The Barbie Movie is Perfect

Because it is imperfect

Growing up, Barbie was something that my sister played with. I had no interest in Barbies or the accessories. It was just something that existed in my periphery. As an avid consumer of cartoons, the regular onslaught of Barbie commercials kept me at least somewhat informed about changes to the Barbie universe. Seeing a Barbie movie? Me? Never.

Well…

My wife and I went to see the new Barbie movie, and I was the one that was pushing for us to see it. She didn’t drag me, I pestered her until she gave in. There was something in the trailers that told me that this was a culturally subversive movie, that we needed to see it.

I was right. Point to the team behind the movie. They made a movie in the Barbie universe that even the over-the-hill male that I am wanted to see.

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the Barbie movie. I’m still amazed at the depth and layers that Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach managed to stick in. This movie is a social commentary. It isn’t just about Barbie. As a matter of fact, it isn’t even about Barbie. It’s about us.

While you’re laughing at the jokes and pratfalls, the Barbie movie should also make you uncomfortable. There will be moments you don’t like. And that is deliberate. This movie makes you think. It isn’t a simple marketing vehicle for promoting a toy. It’s much more than that.

I have seen many criticisms about what the Barbie movie wasn’t, or what it didn’t do or what messages it didn’t say. And to these people I say “You are almost there. You almost got it.”

The Barbie movie is a mirror, and it makes us evaluate the world that we live in. Anything that you saw that you didn’t like, or anything that you feel was not adequately reflected, is an opportunity for a conversation about the society we live in. Opportunity for several uncomfortable conversations. The Barbie movie doesn’t make a statement. It just shines a very bright light on what we need to talk about or ponder just ourselves. It is a flawed movie because the society it reflects is flawed. And that is why it is perfect.

It is my hope and expectation that this movie will be used by educators as an opportunity for students to do social analysis. Even more important, I think it should be used for self reflection.

The opportunity? “Is there anything that bothered or unsettled you while watching the Barbie movie? Were there any themes or ideas that you felt were missing, or conversely had too much screen time? Why is it important to you?”

I still have questions. And I still ponder the answers. And I marvel at the genius of it all.

Barbie. Who woulda thunk it.