‘Barbie’ Blu-ray Review

Stars: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Mackey, Hari Nef, Sharon Rooney, Simu Liu, Ncuti Gatwa, John Cena, Michael Cera, America Ferrera, Rhea Perlman, Will Ferrell | Written by Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach | Directed by Greta Gerwig

In a world that has gifted Greta Gerwig the possibility to focus all her creative skills and talents on Barbie, the film becomes the pink dream we all hoped it would be. After months and months of their marketing campaign, which often felt like seeing a sea of pink slowly wash towards us, the creators behind Barbie were right to put everything they had into getting people into the theatres to see this on the big screen. Not only does Barbie reach something on a creative and entertaining level, but it touches deeper and lingers on the mind longer than any movie about a doll has the right to.

Perhaps it’s as simple as getting all the right people in the right place and giving them the creative freedom to do what they want. From the moment we enter the world of Barbie Land we’re introduced to a world of Barbies and Kens (and Allan), where all the Barbies are living in their Barbie dream houses and all the Kens, well no-one is quite sure where they live, but they’re right by their Barbies side. The dream houses themselves bring the film to life from the very opening, it’s not a world that feels fabricated or created on a computer, which would have been easily done, but a world that feels tangible and feels just out of reach. Production designer Sarah Greenwood has created a pink dreamland that could easily tip over into the candy floss pink that after too much exposure could start making you feel nauseous, but instead has found a perfect balance of colour and saturation that really does feel like a dreamland.

Within this fantasy land we meet Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie), who begins to question her world and her existence. It really is Margot that is the central heart of the film as she journeys to the real world to meet the girl who’s been playing with her. It’s a journey of self-discovery and one where Margot really gets to showcase her talents as an actress. Over the past decade, Margot has gained a reputation as perhaps the most interesting actress working today, from time working with Scorsese, Tarantino, and now Gerwig – who, after her first two films, sits comfortably next to any filmmaker working today – Margot has built quite the resume. With recent films such as Babylon, a brief cameo in Asteroid City, and now what is the summer’s biggest hit, it’s been quite the year.

What remains brilliant about Margot is how hands-on she has been with Barbie. After another attempt at making the film fell through, Margot went to meet Mattel in 2018 and after the meeting spent the next year pursuing Greta Gerwig to write and direct. The results are unanimous, not only a fantastic film of creative brilliance but a box office smash thats already breaking records. Margot’s hard work behind the scenes seems to have paid off and opens up exciting possibilities for the star, who at this point in her career could do anything.

Perhaps the most important piece for this film to work is its director, Greta Gerwig. In 2019 I wrote about Little Women, and how I felt it was perhaps the best film of the decade. My opinion has changed on that, I now think it is clearly the best film of the decade, and one of the best this century, one film that gives it a run for its money for best of the decade, Lady Bird (2017) also directed by Gerwig. There’s a level of filmmaking Gerwig seems to have captured that operates more than just brilliant technical ability, she has found a way to reach the heart and soul in everything she touches. Her films seem to inspire hope and love and joy all at the same time. They manage to meet at every point of the filmmaking scale and every department she manages seems to come together in creative wonder to conjure up worlds and stories that seem so familiar, so full of life, and in some mad genius way she’s done just that with Barbie. More than the jokes, and the film has so many to spare, there is a warmth and power to the women in this film, one I cannot fully speak to, but I feel for so many so young women, seeing this at the right age may be one of the most important things they can see.

With all the warmth and beauty that the film has tucked away in there, what I also took away, was just how funny the film was. There hasn’t been a film I’ve laughed out loud at like this in a long time. With jokes for just about everyone, and no doubt almost everyone can relate to a Barbie or to a Ken – unfortunately, I realised I was the butt of one joke – and I haven’t laughed out loud to myself in a long time. The humour comes from many places and there are jokes and set pieces that will easily make you laugh for the man humour comes from Ryan Gosling, who between this, and The Nice Guys, may just be the best comedic actor working in Hollywood right now. His understanding of timing and the ability to play Ken right on the line between ridiculous and hilarious allows for the funniest performance I can remember in a long time.

What Barbie ends up being is a hilariously entrancing film that showcases creative talent at the very highest level. It never once feels like the cash grab many feared it would be and instead feels like an important piece of film for a generation that will fall in love. Gerwig continues her run of brilliance and I can’t wait to see what she does next, for my money she is still the most exciting filmmaker in Hollywood.

Blu-ray Special Features:

• It’s a Weird World: An in-depth ride into how the weird world of Barbie was created.
• All-Star Barbie Party: A highlight of the dream cast that helped make Barbie a reality.
• Musical Make-Believe: The music of Barbie is front and centre as we talk through how its magical scenes are brought to life.
• Becoming Barbie: Showing how Margot Robbie, Greta Gerwig and the team brought Barbie to life.
• Welcome to Barbie Land: A detailed look at all of the fabulous work that created Barbie Land.
• Playing Dress-Up – An Extended Look at the Costumes of Barbie: A timeless look at all the fashion that makes Barbie.

***** 5/5

Barbie is available on DVD, Blu-ray, 4K UHD and 4K UHD Steelbook now.