Today was the first day that both our kids are in day-care all day. Effectively the end of our parental leave. Me and my SO decided to treat ourselves to a movie and saw Barbie. We figured if the conservative sphere was getting pissy about it, it must be good.
Anyone else see it?
I wasn’t expecting much. I have to say, I don’t think I could have ever expected this movie to be what it was. It’s campy, funny, colorful, and steps on your throat with it’s message and hardly let’s it off. I say that as positivity as someone can.
It’s amusing to me that some people think the movie is anti-man. It did make me feel mournful for my daughters inevitable loss of innocence. A corporate, big budget toy advertisement of all things. I think that’s the most surprising part. In some ways Barbie is the most unlikely and perfect vehicle for what the movie has to say.
I don’t know. It’s conflicting because, at the end of the day it’s a huge corporate puff peace, but also… What else could deliver it’s message to so many people?
God damn fantastic film. Say what you will about the capitalist motivations/backings, but visual narratives are often the most accessible to the general populace. It’s not a revolutionary creation, but it is fun, well executed, and it might get people to pause and take an extra moment to consider the position women hold in North American society.
Now we can watch as capitalism fucks it all by taking the completely wrong message from the success of the film and creating a flood of low-effort remakes in the so called ‘Mattel Cinematic Universe’. Catchy soundtrack though.