Barbie Review: 8 Ups & 2 Downs
Is it plastic or fantastic?
Gestating all the way back in 2014, the Barbie movie was hit by endless changes in writers, directors, studios and actors. (Amy Schumer was set to play the lead role originally.) For a time, it looked like a live-action feature centred around Mattel's most iconic toy would never see the light of day.
But after a long and arduous journey, Barbie is finally here. In this fantasy comedy, the world's most recognised doll, Barbie, (Margot Robbie) finds herself no longer content in Barbieland, compelling her and Ken (Ryan Gosling) to go on an adventure together.
As simple as the premise sounds, fans believed this film would be something special, since it was co-written and helmed by esteemed director, Greta Gerwig. Coupled with the star-studded cast and the innovative promotions, Barbie looked like it had the potential to be one of the biggest hits of the year.
So, is Barbie a success or a lazy cash-grab? Did Gerwig strike gold again or has her winning streak come to an end. There's a lot to unpack here, so let's dive right in.
Come on, Barbie! Let's go, party!
10. DOWNS - Some Cast Members Are Wasted
Being one of the hottest brands on the planet, it was expected that Barbie would boast a monumental cast.
But Barbie doesn't just have an ensemble, but an army of talented performers, including Michael Cera, Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Kate McKinnon, Helen Mirren, John Cena, and countless more.
Although plenty of the stars get their moment to shine, just as many are woefully underutilised. Despite the talents of Ncuti Gatwa and Rob Brydon, they comes across as glorified cameos. Nicola Coughlan and Ritu Arya had heir own personalised posters, and yet, their characters only show up for a few seconds. Because of these blink-and-you-will-them appearances, it seems like the filmmakers didn't know what to do with these actors, but cast them anyway for their starpower.
Then there's Will Ferrell. His character, The Mattel CEO, is instrumental to the plot, and yet the cowbell-loving comedian disappears for a sizeable chunk of the run-time, making it easy to forget he's in the movie. Ferrell is solid in the role, but this compounds the argument that he and many of his co-stars should've been given more to work with.