I Didn’t Like the “Barbie” Movie
Photo credit: Aygul Bulté - stock.adobe.com
Being from Missouri, I tend to be skeptical about movies, books, and television shows (to name a few cultural icons) that EVERYONE raves about endlessly. That list includes people too – when people go on and on about “how wonderful and awesome” So and So is, and how everyone “loves them” I know it should be questioned. Why? Because no one is universally loved, not even The Drake from the “Seinfeld” television series.
People I know were raving about the “Barbie” movie, especially women. The rave reviews started sounding repetitious to me and a lot like dogma. It was almost as if you HAD to like the “Barbie” movie if you were a woman. After some of the initial fanfare died down (and I could watch it for no fee on cable) I tuned in one weekend afternoon.
The first thing that I noticed was the set. I thought, “Okay that’s kind of cool. It all looks like ‘Barbie’ houses and cars.” Everything seemed pink, though, and I found that a bit trite. The story started to unfold and I was immediately unimpressed. I found the story slow and a bit boring. What really bothered me was that Barbie was really mean and dismissive to Ken. In fact, ALL the Barbies acted sort of mean to the Kens.
About 20 minutes into the movie, I realized that Margot Robbie was a better “Barbie” in “The Wolf of Wall Street.” I wasn’t surprised she didn’t get an Oscar nomination for this movie, and frankly, I was taken aback when Ryan Gosling did get nominated for Best Supporting Actor because he wasn’t that good either. Maybe it was a Cher situation: she SHOULD have won for “Silkwood” but didn’t so the next year she won for “Moonstruck.” Maybe the Academy is making up for Ryan Gosling not winning for “La La Land.”
But to me, the “Barbie” movie is not a woman’s empowerment movie. It’s a sad commentary on the relationship between men and women. In my opinion, there is only one good scene in the entire movie, and that is the monologue delivered by America Ferrera about the cognitive dissonance that women have to deal with every day. However, a revenge fantasy is not the way to quiet the dissonance, nor is oppressing your oppressor.
When you look at the treatment the Kens received in Barbieland, why wouldn’t Ken fall for the patriarchy mindset? It showed him he was important, powerful, and should be in charge. It’s a classic example of the downtrodden wanting to be told they are special, and then falling under the influence of a bankrupt philosophy. Manipulation of the mind is easy when you give someone hope and then reward them with status.
My view is different. I like men. I think they are cool, in their own way. Sometimes I am more comfortable with men because there’s not so much drama all the time. Now, have women been given the short shrift and denied opportunities because we do live in a patriarchy-based society? Absolutely. I’ve had to deal with it myself. But attacking all men and treating all men poorly – like the Barbies do in Barbieland – is not the solution. Vendettas are circular and cyclical. That means they never end because the other side has to “get theirs” and the cycle continues.
For society to truly evolve and move forward, we need to stop the War Between the Sexes. It is ongoing and unproductive. This means that we have to respect each other as individuals, take responsibility for our own behavior (and stop blaming others), and women have to stop operating from a place of fear. All Men are not bad. All Women are not good. We are people and we are different. Without respect for ourselves first, we cannot have respect for others.
As a lover of movies, I have seen a lot of them. If you want to watch some really good stories about women being empowered in oppressive situations, I recommend the following:
“Ever After” starring Drew Barrymore. Set in France the century before the French Revolution, it turns the Cinderella story completely on its head. Prince Charming talks a lot but Cinderella is the one who takes action. By taking action, she overcomes fear. By overcoming fear, she asserts control over her own life and opens the door to making her own choices.
“Dangerous Beauty” starring Catherine McCormack. Veronica is a young beauty raised to be a courtesan in an Italian city-state of the Middle Ages. As a “fallen woman” she has wealth, property, and the opportunity for an education – all things “good women” are denied. Great commentary on women’s place in society and how it evolved in Western Civilization.
“Mafia Mamma” starring Toni Collette. This is a fun comedy, especially if you like “The Godfather” movie series. The first time I watched it I laughed a lot, but the second time I watched it, I realized this is a story of women’s empowerment set in our modern society. Kristin is the classic submissive woman who tries to please everyone, and by doing that, pleases no one because it is never enough. She also takes the condescending abuse from her male colleagues who are completely dismissive of her and her ideas. She muddles through her life, until she finds out she is the heir to an Italian winery and so much more. She finds her true strength and ability and doesn’t let the men in her life manipulate her any longer. And they dare not dismiss her.
Dominating or oppressing someone to elevate yourself just brings us all down. But a rising tide lifts all boats.
