Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Barbie review asks if any movie in recent memory has had more buildup than this? Does the bouncy pink film live up to the hype?

Barbie has been ubiquitous for months now. We’ve been pelted with info and photos from the Barbie World Tour and inundated with a seemingly infinite supply of new Barbie pink products—to be clear, I bought my Barbie pink jumpsuit long before the hype began. Even HGTV got into the act with its Barbie Dream House Challenge series.

With all that PR, you’re sure to get some unwanted attention as well. People who had never seen the film were doing in-depth assessments based on tiny blurbs lifted from the trailer. That’s just wrong. My advice to you, dear reader, is pay no attention to anyone who is giving a Barbie review if they haven’t seen the film.

I think those who have seen the film will be pleasantly surprised. I know I was. I wasn’t sure any film could live up to the hype, but I’m happy to report that director Greta Gerwig’s Barbie does…almost.

The sets, the costumes, the humor, the campy acting, all are divinely, gloriously fun and refreshing. It’s a much appreciating sweet, frothy drink on a hot summer’s day.

But it has nutritional value as well. There are many layers substantive layers beneath that all that pink frosting, that keep adults interested and children slightly bored, if they understand it. There are no subversive messages here. Sure they poke the patriarchy and ask girls/women to question their roles. If Barbie can do it, anyone can.

Barbie Review — Is it for kids?

When Barbie (Margot Robbie) goes to the real world in an attempt to get “closer to fine,” as the Indigo Girls so melodically put it, both she and Ken (Ryan Gosling) have their eyes opened about life outside of candy-coated Barbie Land. In Barbie’s case it leads to personal growth, and in Ken’s case it leads to testosterone growth, which is quite amusing, considering his anatomy.

Almost all the males in this film seem to share that anatomy (or lack thereof), both in the real world and in Barbie Land. But this is fantasy, folks. It’s a sendup of more stereotypes than you can count. Don’t over overanalyze, just enjoy the performances by an infinite number of fine actors having a ball in fabulous costumes on outrageous sets.

And if you or your little sisters come away with some meaty food for thought, more power to the film. It can be many things to many people. That’s the glory of it.

Rated PG-13

1 hour 54 minutes

If this Barbie review encourages you to rev up your Barbie convertible and cruise down to the local cineplex, find times and tickets at Fandango.com.

Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Barbie review asks if any movie in recent memory has had more buildup than this? Does the bouncy pink film live up to the hype?