Thank you for this! There is so much gushing and emoting about Barbie from the public and from the critics, it’s so good to read something more critical (from someone who as actually seen the movie). I’m looking forward to reading Anthony Lane’s take on it.
If you find a feminist review, let me know! Meanwhile, have a look at Willa Paskin’s cover article in the Sunday Times magazine July 16, about the making of the film. It’s not a critique so much as about how the movie came to be made, Gerwig’s intentions, Mattel’s involvement, and some historical facts that went into the content.
Great review! I love your drawing from your book!! ( a little Voodoo Barbie going on there , lol:) I have a now- adult son so I didn’t have to go through the merchandising part. (We did Star War$ )
I do have a 9 year old granddaughter who went to see the movie over the weekend with her Mom. They live out of state but from the photos they sent me it was hard to see anything but pink. Old guy that I am I thought they were in some kind of Barbie store. Upon blowing pic up I realized mother and granddaughter were in the lobby of the theater.
If there were a Liza Donnelly doll, I’d buy it 😊 Thank you for your interesting perspective. My older sister had one Barbie and my brother and I stole her and cut her hair into a pixie. Early feminist vibes.
I haven't yet seen the movie although I have read other comments. Usually love Greta Gerwig, so that's going to be a disappointment. I guess I will see it, but I almost always agree with you, so I think I won't change my mind. Some elderly ramblings follow. I'm very happy I grew up pre-Barbie, in the 50's, with Ginnie dolls and my grandmother's handmade dolls, although I preferred playing outside in the dirt. I hated Barbie as soon as I saw her -- I must have been 13 -- because of her hard weird body and her hard little face (never saw anyone who looked like her unless they had tons of plastic surgery), and all those clothes. When I finally played Barbies in my 60's with my great-niece, it was boring, all about changing her clothes for different events.
So interesting, thank you. I am four years older than Barbie, so I was the demographic they were going for. Exactly my thoughts re your neice. It was all about the clothes, as I recall.
Jul 27, 2023·edited Jul 27, 2023Liked by Liza Donnelly
I haven't seen the movie yet, but I plan to, and can add what I think later. I do appreciate what you have said here, Liza. As always, well said.
Call me hopelessly naive, but I hope I enjoy it and have fun wit the film. Both my kids have loved it and I respect their views. I won't know until I know...
Still, I played with Barbies when I was little. I just remember enjoying the fashion aspect of things--having her wear outfits that I was able to put together for a doll. Fantasy play with an object. But you know, even as a little girl, I knew Barbie was a toy, a plastic doll. I never thought I needed to be 'her,' needed to look like her. I was and am a person. It is a doll...
I understand. I will be interested in your thoughts. WHen I was little, I didn't have an awareness of what Barbie was all about, I just didn't play with her and found it a wierd thing to do, focus on clothes. But that's me. Let me know what you think!
As a mail viewer, I thought the movie was balanced in its messaging and very funny. Yes, Barbie is skinny, that is who she is. Liza makes a good point that the movie is very hard on males. But sit coms and TV commercials have made bumbling males a given for a decade or more, so Barbie is not breaking new ground on that subject.
Disagree. It’s not about the product but about the patriarchy. And there were Barbie’s of all shapes and sizes. As for the mean men, they can take it (but they won’t. I didn’t find them to be mean just dense). And the older bus stop person, she knows she’s beautiful… she says so. I loved the movie and loved hearing the sold out audience, which included men and boys, laugh out loud.
Raising two daughters against a culture was exhausting sometimes, and now my daughters are doing the same with their daughters. The three of us all love men and hate the patriarchy - and I am glad you spoke about women who "participate in" the patriarchy. Though I know the film is subversive in its messages, I have not seen it yet - and plan to wait until the hoopla and pink-ness dies down a bit. Thank you for your very honest response to the movie.
I agree. I also raised two daughters, and they are strong young women. The film has some good qualities, but obviously it doesn't make up for the negatives for me. ah well. I think I just need to resign myself that so many women love Barbie.
What a great review! I haven't seen the movie yet, but your take on it jives with what I have heard from other people who did see it. I'm glad that there is so much talk about the movie, gender roles, diversity, etc. It does seem to have encouraged more discussion about these issues.
Thanks for the critique. I had heard very different reviews and appreciate yours. I was going to see the movie, now probably will not. The corporate takeover of movies and promoting stuff has always bothered me, but I thought this movie would have good points to make based on what I had heard. Guess not.
Sigh. I guess I would have been satisfied with; I liked it or I didn't. But, thanks for the deep dive. I'll go pet my dog now.
Who needs Barbie when we have role models like YOU! Bravo Liza; for your genuine and heartfelt reckoning.
Oh, D.L. You’re too kind. Thank you.
Thank you for this! There is so much gushing and emoting about Barbie from the public and from the critics, it’s so good to read something more critical (from someone who as actually seen the movie). I’m looking forward to reading Anthony Lane’s take on it.
And yes, will go see it at some point.
I haven’t read any reviews yet but will now. So many do seem to like it, I find that curious. Where are the feminist critics? What do they think?
If you find a feminist review, let me know! Meanwhile, have a look at Willa Paskin’s cover article in the Sunday Times magazine July 16, about the making of the film. It’s not a critique so much as about how the movie came to be made, Gerwig’s intentions, Mattel’s involvement, and some historical facts that went into the content.
Here's what Manohla Darghis says: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/18/movies/barbie-movie-review.html
Great review! I love your drawing from your book!! ( a little Voodoo Barbie going on there , lol:) I have a now- adult son so I didn’t have to go through the merchandising part. (We did Star War$ )
I do have a 9 year old granddaughter who went to see the movie over the weekend with her Mom. They live out of state but from the photos they sent me it was hard to see anything but pink. Old guy that I am I thought they were in some kind of Barbie store. Upon blowing pic up I realized mother and granddaughter were in the lobby of the theater.
Agree with all your well expressed points!
Thanks, Paul.
Beautiful! This thoughtful post illustrates why you’ve become my first read when I check my email now. Thank you
Thank you, Jack. That means a lot to me to hear you say that. I try to express my thoughts but be as open eyed and balanced I can.
I read in somebody's Substack (I can't remember which) that the Barbie tge movie the place where art and commercial advertising are the same.
If there were a Liza Donnelly doll, I’d buy it 😊 Thank you for your interesting perspective. My older sister had one Barbie and my brother and I stole her and cut her hair into a pixie. Early feminist vibes.
aw, thanks, Kate! I hope she would be fun to play with and lead to a lot of creativity.
I haven't yet seen the movie although I have read other comments. Usually love Greta Gerwig, so that's going to be a disappointment. I guess I will see it, but I almost always agree with you, so I think I won't change my mind. Some elderly ramblings follow. I'm very happy I grew up pre-Barbie, in the 50's, with Ginnie dolls and my grandmother's handmade dolls, although I preferred playing outside in the dirt. I hated Barbie as soon as I saw her -- I must have been 13 -- because of her hard weird body and her hard little face (never saw anyone who looked like her unless they had tons of plastic surgery), and all those clothes. When I finally played Barbies in my 60's with my great-niece, it was boring, all about changing her clothes for different events.
So interesting, thank you. I am four years older than Barbie, so I was the demographic they were going for. Exactly my thoughts re your neice. It was all about the clothes, as I recall.
I love you and I love your mother more!!!Thanks again Liza!!
Thank you Catya! Wait till you hear about my mother....someday!
I haven't seen the movie yet, but I plan to, and can add what I think later. I do appreciate what you have said here, Liza. As always, well said.
Call me hopelessly naive, but I hope I enjoy it and have fun wit the film. Both my kids have loved it and I respect their views. I won't know until I know...
Still, I played with Barbies when I was little. I just remember enjoying the fashion aspect of things--having her wear outfits that I was able to put together for a doll. Fantasy play with an object. But you know, even as a little girl, I knew Barbie was a toy, a plastic doll. I never thought I needed to be 'her,' needed to look like her. I was and am a person. It is a doll...
I understand. I will be interested in your thoughts. WHen I was little, I didn't have an awareness of what Barbie was all about, I just didn't play with her and found it a wierd thing to do, focus on clothes. But that's me. Let me know what you think!
As a mail viewer, I thought the movie was balanced in its messaging and very funny. Yes, Barbie is skinny, that is who she is. Liza makes a good point that the movie is very hard on males. But sit coms and TV commercials have made bumbling males a given for a decade or more, so Barbie is not breaking new ground on that subject.
Couldn't agree with you more. Thank you, Liza, for your great analysis of a corporate junk movie.
Thanks, Katy!!
Disagree. It’s not about the product but about the patriarchy. And there were Barbie’s of all shapes and sizes. As for the mean men, they can take it (but they won’t. I didn’t find them to be mean just dense). And the older bus stop person, she knows she’s beautiful… she says so. I loved the movie and loved hearing the sold out audience, which included men and boys, laugh out loud.
Okay, thanks for your thoughts! We agree to disagree! (I did have some laughs, don't get me wrong).
Raising two daughters against a culture was exhausting sometimes, and now my daughters are doing the same with their daughters. The three of us all love men and hate the patriarchy - and I am glad you spoke about women who "participate in" the patriarchy. Though I know the film is subversive in its messages, I have not seen it yet - and plan to wait until the hoopla and pink-ness dies down a bit. Thank you for your very honest response to the movie.
I agree. I also raised two daughters, and they are strong young women. The film has some good qualities, but obviously it doesn't make up for the negatives for me. ah well. I think I just need to resign myself that so many women love Barbie.
What a great review! I haven't seen the movie yet, but your take on it jives with what I have heard from other people who did see it. I'm glad that there is so much talk about the movie, gender roles, diversity, etc. It does seem to have encouraged more discussion about these issues.
Yes, it has encouraged discussion, I think. Always good. But I hope it doesn't created a divide between camps of women....Thank you!
Thanks for the critique. I had heard very different reviews and appreciate yours. I was going to see the movie, now probably will not. The corporate takeover of movies and promoting stuff has always bothered me, but I thought this movie would have good points to make based on what I had heard. Guess not.
It did have good points, just seemed to me that the overall movie for me made them less meaningful.