For a movie that’s based on a children’s doll from the 1960s, nobody could’ve predicted that Greta Gerwig’s newest directorial would turn out to be one of the best movies of the year.
Barbie is a movie that nobody wanted initially, but turned out to be one of the biggest hits of the year with the global box office collection already surpassing $1 billion. And once you see this movie, you can instantly see why.
The comedy is incredibly clever and heartfelt, while not being slapstick. And the fact that the entire movie is accompanied by a meta-commentary makes the experience all the more better.
Gerwig has made a name for herself as one of the most exciting directors working today.
But she has always stuck to her indie roots in her films. Barbie is not an indie film by any measure.
But Gerwig puts on a masterclass in directorial prowess throughout.
Just like Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, Gerwig’s Barbie also barely uses CGI, instead opting for practical effects. And this choice only makes the visuals all the more interesting.
The flat 2D perspective we see in most scenes in the movie helps in immersing the viewers into the world of Barbie even more.
But above all of the technical feats of the film, what makes Barbie so special is the genuine heart and the message that it delivers. Barbie is a movie that manages to make the viewer think about women’s issues, while not being preachy about it. And the way Gerwig has managed to do that should be applauded.
Barbie is a movie made for women. But it’s a movie that all men need to watch.
From an acting standpoint, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling steal the show. Even though the movie is jam-packed with phenomenal actors, Robbie as Barbie and Gosling as Ken are the heart and soul of the film.
The one flaw I did feel about the movie was regarding the pacing of it. It felt like they rushed through the main struggle of the movie and sort of went right to the solution. And because of this, some of the side characters in the movie do feel under-developed.
But this is a movie with endless rewatchability factor. And it’s just a raucous fun time at the theatres.
Verdict: Get to the theatres and watch it as soon as possible.
– Deviprasad Nair