Barbie Review: 8 Ups & 2 Downs

No matter how compelling a movie is, it's often shackled by the storytelling formula. And since Barbie seems like a safe property, it looks like the narrative will be as straightforward as possible.

But for the most part, viewers will have no inkling which direction Barbie's plot is heading. Every ten minutes or so, Barbie's adventures hit a genuinely unexpected snag, giving no indication what trials and tribulations await our titular character. When it reaches its third act, viewers will still be clueless what the story is culminating to.

But it's not just the plot that feels fresh, but the tropes. Although the story literally toys with cliches like "will they/won't they?," it's done in a way that doesn't appear derivative.

Because Barbie is a massive brand, it's reasonable to assume this film adaptation would serve as vehicle to sell toys. Ironically, Barbie regularly highlights the danger of its brand, to the point where Mattel becomes the butt-end of the joke.

Barbie may centre around a plastic doll, but it still manages to connects to people in a way that feels very real.