Barbie Movie

Last week my daughter got tickets for us on the movie theater app, to go see the new Barbie movie (I’ve never written an introduction or described my family here yet but FYI my child is almost 23 years old, so please don’t imagine I have a young child). It was the first time I’d been to the cinema since before Covid-19 for some reason, maybe I just haven’t cared about any movies since then. Well it was awesome, great and amazing in my opinion. Barbie dolls were a huge part of my childhood so I’m definitely biased! 

We had some pastries from a Korean bakery before going to the movie and then got boba to drink afterward, instead of buying anything from concessions. The movie theater doesn’t offer anything like kimchi croquettes, chocolate croissants or tea- only low-quality yet exorbitantly expensive candies, soda and popcorn (and sometimes the line of people takes so long, it gives me anxiety). 

I had brought pocket tissue packs, since I heard there might be scenes forcing us to confront a difficult emotion, and ended up using mine to wipe away tears like 5 or 6 different times. My daughter admitted to tearing up a bit too. She was never much into playing with Barbie dolls (she was always more of a bug, lizard, dinosaur and Pokemon video game kinda kid) but has condoned my enthusiasm by giving me Barbie dolls and other collectibles as gifts, and I’m very thankful we went to the movie together.

In the movie there was a human mom and child (among the many Barbie doll characters) and it was the mother who was more of a doll fan. So I guess that’s how it is with many women raising their Zoomer or Gen Alpha offspring, as it goes with mine. 

My favorite scene in the movie was Ken’s song and of course the dreamy dance number! It was a male ballet corps, with fantastic colorful mood lighting at times, and their group formations certainly inspired by old Busby Berkely dance scenes.  I loved how many costumes in the film were carefully replicating the original dolls’ iconic outfits. There is nothing I really have to complain about in the movie and I will for sure buy the DVD as soon as that becomes available.

Sorry to anyone sick of Barbie and hearing about her new film but it was a big moment for me, to go back to the movie theater after a long time, and share a lovely afternoon with my grown up child. We had went to see Ladybird together, back when my daughter was 17, something that still kinda makes me wonder if I live in a Matrix -like simulation. I’d love to hear if you liked or hated any part of Barbie (2023), if there’s some other movie you’re excited to see this summer or guess what other toys might get a spectacular cinematic tribute in the years to come.