Review of Barbie (2023) by Canoemovie — 21 Jul 2023

What a letdown and disappointment this movie turned out to be. I had made a promise to watch it with my wife, approaching it with an open mind and no prior knowledge of reviews or the plot. I wanted a fresh perspective, but unfortunately, my experience was disheartening, and I feel compelled to share it to help others avoid a similar fate.

The Barbie Movie attempts to challenge traditional values and women's roles in society, viewing our present world through the lens of oppressors and the oppressed. It starts with scenes of girls playing with old-fashioned dolls, mimicking motherly duties, and feeling down. Suddenly, a giant 20-foot Margot Robbie Barbie emerges, symbolizing a new era of feminism and expressive individualism. The film's central theme revolves around women seeking positions of power and influence, challenging corrupt and inept men.

The movie presents an idealistic world where all Barbies possess power and influence, while men are portrayed as mere admirers and worshippers of Barbies. This Barbie-centric world is set in contrast to our "current world" controlled by the "patriarchy." The intention of Barbie World is to promote a balance of power and influence, encouraging women to pursue careers like doctors, lawyers, and even president. While the message is empowering and uplifting, it simultaneously ridicules men, portraying them as baffling and incompetent buffoons, while undermining the significance of motherhood.Throughout the film, they awkwardly mention multiple times that the pregnant Barbie is a discontinued model, seemingly going against feminist ideals. In the end, Barbie decides to transcend her mere conceptual existence and takes action to become a human to influence the power structure in favor of women. The final scene shows Barbie at a gynecologist's appointment, where true freedom is depicted as the freedom to do with her body as she wishes. In summary, the movie conveys "the message" in a woke fashion, promoting the modern self while deconstructing the image of men and motherhood.