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Went to see Barbie last night…

109 replies

NotAnotherMojito · 24/07/2023 07:36

Loved the costumes and some simple laughs…

But generally, I thought the film was a bit dark and not quite what it seems.
The feminist agenda, patriarchy, Ken’s long way to empowerment were the obvious points but I have also felt that the underlying message was that we are all a bit fed up with girl power and some of us just “want to be”. Same for men - some are happy not to be masters of this world and tired of masculinity expectations. They do not know what they want anymore and they are holding on to the idea of patriarchy like a comfort blanket.

Not sure I have worded this very well early in the day but somehow instead of reinforcing feminist agenda, the film has left me confused. Is it ok not to aspire to be anything special (or only if you look like Stereotypical Barbie)?

OP posts:
GillianMcQueef · 24/07/2023 13:12

Have you been at the laudanum again, milady?

Amazing 😂😂😂

dreamonlucid · 24/07/2023 13:15

@WildUnchartedWaters 🤣🤣

nhsteabags · 24/07/2023 13:16

I thought it was a brilliant film and very very funny. Did you miss the part of the barbies who were president, doctor, DJ etc? Some women do "just want to be" including myself but I didn't get that from the film at all. Barbie (Margot Robbie Barbie) didn't want to be what she was made to be/do anymore so she changed her life for herself which was positive.

WildUnchartedWaters · 24/07/2023 13:17

dreamonlucid · 24/07/2023 13:15

@WildUnchartedWaters 🤣🤣

Which bit do you agree with?

SisterAgatha · 24/07/2023 13:22

I liked it.

The messages for me were;

  • Matriarchy works better for women, not men, but isn’t perfect
  • patriarchy works better for men, not women, and is not perfect
  • an equal society works well for all, and allows capacity freedom of expression for men’s emotions as well as allowing women to shine
  • women face similar challenges regardless of what they look like
  • Barbie was not created for perfectionism, she was created to inspire and empower and her power has been lost, misdirected and demonised due to the male gaze and the real world patriarchy
messybutfun · 24/07/2023 13:23

I’m just not that into pink and was going to give it a miss.

Do you think I should see it?

Reugny · 24/07/2023 13:33

messybutfun · 24/07/2023 13:23

I’m just not that into pink and was going to give it a miss.

Do you think I should see it?

Yes.

Saw it this morning.

Life in plastic, it's fantastic..

Reugny · 24/07/2023 13:34

ClawedButler · 24/07/2023 13:03

You're "not sure" patriarchy exists or ever did?

Have you been at the laudanum again, milady?

😂😂

TickToad · 24/07/2023 13:35

I enjoyed it. It was very funny and it was enjoyable to watch. My 10 and 12 year old also enjoyed it.

CaramelMac · 24/07/2023 13:49

@WildUnchartedWaters outstanding is a bit of a stretch!

If I heard one of the songs on the radio now I wouldn’t recognise it or remember where in the film it was.

I think its going to turn out to be a marmite film with the public.

DinnaeFashYersel · 24/07/2023 15:54

Annachristie · 24/07/2023 08:11

I haven't seen it (not going to) but can't help wondering how much Mattel paid Google to have the front page in pink font and explode with pink stars when you search for Barbie or Margot Robbie.

Are you on commission too? Cause guess what your post sent me of to do.

NewCracker · 24/07/2023 18:41

onefinemess · 24/07/2023 08:05

I think you need to move on from this idea of patriarchy, it's not something that exists in today's world, not sure if it ever did. I mean, how dare those bastard men go out to work keeping the sewers clean, and how dare they not let any women work down there. And the men who refuse to let us go out and dig the ditches on the roadside, and fill all the potholes, not to mention that every single one of them are rich, powerful, have influence, one of them have to work in minimum wage jobs, none of them are unemployed or homeless. Misogynistic bastards, each and every single one.

As I said, the patriarchy just doesn't exist.

However, we have fucked over an entire generation of kids and we will have to deal with the damage.

We told them they were the most important people in the room, that they could be anything they wanted to be and if they didn't "achieve" their God like status, it was someone else's fault, not theirs. All they had to do was participate, christ! we even gave them medals for it!

Everybody can't be rich and famous and live in mansions and drive supercars. If they were, we wouldn't know who was famous, and there wouldn't be anyone doing "ordinary" jobs to supply the glitterati with their mansions or cars. You can't buy something if nobody is making it, no factory workers, no supercars.

I think being "ordinary" is normal, it's healthy, but telling children that it's not OK to just be OK is what's causing all the problems.

That movie was awful.

This has to be a fucking troll. I can't believe that someone is this fucking moronic.

Annachristie · 24/07/2023 18:50

DinnaeFashYersel · 24/07/2023 15:54

Are you on commission too? Cause guess what your post sent me of to do.

Show quote history

If only!! My daughter told me about it, so I tried it.

GillianMcQueef · 24/07/2023 18:52

@NewCracker that person's posting history suggests some pretty unpleasant views on women.

PlaceYourHands · 24/07/2023 18:57

I actually loved it! But does anyone know why there were three actors from Sex Education in it?!

StefanosHill · 24/07/2023 19:02

Annachristie · 24/07/2023 08:11

I haven't seen it (not going to) but can't help wondering how much Mattel paid Google to have the front page in pink font and explode with pink stars when you search for Barbie or Margot Robbie.

The marketing budget has been insane. More than for any other film that I recall.

I’ll wait for it to be on streaming tv

CaptainMyCaptain · 24/07/2023 19:11

Hellostrawberries · 24/07/2023 07:57

First of all, you've given away the key 'surprise element' of the film so I think you should put a spoiler alert in your thread title. I actually loved that message. To me it was about true equality rather than feminism. Women understanding men and men understanding women. And how can you argue against the notion of being who you want to be?

I agree. We can't all be a doctor/CEO/president but that doesn't mean we have no value. It wasn't a fun kids film although some bits were very funny (weird Barbie etc) and some bits made me teary - the mum and her daughter. I loved it.

CaptainMyCaptain · 24/07/2023 19:13

PlaceYourHands · 24/07/2023 18:57

I actually loved it! But does anyone know why there were three actors from Sex Education in it?!

Why wouldn't there be? There were several British actors including the new Dr Who and a csneo from Rob Bryden..

stayathomer · 24/07/2023 19:30

onefinemess
I don't agree that the patriarchy doesn't exist, it's just a lot less in western countries. I do agree with so many of your points and think people calling you a troll need to calm down. The 'you can be anything you want to be' is letting this generation down, big time. Hugely. We have let this generation down by trying to even out all the wrongs done in the past and as a result we have over compensated and caused enough confusion to hurt people's mh.

MrsMiddleMother · 24/07/2023 21:18

SisterAgatha · 24/07/2023 13:22

I liked it.

The messages for me were;

  • Matriarchy works better for women, not men, but isn’t perfect
  • patriarchy works better for men, not women, and is not perfect
  • an equal society works well for all, and allows capacity freedom of expression for men’s emotions as well as allowing women to shine
  • women face similar challenges regardless of what they look like
  • Barbie was not created for perfectionism, she was created to inspire and empower and her power has been lost, misdirected and demonised due to the male gaze and the real world patriarchy

This is exactly my take from the movie too!

PlaceYourHands · 24/07/2023 21:47

@CaptainMyCaptain - you don't think it's slightly odd to have three relatively unknown British actors from the same TV programme in a huge Hollywood blockbuster?

CaptainMyCaptain · 24/07/2023 21:53

PlaceYourHands · 24/07/2023 21:47

@CaptainMyCaptain - you don't think it's slightly odd to have three relatively unknown British actors from the same TV programme in a huge Hollywood blockbuster?

Not really. What do you think the reason is?

ZombieBeryl · 24/07/2023 21:58

PlaceYourHands · 24/07/2023 18:57

I actually loved it! But does anyone know why there were three actors from Sex Education in it?!

It was filmed in Watford, so it might be that they could film in the UK on condition they had a certain percentage of British actors. Plus not having to fly whole cast to UK from US. The Batman was also filmed in Watford and had several British actors in it playing American characters. Barbie has other Brits in it too including Nicola Coughlin from Bridgerton/Derry Girls, Sharon Rooney from My Mad Fat Diary, Jamie Demetriou from Stath Let's Flats, Emerald Fennell from The Crown (Midge) and Sugar Daddy Ken is played by Rob Brydon as Margot Robbie is a Gavin and Stacey fan.

PlaceYourHands · 24/07/2023 22:20

Ahhhh that makes more sense! I had no idea it was filmed in Watford.

Kettering · 24/07/2023 23:17

ZombieBeryl · 24/07/2023 21:58

It was filmed in Watford, so it might be that they could film in the UK on condition they had a certain percentage of British actors. Plus not having to fly whole cast to UK from US. The Batman was also filmed in Watford and had several British actors in it playing American characters. Barbie has other Brits in it too including Nicola Coughlin from Bridgerton/Derry Girls, Sharon Rooney from My Mad Fat Diary, Jamie Demetriou from Stath Let's Flats, Emerald Fennell from The Crown (Midge) and Sugar Daddy Ken is played by Rob Brydon as Margot Robbie is a Gavin and Stacey fan.

Show quote history

Nicola Coughlan isn't British though.