Barbie
Originally published on social media on July 25th, 2023
I loved this film, and it far exceeded my expectations in every way. Greta Gerwig wrote a script that understood both my inner child and my inner feminist. Rather than outline and annotate all the details of this film, let me share with you a few reflections I immediately jotted down after the film. Yes, I did in fact write these while in the movie theater bathroom
The Barbie movie was more about being human than an ideal or a doll (although it was refreshing to see so many different types of Barbies in this film).
Walking out of the theater, I looked all around me and saw beautiful people in all shapes and sizes wearing pink. Looking at them, I realized something: We live in a world that says dreams are unrealistic and can’t come true. There’s almost a separation between the dreamers and the realists, but what Barbie taught me is that there is good in both, that we need to embrace both. We have our politics or beliefs we fight for, but we can also all be united in wearing pink and going to a theater to remember our childhoods. Pink almost became symbolic of light hearted fun, childhood reminiscence, optimism, and self confidence — and everyone looks good in pink.
Whether or not we choose to wear pink, buy a $5 Barbie at target after going to see the movie, watch old Barbie movies throughout the week, or do literally none of those things, I think we need a little more pink in our lives.
I recognize how much Barbie is trending on the internet right now. Being my trend opposing self, I almost didn’t write this review, but then I thought: “how cool is it that Barbie of all things is trending?” I’ve seen much more negative trends in the last few years, and this trend is bright, invites everyone to come as they are, and encourages laughter. So maybe for once, I will join in this trend. I hope it sticks.
Barbie can become a very heated and political subject, and I know people who have been made to feel insecure because they don’t look like stereotypical Barbie. I get it and so does Greta Gerwig. Go see this film. You will walk out not only feeling better about Barbie, but feeling heard, valued, and loved.