This entertaining summer comedy should if anything send a message to Hollywood that not every summer film has to be some action film or the latest retread of a DC or Marvel superhero series. The film has been cleverly marketed and mostly emphasizes the silliness of the Barbie world.
However what I think most audiences discovered (at least I did) was that the film was actually rather subversive. The film has messages of female empowerment and calls out as many critics noted, the theme of the controlling world of the "male hierarchy." But these themes are very lightly emphasized for the most part. The studio and the makers of the film weren't about to endorse some politically radical summer movie that would alienate audiences.
The makers of the film in this case the director Greta Gerwig who along with her writing partner Noah Baumbach have mixed a lot of stuff, satire, silliness and some musical numbers into this film. Noah Baumbach and and Greta Gerwig are usually associated with smart independent films, but these two are very intelligent people who know how to craft intelligent films. Gerwig the director has also assembled a group of talented artists who have done an excellent job creating the Barbie world.
A quick note about the cast. Obviously Margo Robbie as Barbie is excellent and Ryan Gosling as a Ken doll trying to empower himself in the manly arts of being a dominate male. The rest of the cast performs and a fairly high comedic level as well. Michael Cera is the Ken doll's friend Allen, Ilsa Ray is President Barbie, Kate McKinnon is weird Barbie and John Cena as a merman Ken to name a few. Also a quick call our for America Ferrera and and Ariana Greenblatt as a mother and daughter with a troubled relationship who ultimately are key to resolving the plot (such that is is) to the film.
The running time is 114 minutes.
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