The Barbie movie is now not only one of the most popular movies but is also Warner Brothers’ most successful movies of the year. Even before the movie was released, it was an internet sensation.
However, this Barbie movie is completely different. The classic Barbie consisted of mermaid and princess adventures, but Greta Gerwig had something else in mind. ” I expected it to be like the movies I watched as a little kid, just with more mature jokes and topics,” a senior said.
Unlike the old Barbie movies, she isn’t an astronaut or princess. Both Barbie and Ken are faced with stereotypes and the pressure of being perfect in the current version. Barbie is supposed to be the best version of herself at all times and has all the attention, while Ken sits in the background. Barbie and Ken both need to find their place in the world and realize that they are enough. Sophomore Makayla Lacount added, “I believe that the Barbie movie was trying to make something that women of all backgrounds and ages could relate to. It deals with very difficult subjects such as discrimination, sexual assault, and harassment. The Barbie movie also explores girlhood. It is a very emotional movie that has the potential to speak to someone’s heart and have them think about their life. There are many moments in the movie where the characters are showing raw emotions letting the audience relate to what they are going through.”
If this movie is different from the classic movies, then why was it so popular? Barbie has received an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes along with an 83% audience score. Critics from Rotten Tomatoes have described it as “Visually dazzling” with “a winking sense of humor” that thousands have enjoyed.
The barbie movie was visually stunning, with a bright pink dreamhouse, and lots of detail around the character designs. According to rotten tomatoes, viewers liked how the outfits in the movie represented the ones Barbie wears, and how inclusive the Barbies themselves were.
Aside from praise from critics, audience members have also thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Although they enjoyed it, some thought that there could be more. “ I wish that the movie went deeper into exploring girlhood and growing up because it is a very important part of any woman’s life. Getting older comes with a lot of new emotions and ways that women perceive life so I think that It would have been beneficial to these girls and teens that are getting older to have a better understanding that it is normal and everyone goes through it,” LaCount said.
As you’ve probably seen, teens online have raved over this movie, but do teens here think the movie is worth seeing? Many people both here at school and on the internet feel that the Barbie movie is quite girlish or not their type of movie. A senior said, “I think that people should see it just because it has a lot of weird little moments that can get anyone to laugh. If you don’t want to watch it because you are scared of being considered girly or weak, then so sad, too bad. Watch it anyways.” Overall, The Barbie Movies teaches lessons that everyone, no matter the gender, will learn at one point or another.
The Barbie movie has sparked opinions both on the internet and here at FMHS. Most people are either all for the movie or against it completely. Some believe that The Barbie movie is a hit towards men, while others believe it represents the need for equality. We all have a deep need to understand and place ourselves, which is what the movie is about. No matter your opinion on the movie, it had a way of being relatable to everyone. It showed how people think they aren’t enough and need to find themselves.
