even though dad's get to come home and take a break from work and hardly if not ever, help take care of the kids or cleaning, especially back in the day when the feminist movement started... To this DAY, men are still forcing women to be mothers and STILL think women only exist to be mothers.. that's why are abortions and so on are becoming illegal. Tons of men and women think women literally exist to only be mothers, you COMPLETELY forgot what history is and what men did to women and taught women to be like? They literally teach girls at a young age to be mothers as wives by giving us baby dolls and tea cup sets and kitchen sets at young ages..... How do you COMPLETELY forget history and don't understand why some feminists think motherhood is anti-feminist... Obviously it's not anti-feminist for very obvious and natural reasons, it's just anti-feminist because of how men treated us because of the fact that we can get naturally pregnant, they use that as an excuse and reason to treat women bad and to treat them like sex objects and only existing as a baby-making machine who didn't have any decisions or want or rights (there was even a point where they considered us even more to be making baby making machines, because men genuinely 100% believed that women had NO sexual pleasure or sexual intimacy or sexual anything.. which is why it was considered illegal or something at some point for women to think naughty things or even ride bicycles... So they use that as an excuse to be able to have sex or even rape ((because rape used to be legal if you were married to a woman)) a woman multiple times to impregnate her multiple times so the man can get his kink off and have several children who can bring honor to his name and give him money, no matter the gender.), but people WILL consider it anti-feminist SIMPLY BECAUSE of how history treated women and CONTINUE to treat women (Even dressing up in a skirt can be considered "anti-feminist" simply because of how men treated us and what they forced women to wear simply for existing as women, but it's not anti-feminist because spamming is aren't as stupid and weird as you might apparently think they are...). Things are obviously better now for women, but that doesn't mean that women and society still aren't treating women like this... Just like any other minority. Some feminists thinking that motherhood is anti-feminist, is more of a PROTEST thing insead of an actual genuine frl thing thar feminist think women should never ever do, ever (unless you're a feminazi ig idk). You can think some feminists or all feminist are dumb and crazy, and you can think some feminists thinking motherhood is anti-feminist, is stupid and crazy and so on... but let's not be fucking dumb ourselves and not apparently understand why feminists would believe that motherhood is anti-feminist... Jeez dude.

[@MaggieMono5poly]

I feel like I didn't need to be explicitly told most of the things you mentioned because I KNOW them, you know? This movie is For The Girls in every way. We don't need to hear Sasha say what her relationship to womanhood is because we know it. Her rejection of Barbie says it all to me because most girls live that. We didn't need to see Gloria be shat all over in corporate America or explicitly state her complicated relationship to motherhood because we already know it. We live it and we see our mothers, sisters, friends live it even if we haven't. Those experiences are as ubiquitous as Barbie herself. And, yes, they are incredibly nuanced, but I didn't really think it was the movie's job to be a masterclass in feminist theory. It's something fun for the girls and clearly most people are connecting with it in a deeper and more personal way. The movie did its job and it's going to be right up there with Clueless and Legally Blonde as a classic girl movie.

[@MegaMilenche]

Please don't compare this mid Barbie movie with good movies like Clueless and Legally Blonde.

[@lauras5359]

It's a bit too soon to say whether it will be a cult classic. It would be cool.

[@Katiewithdaffodils]

​@@lauras5359It's made over a billion already, I think "cult classic" would be an understatement. I know financially successful doesn't mean "good", but I do think there is enough ingenuity and enough funny and resonant ideas in Greta Gerwig's Barbie that it will last in one way or another.

[@y2kaylaog]

i don’t trust anybody that hates this movie

[@Motherdharma]

FR it’s a satire aka a comedy about reality making fun of the patriarch and the polarized extremist feminists not to be taken as religion bruh

[@MM-ob3ke]

lol @ anyone who thinks this was making fun of feminism, fucking “there’s violence on both sides” head-assery

[@svftystrange]

exactly

[@daeity1]

​@@Motherdharmaexactly but the movie is also a great way to showcase an issue that's happening and can be talked about.

[@dayadyday]

criticism isn't hate

[@Sim77j]

i think if it would be more "emotional" as you'd like it to be, it would've be less impactful. Because they would've minimize women to their emotional nature, and personally, i liked that they would've explore the emotional nature of the kens, because given that the barbies looked more empowered and stable to have control over positions of power.

[@MegaMilenche]

Barbies were plenty emotional in the movie.

[@Anggell707]

I don't think it had to be super dramatic or emotional in that way, I think they just had to deliver the message in a more subtle and a "show don't tell" way instead of just saying "oh patriarchy is bad!" in your face

[@Dhjbj453gyDh]

women can be emotional and also in positions of power... its not something to be ashamed about

[@dearvermin]

I think this movie is a good and fun intro to feminism for a wide audience and I don’t think it us trying to be anything more 🤷🏾‍♀️ I love your criticism though, tired of men approaching 40 criticising the film for hours on end for being “misandrist” and “woke” instead of being constructive

[@hhj186]

A 1920’s gender swap isnt “constructive” The problem with these feminists movies isn’t that “women eww” it’s that they have to beat down men to raise women up

[@cowh0m0]

​@hhj186 boohoo go cry about Ken being dumb 🤦‍♂️

[@sydonix5519]

@@hhj186 The movie never "beat down" men to raise women up. Both Barbie and Ken had wonderful character arcs. Ken's story actually tells men that they're also allowed to build their identity outside traditionally masculine things, and that having a partner does not necessarily equal having a personality. It has a wonderful message for both women and men about how gender roles are messed up and how neither a system ruled by men or a system ruled by women is perfect and that we all should just get along, accepting our differences, flaws and strengths. Everyone who says this movie is misandrist is either missing the point (and being selective about what the movie means, because it's so much more than a "political message") or didn't watch the movie at all.

[@hhj186]

@@sydonix5519 So if that’s the case, why was barbie land (a land completely run by women) a utopia but then when the Kens took over it all of a sudden was a hellscape? Why was the whole point to get men back to submissive 1920s house wives what made it perfect? Misogyny towards women exists sadly but it isn’t NEARLY as bad as what it used to be and with each generation, it gets better. So why is a feminist ideal world 1920s gender roles reversed?

[@MinisDunyasi5]

I have very mixed opinions about this movie. The movie was surprising in so many different ways. I didn’t expect it to be political at all. The trailers made it seem like a fun, bubbly movie. I was shocked when the Barbie President swore at the CEO of Mattel (the swear word was blurred out but you can still tell she swore). But I did like the creator of Barbie, Ruth Handler being in the movie and mentioning how Barbie was named after Ruth Handler’s daughter, Barbara. They didn’t mention how Ken was named after her son, Kenneth but that’s understandable. I would’ve liked if they mentioned how Ruth Handler AND her husband Elliot Handler were the founders of Mattel.

[@Ella-gb7no]

you didnt expect it to be political? i did. as soon as i heard who the filmakers were, i knew it wasnt going to be what people think a Barbie movie is going to be. i knew it wanst just a silly little funny movie. girl do you know who the writers are- if theres one thing to know abt them, its that ofc it would have deeper meanings and adultish stuff in it LOL

[@pankreas2195]

Anyone who is familiar with Greta Gerwig knew this movie would have a feminist undertone (acrually an overall loud tone in fact lol)

[@CoquetteCygnet]

This video analysis has a lot of gaps in its “constructive criticism.” For one thing, if you believed that Barbie’s fear of getting cellulite was connected to fat-phobia, you clearly didn’t watch the same movie. Stereotypical Barbie reiterates multiple times that her number one fear is CHANGE. She wants to stay in Barbieland initially because she fears the constantly changing Real World. As humans, our bodies change all the time! Our bodies are capable of fluctuations in weight and aging! That means that your body can have cellulite regardless of size. Barbie resists becoming human BECAUSE she’s afraid of the changes that come with growing up and being a real person. NOT because she’s fatphobic. That’s why the moment with the old woman is so crucial to Barbie’s evolution as a character, since she comes face to face with someone who HAS experienced those changes. She then realizes that change can be scary but also a beautiful part of life. It was a very profound moment of women celebrating other women. We need more of that in a society that still participates in tearing down women. In conclusion, suggesting that Barbie is shallow CONTRIBUTES to the culture of hating female characters, which is not the kind of world we should be striving for.

[@MegaMilenche]

If this movie is about women celebrating women, why does it end on a TERF joke?

[@Miscellaneous_master]

@@MegaMilenche going to the gynecologist is being a terf now? Lord have mercy…

[@MegaMilenche]

@@Miscellaneous_master That's what trans activists tell me. It's saying you need a vagina to be a real woman. It's very TERF-y, isn't it xD

[@Miscellaneous_master]

@@MegaMilencheyou’re clearly just trolling. I’ve seen your other comments on this video, just making up random shit to distract everyone

[@MegaMilenche]

@@Miscellaneous_master This is not the only Barbie video I commented on, so my comments could be anything. Have I've been commenting anything else aside from TERF joke on this video? TERF joke is a troll, but it is also true. Since no trans woman is going to see it and think it empowers them. Aside from that, if I said anything else, I was being perfectly serious. If you disagree with any of my takes, you clearly need to elaborate so that I can have a discussion with you on our differences. If all you have to say is "well obviously you're nothing but a toxic man, if you were a girl, you'd have seen THE TRUTH" etc etc you didn't even need to bother with commenting at me.

[@AlvaroIbacacheS]

I know it wasn’t the main topic, but i wouldn’t be surprised that Greta on purpose queer coded Allan. He’s not part of the Barbies or the Kens, however he feel secure around the Barbies. Such a powerful message every gay men who had to wait outside the girls restrooms at a club would understand.

[@freshmozzarello]

I really hope they intended for him to represent nonbinary people

[@Lily6kl]

​@@freshmozzarellothe three genders 1.Barbie 2.Ken 3.Alan

[@wandaXmaximoff]

Thank you! I watched the movie today, and while I enjoyed it, I wasn’t blown away. I expected more. Your review pin-pointed what was lacking, and why it didn’t blow me away like expected.

[@kathryneconomou791]

Amy Schumer as Barbie? Thank goodness that didn't happen!

[@dre-k7m]

My main critique is that while the Ken stuff is a lot of fun, it could have easily been shaven down to develop Barbie, Gloria, and Sasha. Other than that I loved it

[@deandrinksfairy]

absolutely love your idea of gloria, sasha and barbie playing barbies together. such a simple scene would have made the themes and characters journeys so cohesive and added even more heart

[@jo-lynnsomers8103]

The thing I absolutely loved was the fact that i watched this with my mom. We had multiple moments where we took each others hand or leaned on each others shoulders. I actually had a really heart-felt conversation with my mom about how i'm scared of growing up (i'm 19) and how I miss my innocent childhood. We are even looking if we can go again, just us two, since we brought my dad and brother with us the first time.

[@anthonyalles1833]

Just a thought, but is it really useful for someone to criticize a film for not being the movie that _she_ would have made? _Barbie_ wasn't intersectional enough? Didn't address the challenges of contemporary motherhood? Didn't thoroughly dissect the American health care system? It wasn't a revolutionary feminist mastepiece? Good grief, it's a comedy about a plastic doll, not the _Battleship Potemkin_ . Nor is it _LOTR_ - a trilogy, which would be required to even mention all of the topics that it apparently should have thoroughly examined. It's a 2 hour movie, not a semester long graduate seminar on Gender Theory. Why are only the very few movies made by and for underrepresented groups that are always excoriated for not being everything to everyone? I don't recall anyone making a similar critique of any of the _Transformers_ movies. Perhaps if people celebrated such films more and nitpicked less, there might be more such films made. And who knows, with any luck, _Barbie 2_ will be an intersectional critique of the toxic masculinity faced by mothers in American hospitals...

[@nani2155]

Totally agree

[@robinchirps1775]

You really think absolutely no one has called out Transformers for 1. being terrible or 2. like it’s actively harmful messaging? It’s military propaganda???????? the misogyny?????? Some people want films that can say a bit more. Some people don’t. Not everyone is going to like the same thing as you-or if they do like it, may not experience it the same way. That’s how art is, you’re bringing your experiences in whenever you watch anything. Stop taking it so personal.

[@missnoneofyourbusiness]

​@@robinchirps1775Not with the same passion. The Barbie movie hasn't been out for more than a week and these people already hate it with fire. As per Transformers, this thing where we support Megan Fox after what Michael Bay did to her started about three years ago and is barely taking off.

[@missnoneofyourbusiness]

YES TO EVERYTHING YOU SAID...except I think making a second Barbie movie would be a miss.

[@robinchirps1775]

​@@missnoneofyourbusiness Sorry but that sounds like a you problem, because googling easily brings up examples from more than three years ago. Also, the same people who are saying "I wish Barbie was more feminist" are not Transformers fans...Literally that movie is one of the quintessential examples of the male gaze in modern media. And even those movies now have added more women and people of color because of those criticisms. Still are bad and panned by critics, but you know, it does prove that someone saying something is a necessary step towards any progress. Someone criticizing a thing you like is not anything personal. If you don't get the criticism, that doesn't mean the person was wrong. And because you personally don't engage with criticism, that doesn't mean it never existed. Widen your perspective.

[@Em-bi7tn]

Cellulite IS actually something that becomes more prominent with age. It's not just about fat. Your body gets worse at handling fat and will produce more cellulite with age despite steady weight

[@MorenaMaritaca]

Gloria's speech about womanhood was very emotional to me, I legit cried hearing it. It felt important and big for me

[@cinnamonroll96]

same. this is train of thought is something i had times and times again, and see women all over the world having and so it was so important and neccessary to be included in this movie!!

[@russianvalkyrie2358]

I thought it was so pandery and oversimplified and lacked any nuance whatsoever. It felt fake and empty.

[@urhexgirl]

I disagree with a lot of your critiques, you have basically set yourself up for disappointment by expecting so much from a Barbie film, you have to remember there was never going to be a Barbie film without Mattel’s say so. I don’t think the feminism is surface level at all, sure the talking points in the dialogue could be argued to be surface level, but the fact that Barbieland is a matriarchy, how it’s essentially the opposite of the real world, I think that’s incredibly on theme for lots of different reasons, for one it shows that patriarchy or matriarchy either gender is hurt by the inequality, the fact this film has gotten such a viscerally negative response out of misogynists means it’s doing something right with the feminist angle, could they have gone in even more? sure but not every film needs to be an intellectual masterpiece on political ideals, especially not the Barbie movie which is a comedy. I’d argue it’s unfeminist to say that female driven stories like this have to always be serious, why can’t it be fun and also make points about feminism? why does it have to be one or the other? the comedy strengthens the story in my opinion, it highlights to complexity of human emotion, and how that is a beautiful thing, one of the key points the film is making. like the fourth wall break that occurs during stereotypical Barbie’s breakdown is a nod to the audience, it’s obviously a very emotional moment in the film, it got me crying, and in my opinion the comedy was like a friend trying to cheer you up when you’re sad by being funny, it’s letting the audience have these waves of different, contrasting emotions combine together to make a warm yet unique feeling, I think this film is very smart, especially when it comes to the writing, so many of the jokes are utterly relatable to multiple generations of women, it creates a sense of community, it also understands the preciousness of life, of womanhood. also the whole cellulite thing is about being imperfect, fat people aren’t the only ones who get cellulite, it’s a bit fatphobic to say that it’s an issue only fat people face, cellulite is a very common human thing, it can be caused by aging, gaining / loosing weight, etc.

[@aryss1119]

Thank you!!

[@pepperminterica]

Agreed agreed agreed!

[@ThePeacePlant]

You sound like you manipulated your whole post to get emotions. You know what I am talking about, I see you. You use it for negative intentions

[@UnicornLoft]

​@VanomtheFurryLoseshut up

[@UnicornLoft]

​@@ThePeacePlantgo back to your hole

[@amysomething3370]

I disagree with so much of your commentary. It sounds like you were expecting a different movie, but it delivered exactly what it said out to be. I also think you maybe had a different interpretation of certain things, but others have already pointed that out in the comments. Although I fully agree with your comments about people complaining about the rating. This film is clearly not made for kids, and I loved that. I'm surprised there are so many people that thought that...

[@gcooper642]

Yes, I was surprised when I saw kids at the cinema. I thought this film was for us grown ups that had Barbie's as kids. They even had my favourite Peaches and Cream Barbie in the opening we're all Barbie bit. I knew the person playing with her was the Mum straight away.

[@MsSmashone]

Why were the previews before the movie geared toward children or families?

[@gcooper642]

@@MsSmashone Were they? I didn't get that vibe, but then I only watched one trailer.

[@amysomething3370]

@@MsSmashone They weren't

[@amysomething3370]

@@gcooper642 yeah, I honestly think some parents didn't register anything past the title 'Barbie'. I mean, the rating is the first giveaway that it's not for young kids. Then consider who's in it, the director, Also, the marketing was not really focused on kids. If they take their kids and they like it, good on them though 🤣. Also, I had the same thing with thinking it was the mom as well.

[@srbee9972]

It'd be great to see a second movie expanding on Barbie's life as a human. Maybe, she would even decide to go back to Barbieland. Btw, I think the movie has really turned the tables by portraying men, aka Kens, as the "accessories" to Barbies - the role usually played by women in the real world

[@joviczzz]

Its incredible how you talk about the movie in a way there is very honest, not hating or loving, what is i wish other people could do cus or theyre say is perfect and buy everything or just free hate without even analyze the context

[@audr3ylyy]

Seeing Barbie break down and cry of depression and insecurity is the most saddest and best scene ever, Barbie at that point had started to realise things about herself and had real feelings

[@heatherwood3352]

15:47 I think a day in the real world might’ve felt like a copy paste of Enchanted. I think her draw to the real world was captured well enough in the mindful moment when she saw people experiencing a range of emotions and feeling it with them.

[@18Aleziita]

This movie felt like a bad copy paste of Lego Movie, so...

[@cottoncatpersonal]

How are the youtubers so disappointed with the movies yet the most popular comments are mostly positive and understood things that the youtubers didnt? This barbie is having a reality shock of the youtube world. (im so sorry for the bad joke)

[@karentapia8868]

Yeah, maybe the youtubers are running for make a fast reaction and don’t think too much. I feel that in this video.

[@missnoneofyourbusiness]

​@@karentapia8868Mark my words: There are videoessays by this very same people praising stuff like Twilight or the earlier Barbie Movies and saying stuff like "this is a masterpiece because..." and "we weren't ready for this". There WILL BE videoessays on barbie in 15 years and the beat will be "people didn't understand this movie back then..." 🙄

[@missnoneofyourbusiness]

This barbie loves videoessays and is deeply disappointed by this, but she also learned that she has her own opinion on stuff and that's okay. ETA two days later: No but srsly they chose to side with Ben Shapiro...

[@luciferstone6125]

I absolutely adore this film and I definitely agree that ken gets a bit too much screen time regardless of how good Ryan Goslings performance is, the only thing I disagree with is Barbie's arc to wanting to be human- although she had a lot of negative experience in the human world she did also have life changing ones. The old woman at the bus stop is a stand out scene (sobs could be heard all around me in the cinema lol) but I think it's where her desire to becomes human starts- the whole reason she went to the real world was to become "perfect" again so she didn't think about death or have cellulite, a physical thing she initially thought was taking away from her beauty but when met with an older lady who isn't Barbie pretty she still found her beautiful, this definitely helped remove her desire to be constantly perfect to some extent but also I think the real world brought her a sense of individual identity, something that admittedly could have been explored more in the first two acts but she can finally be herself, whoever she is in the real world instead of stereotypical Barbie something she resented on throughout the film. This is such a phenomenal film though and I love your analysis on it! ❤❤