INTRODUCTION
Barbie movie is one of Hollywood’s 2023 productions of the fascinating fantasy comedy regarding feminism and Petrarchan themes and depictions of a colorful life. The filmmakers filmed Margot Robbie as the title character and Ryan Gosling as Ken. The supporting cast includes Michael Cera, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, Kate McKinnon, and Will Ferrell. The movie goes on to describe Barbie and Ken’s marvelous enjoyment of the colorful life of fascinating Barbie Land and its customs and ways of living.
Greta Gerwig directed the Barbie movie solo, while Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach collaborated on the screenplay. The film premiered in Los Angeles on July 9, 2023, followed by a nationwide release in the United States on July 21. The acclaimed “Barbie the Album” soundtrack, featuring music by Charli XCX, Dominic Fike, Ice Spice, Karol G, Khalid. As well as contributions from cast members Dua Lipa and Ryan Gosling, was also released on July 21, 2023.
The film’s promotion campaign across the world is done through multiple sources. The B movie hit the box office from the day it was released, and it grossed $636.2 million in the USA and Canada until January 5, 2024, and it secured $809.4 million in other countries as well. Barbie’s philosophy now deals with the exploration of existentialism. There is also the presence of feminist and patriarchal themes in the movie.
PLOT AND SUMMARY OF BARBIE MOVIE
The story follows the beautiful, fascinating, and marvelous land of Barbie land. Where Barbie the doll is living an astonishing life with no world’s problems or difficulties, enjoying the freedom of matriarchal society. And happy to play her role in the multi-dimensional world of Barbies. She motivating others to be completely confident about their societal worth and credibility and their abilities to be. Whatever they want to be in the future.
On the other side, Ken, who is also an inhabitant of this peculiar Barbieland, remains mostly unnoticed except for his attention towards. Barbie, who is no match as compared to another group of Barbies living there, such as Allan. One day, Barbie began to feel those sentiments that she had never felt before about her Barbieland. How it was falling apart.
START
Astounded, Barbie begins to analyze the situation and finally concludes that someone in the real world is somehow passing through some situations, and the curiosity to know more about the things happening beside. Barbieland and the unconditional feelings suddenly occurring to her take her on the new journey of the real world, where she first attempts to find that person. Much to her surprise, the real Ken, Beach Ken, tags himself along with her to survive in her presence.
Now they are both unanimously on the mission to find that person, and beyond finding that targeted man. They first come across the actual beauty of the real world, which they never had in their Barbieland. The most shocking change that they both notice is the phenomenon of male dominance in the real world. At the moment, Barbie is still looking for the reason that brought her into the real world.
Ken somehow seems to be taking an interest in real-world things and finds a newfound control. Which he seemingly wants to take back along with him to the fascinating and matriarchal Barbieland. If he succeeds at this, then he will forever alter the role of Barbies in the real world and people will notice a new change. Most of these white men, who work as executives at Mattel. They also discover that a “real-life” Barbie and Ken doll have appeared in the real world. They make it their aim to capture both. Especially, Barbie at any cost to get them back in their actual place, known as a place in the manufacturer’s sealed box
INTERVAL
At the interval of the movie, it becomes more fascinating as Barbie arrives at Venice Beach. A man tries to grope her, and in reaction, she punches him hard. The authorities arrest Barbie and Ken, stunning the Mattel CEO upon discovering their presence in the real world, prompting an immediate request for their recapture. Barbie tracks down Sasha, a teenage girl who badly criticizes Barbie for her fondness of artificial beauty standards. But as the movie further progressed, Gloria, Sasha’s mother and a Mattel employee began to understand Barbie’s existential crisis. When she began to play with Sasha’s old Barbies.
Someone brings a toy box for the remanufacturing of Barbie to dispose of her, but she escapes from the scene with the assistance of Gloria and Sasha. Together, they flee into Barbieland, leaving the Mattel Executives behind to pursue them. At the same time, Ken feels proud to be a man and to be present in Pennsylvanian society. He decides to return to Barbieland, even though Barbie persuades other Ken to take over. The kens now began to decide the rules of the game and began imposing their principal on Barbie’s.
Barbie arrives in Barbie’s land. She attempts to convince everyone to fight against the tyrant rule of being housewives, submissive girlfriends, and working as a maid. She tries a lot to be successful at her attempts. But eventually, she loses, all the attempts fail, and she becomes sad. Gloria expresses her concerns about the declining situation of women in the real world. This scenario of the movie marks the interval of the movie.
ENDING
The ending of the movie becomes fascinating when Barbie becomes unsuccessful in bringing change to the present traditions and Ken’s dominance goes on there. She develops a new plan to execute and topple Ken’s rule with a psychological trick of manipulating Ken and making them fight each other. Consequently, they all get distracted by the notion of male supremacy and forget about the constitutional changes made for Barbies to never rule again.
Once more, Barbie seizes power, having endured the bitter treatment inflicted upon her during the previous reign of Kens. She initiates reforms in societal influences and behaviors, ensuring equal and fair treatment for all societal elements, including Kens. Barbie and Ken finally resolve to sit together at the same table, promising each other not to fight again and acknowledging their past mistakes. This movie appreciates Ken’s finding an autonomous identity as his future purpose in life. Barbie finally meets Ruth Handler, creator and co-founder of the Barbie doll. Who explains to Barbie that her story never had any limits. After having a final goodbye with the Barbies, Kens, and Mattel executives. Barbie desires to live as a human and return to the real world.
