Barbie the 2023 summer movie: A Surprisingly Subversive Film

The new Barbie movie, directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie, has been met with mixed reviews. Some critics have praised the film’s humor, visuals, and performances, while others have found it to be too safe and predictable.

However, I believe that Barbie is a surprisingly subversive film. On the surface, it may seem like a lighthearted comedy about a doll who comes to life. But underneath, the film is actually a sharp satire of gender norms and expectations.

The film’s protagonist, Barbie (Robbie), is a stereotypical blonde bombshell who lives in a perfect world called Barbieland. But when she is banished from Barbieland for not being perfect enough, she is forced to enter the real world.

In the real world, Barbie quickly realizes that she is not as perfect as she thought she was. She experiences sexism, body shaming, and other forms of discrimination. But she also learns that she is stronger and more capable than she ever thought possible.

Barbie’s journey is a reminder that we should never judge someone based on their appearance. We should all be free to be ourselves, regardless of our gender, race, or body type.

The film also features a number of other subversive moments. For example, there is a scene where Barbie and her friends are playing with a set of dolls that represent different types of women. The dolls are all different shapes, sizes, and colors, and they are all beautiful in their own way. This scene is a powerful reminder that there is no one definition of beauty.

Overall, I believe that Barbie is a surprisingly subversive film. It is a funny, heartwarming, and thought-provoking film that will challenge your expectations of what a Barbie movie can be.

Criticisms

While I enjoyed Barbie, I do have some criticisms of the film. First, I thought that the film was a bit too long. It could have easily been trimmed down by 20-30 minutes.

Second, I thought that the film’s message about gender norms was a bit heavy-handed at times. The film does a good job of exploring the ways in which gender norms can be harmful, but it sometimes feels like the film is hitting you over the head with its message.

Overall, I enjoyed Barbie and I think it is a worthwhile film to see. However, I do think that the film could have been even better if it had been a bit shorter and if the message about gender norms had been a bit more subtle.