Happy New Year! Welcome to Fringe Fiction’s first movie review of 2024. Let’s start off 2024 on a slightly happier, slightly satirical note.

Barbie enters the Real World — eventually, and it’s not quite as pink or sweet as Barbie World. And when Ken meets the Real World, it’s bound to get Real.

Cast

Margot Robbie stars as Stereotypical Barbie and has been known in roles Suicide Squad in 2016 and Birds of Prey in 2020. Ryan Gosling stars as Beach Ken and has starred in Blade Runner 2049 in 2017 and First Man in 2018. Kate McKinnon deserves a mention here as Weird Barbie as she captured that role well. Simu Liu stars as Tourist Ken and was a fun supporting character in the movie and better known as Shang-Chi in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Ncuti Gawa also stars as Artist Ken and more recently known for his role in Doctor Who television (2023 – 2025) series as Doctor Who (or maybe a part of Doctor Who.) Michael Cera stars as Allan and better known as Scott Pilgrim in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.

Plot

Stereotypical Barbie and Beach Ken co-exist in Barbieland with Barbie living in their respective dream Barbie houses in a matriarchal society. After a party, Stereotypical Barbie develop fears of her own mortality as she succumbs to bad breath, cellulite and flat feet. All the other Barbies are mostly concerned with the flat feet. To resolve the issue, Stereotypical Barbie — and Beach Ken — enter the Real World to cure her afflictions. Much to Barbie’s dismay, the Real World is not what she expected, and for Ken, it’s an awakening to the “patriarchy.” After a disagreement of sorts as to the patriarchy in Barbieland, everything reverts back to the matriarchy with Barbies in charge with some concessions. Finally, Stereotypical Barbie gets to determine her own destiny as a human in plastic Los Angeles.

Review

This movie had a quick pace and had very concise storyboards to the movie — and the satirical elements on society were on point. It transitioned quickly from Barbieland to the Real World. This movie should have massive appeal to its target audience, tweenage girls, due its pacing and story — and maybe Barbie collectors who find its nostalgia refreshing. The messaging regarding patriarchy and women was a bit blunt and over the top, as in bringing a tank to a gun fight, but that may be its original intention, satire with a dash of politics. Will Ferrell was funny, but in the story may have missed its mark as it could have included references to The Lego Movie. But that could have interfered with the Mattel branding of the movie. The supporting characters one-shot Barbie dolls Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon) and Allan (Michael Cera) were actually subtly comical in their own right. (Side bar: How does Michael Cera always finds himself in these odd roles?) The inclusion of the original creator of Barbie, Ruth Handler, was definitely smart and nice touch at the finale of the movie. It sealed the movie in a tight bow.

Verdict (Out of 10)

Overall, Fringe Fiction gives this movie a 7.7 out 10. Very solid performances, great story and endearing message not just for girls or women but for everyone.