'Barbie' review: Remarkable white feminism dolled up in pink

Film is an empowering journey for your inner child

KARACHI:

Barbie is a phenomenal watch. Let's just get that out of the way. Directed by Greta Gerwig, the silver screen experience with an all-star cast is a journey like no other. Perhaps, this is due to the post-pandemic fatigue that needed a campy, over-the-top, musical watch like Barbie to cast aside the dreary curtains of monotony and grapple with the realness of everyday life.

Whatever one credits their experience to, the Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling starrer is not just a genius marketing tactic that has enveloped the world in pink. It is also a well-crafted narrative that delves into the complex world of the iconic Mattel doll and her influence on society, while addressing issues of objectification and sexualisation through the lens of white feminism.

Spoilers ahead! One of the film's strongest points is its excellent world-building. Barbieland is a spectacle to behold. However, what seems like a perfect feminine utopia for Barbies (where Kens also reside) swiftly turns into a misogyny-laden hellscape once Ken (Gosling) discovers patriarchy in the real world. All of this begins when Stereotypical Barbie (Robbie) begins experiencing morbid thoughts pertaining to her mortality, leading her to portal through to the real world with Ken.

Even though the film largely revolves around Barbie, Gosling is a stellar standout. His turbulent arc - from "just Ken" to the flagbearer of patriarchy in Barbieland (a Kendrew Tate of sorts, if you will), to combating fellow Kencels, to Ken without Barbie is an absolute joy to watch. His oafish performance is marked by comedic highs and a spectacular musical number (I'm Just Ken) that is bound to stay with audiences.

Other standouts in the film include Michael Cera as the goofy and awkward Allan. Helen Mirren and her self-aware meta quips add an appreciable layer of humour to the film. America Ferreira delivers a moving speech about the complicated web of womanhood that is bound to resonate with women, while also seeming like a typical, girl-boss, Instagram post turned into a monologue.

The decision to have Robbie play Stereotypical Barbie is a purposeful choice. The film wants audiences to know that Stereotypical Barbie is a part of the problem, regardless of how empowered she may want women to be. Stereotypical Barbie is thin, tall, white with blonde hair, and the very picture of a more traditional sense of beauty marketed across multimedia platforms for aeons.

The film tries to connect a thread with Mattel itself, with the all-male board superficially engaging with ideas of female agency but ultimately following the money. However, in blaming patriarchy for existing gender dynamics in the real world, the narrative fails to address how capitalism and white supremacy come into play. Perhaps, this was intentional, given that the scope of the film could only tackle one beast at a time. That beast, too, is dealt with in a way befitting of Barbieland - through a rose-coloured lens that favours the power of words, and female camaraderie.

Should one consider Barbie a legitimate feminist masterpiece and a takedown of the patriarchy? That depends. The film has enough merit to show society a mirror, where glossed-over atrocities of the patriarchy and the complications of womanhood under its iron fist are highlighted as key takeaways. The film does not take itself too seriously and reminds audiences that we shouldn't either. Thus, it distributes lessons in a palatable, euphemistic manner.

However, white feminism and supremacy, and capitalism are, inherently, serious issues. While there are films that do these themes justice, it is, perhaps, possible to value the brand of feminism that Barbie represents - one that owns its mistakes to a certain degree, is willing to take safe shots at its own creators, and does not place blame on men or women, with patriarchy being the main overarching issue.

At the same time, it is possible to acknowledge all the ways in which it fails to do justice to its message. Of course, there are greater problems in the real world for women than how they look and feel, and these problems intersect with factors such as faith, race, and class. In the real world, one gender very clearly benefits from the patriarchal status quo, even if it is negatively impacted by the same, thereby ensuring its perpetuation.

That being said, Barbie doesn't necessarily have to be the epicentre of these conversations. At the end of the day, it is a film that brilliantly pays homage to an iconic doll, aiming to right its wrongs in the process. There is great merit in seeing the film as thus. It makes one weep with sorrow at times, and cackle with laughter at others. It is meant to be an easy watch, with a digestible message.

To sum up, regardless of your gender, put on your best pink fit and prepare yourself for nearly two hours of unadulterated entertainment. With its applause-worthy marketing team ensuring that the experience is immersive - given that all things Barbie are everywhere - and an appealing form of feminism that has the right frothing at its mouth regardless, Barbie is a rollercoaster ride, and we're all old enough to hop on. A visual feast with an exceptional cast and catchy musical numbers, this watch is for your inner child.

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