Barbie (Margot Robbie) lives an idyllic life in Barbieland. It is a land where women are accomplished and men are accessories. Ken (Ryan Gosling) is less fulfilled. Unless he gets Barbie's attention, he feels empty and worthless. Barbie's world starts to go awry when she ponders death, much to the horror of the other Barbies. Then she finds her shower is cold, her milk is sour, and her feet are inexplicably flat. She must consult Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon), who explains that a rift has been opened between the real world and Barbieland. To seal the rift, Barbie must go to the real world, find the girl who plays with her, and fix whatever ails her. Barbie would rather not but finally relents. To her shock and dismay, Ken has stowed away in the Barbiecar and come to the real world with her.
Barbie is dismayed to find that men dominate the real world, including that the CEO (Will Ferrell) and the entire board for Mattel is exclusively male. They want to box her up and send her back to Barbieland! Meanwhile, Ken is delighted to find himself acknowledged. One woman even asks him for the time! He learns of patriarchy and horses! While Barbie continues her search for the girl who plays with her, Ken returns to Barbieland to establish the patriarchy!
The story of Barbie is, surprisingly, that of Pinocchio. She is unwittingly on a journey to become a real woman. Along the way, she gets ogled, arrested, upbraided by a middle school girl (Ariana Greenblatt), and pursued by Mattel goons, but she does meet her girl - who proves to be an adult (America Ferrera). The changes that Ken has wrought in Barbieland begin to show in the real world! Now, Barbie must return to Barbieland and save it from Ken!
The relationship dynamics are shallow. Barbieland had virtually no conflict - beyond some jealousy among the Kens - and was basically a female Utopia. In fact, Ken really has some valid objections to Barbieland. Obviously, I am not the primary audience for the film and can't really identify with some of Barbie's concerns. The end message is weird. So, Barbie was upset that the real world was dominated by men and yet that is the world she chose. The final scene where I thought she was reporting for her first day as a female member of the Mattel Board - thus correcting that glaring oversight - was instead her first gynecology appointment. Really?
By contrast, Ken's story arc is more interesting. He exists in a world where he is an accessory and has no real purpose. His visit to the real world and return swings the pendulum from Barbieland to Kendom. Ken gets a song and dance routine, which is hilarious. Though vapid and shallow, Ken is quite likable, almost childlike in how he views the world.
Overall, fun and vibrant. Good popcorn fun.
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