Barbie * * * *

Barbie is written and directed by Greta Gerwig. That's why I went to see it.  And I wasn't disappointed, but at the same time I didn't think it had the same delightful quirkiness as her earlier films.  

Nevertheless it's a good film. Made all the better by the fact that she and her her partner Noah Baumbach wrote this together, rather than working off a script by a team of writers - a situation you often get with big budget productions. 

It's not their best idea, by far.  If you want that go see, Mistress America or Frances Ha.  

Barbie is one out of the box.

But if Greta wants to be in the multiplexes rather than tucked away and watched by an admiring audience in the art-house cinemas she has chosen the right subject.  Barbie is a blockbuster already. 

They have written a fairly simple story with a strong message with lots of very funny props and situations.  The opening scene is hysterical as it parodies one of the greatest films of all time Though I am not sure if too many of the younger generations would get it. 

Barbie lives in Barbie world - with Ken of course. And you can imagine how perfect everything is there. The sets are something to behold.  It's just like those little Barbie houses.  Margot Robbie plays Barbie (gee I wonder why they chose her?) and Ryan Gosling plays Ken so well he just about steals the show.

Basically things aren't working out well for Barbie and she has to go to the Real World to fix it.  Ken tags along. Having only ever been an appendage to Barbie in Barbie World, Ken learns about Patriarchy in the Real World and decides he want's some of that stuff!  Ken goes back to Barbie World to make some major changes.

In the meantime Barbie gets a few home truths in the Real World from an uppity teen age girl and her mother who works for Mattel, the people that make Barbie. The Mattel group themselves are in a panic when thy learn that a Barbie has somehow broken through and is running round in the real world. Almost like the FBI they have to hunt her down and get her back in the box - literally.

On the run from Matell, Barbie gets back to Barbie World with her new friends.  She is horrified by what Ken has done. Motivated by her sassy teen age girl and her mum, Barbie decides it's time to apply some of that Women's Rights stuff she learned in the Real World. 

Somehow everyone is going to have to work things out and respect one another, which is something we can all relate to I guess.

It's got some great lines and some very funny scenes.  It looks magnificent. But for me that was part of it's problem. Whereas Gerwig's other work has been dependent upon downright weirdness and very quirky characters,  Barbie is somewhat reliant on showiness.  It felt like some of the characters are made of plastic. (Yeah I know....I know.)