HCA Gradebook: “Barbie”

Film: Barbie (2023)

Plot: To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in a perfect place. Unless you have a full-on existential crisis. Or you’re a Ken.

Cast: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, Ariana Greenblatt, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, and Will Ferrell

Release Date: July 21, 2023

Studio: Warner Bros

Number of Graders: 64

Final Grade: A-

MEMBER REVIEWS

Anna Miller
In a feat of expert filmmaking, it’s extremely apparent with Barbie that a passion team of individuals worked tirelessly on the film. Gerwig and Baumbach’s phenomenal screenplay comes to life with a lively soundtrack, immaculate and detailed production design and a slew of talented actors. Margot Robbie stuns with her gorgeous, troubled and surprisingly emotional performance as Barbie. Ryan Gosling is on fire as Ken, giving an awards-level portrayal of the character, and America Ferrera has the most memorable and touching monologue throughout. What a brave, moving and much needed film that fits perfectly into today’s climate. 
Grade: A+

Cole Jaeger
Gerwig’s film is a playful, funny, dazzling movie that also manages to capture what gender roles and the symbol of Barbie mean to us in 2023. Its endless imagination and unapologetic silliness left a smile on my face that no other film this year is likely to match. A bold deconstruction and reinvention of IP that isn’t likely to be matched by another studio or filmmaker any time soon. 
Grade: A+

Jonathan Fujii
All the hype, all the talk, and it exceeded my expectations fully. Hilarious and emotional. Best time I’ve had in the theater this year. Margot Robbie is amazing and Ryan Gosling is a gift.
Grade: A+

Laura Sirikul
Barbie is by far my favorite movie of this year. It has SO MUCH heart & symbolism. I laughed, cried, & reflected. This movie makes you think & in ways I didn’t expect Barbie to do for me. Performances, production design, and soundtrack are just top-notch. Margot Robbie & America Fererra shine. Ryan Gosling as Ken was just brilliant.
Grade: A+

Rama Tampubolon
Barbie was amazing!!!!!! The jokes were hilarious. The story was profound. The gender themes were brilliant! America Ferrera and Ryan Gosling stole the show. And Margot Robbie’s performance didn’t have a single false note. One of the best movies I’ve seen all year.
Grade: A+

Catalina Combs
A fun, energetic, comical, and relevant film. Barbie has always been iconic. As time went by, she was iconic for the wrong reasons. This movie has shined a light on what Barbie should and, to me, has always represented. I was a fan of Barbie as a child and Greta and the team have reaffirmed the love I have for her.
Grade: A+

David Gonzalez
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is a dream house of cheers and tears. A whimsical and emotional journey of self-discovery and growth. No longer can we say she’s everything. He’s just Ken. They are everything.
Grade: A+

Caillou Pettis
Barbie is an outrageously funny and visually stunning film that leaves audiences in stitches with its impeccable humor and charming performances. Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Barbie is a standout, while Ryan Gosling’s energetic take on Ken adds a perfect complement to the film’s brilliance.
Grade: A+

Rachel Leishman
Barbie is a beautiful ode to womanhood and growing up in the Barbie generation while still honoring the doll in all her complicated glory. Greta Gerwig weaves a story about how hard it is to be a woman into a fun story of exploration and it’s beautiful.
Grade: A+

Ema Sasic
I really tried to avoid as much as I could for “Barbie” because I wanted to enjoy it fully, and thank god I did because this was SUCH A DELIGHT! It manages to be an incredible balancing act between absurd humor, thanks to the incredible Ryan Gosling, and a deep dive into what it means to be human and live in a complex world. It could have so easily been another product placement movie that just goes through all the highlights and good parts about this iconic doll, but it’s so deep in every regard. Womanhood, the patriarchy, what’s expected of all of us — it goes for it and nails it. 

Ryan Gosling deserves the world for just fully going for it and committing to the most absurd bit possible. Margot Robbie really shines in her own ways too, showing how deeply affected her character is by the real world and all its pitfalls. Only a genius like Greta Gerwig could make this work as well as it does. I’m so glad she got the green light for this, and she deserves to make every movie she ever wants to for the rest of her life!!
Grade: A+

Don Shanahan
It’s not enough in the movie for one person to vocalize the multi-faceted plight of womanhood. There’s still all the men too. Barbie aims for justification and action beyond merely being heard and touts messages that are unrestricted to gender or age. Just when you think this movie was already asking enough with this climactic declaration of hope, it leaps even further to keep challenging its audience to keep answering thoughts and convert a few hearts and minds. Achieving all of that under the guise of a shamelessly farcical adventure makes Barbie one of the most special and effective satires you’ll ever find.
Grade: A

Wendy Lee Szany
Barbie is joining my list of best movies of the year (so far). It is so much more than I expected – it’s thoughtful, funny, and emotional. The dialogue in this movie will have me thinking about it for days to come. Performances, costume, and set design is top-notch.
Grade: A

Francisco Cangiano
Barbie is the funniest film of the year! It’s also very clever in the way that it celebrates and deconstructs/critiques the whole idea and concept of Barbie. It’s a wonderful satire. The production design, costumes, makeup, and hair, are all amazing. Margot Robbie gives a heartfelt performance, while Ryan Gosling is a scene stealer – such a treat (Oscar nom!). The movie exceeded my expectations in every possible way. Props to Greta Gerwig for somehow making this film and then delivering something memorable.
Grade: A

Monica Gleberman
If you weren’t saying it before, you are saying it now, ‘I’m a Barbie girl in a Barbie world,’ because this film hooked me. I was not expecting much when I first heard about it… a film being made about the unattainable standards of the doll. However, this movie goes beyond the plastic with its brave storytelling as it attacks its creator, Mattel, directly for mistakes it’s made, while being funny and representing the patriarchy among a million other societal issues writers, Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach, make. Now insert Margot Robbie as the “stereotypical” Barbie who has to make a loved/hated doll in the real world into an entertaining film we all want to watch. Although Robbie didn’t have to do much to show off Barbie’s good looks — she achieves the goal, giving us new perspectives on Barbie’s creation and that of women overall in society. It’s a role that only works if the actor understands the film’s messages and Robbie steers Barbie perfectly from beginning to end. Meanwhile, Ryan Gosling (Ken) is one of the only actors that can be a walking punchline, yet believable. Gosling gave 100 percent “Kenergy” as he sang two songs and did a complete dance number. Gosling leaves nothing behind and shines equally as bright as Robbie. I think this pink-filled movie might see some gold this award season. Either way, a job well done to the entire cast of Barbie and Kens who truly showed us that ‘life in plastic, it’s fantastic.’
Grade: A

Alex Billington
It’s brilliant. Barbie borrows a bit of inspiration from Powell & Pressburger, Jacques Demy, Tati’s Playtime, The Truman Show, The Matrix + Resurrections, Idiocracy, 2001, The Shining, and Pinocchio, and splashes it up with a fabulous sheen of pink. All of this is why it’s so wonderful. Greta Gerwig’s fabulous creation is a subversive, wildly entertaining, perfectly conceived work of big screen art that is also clever philosophical examination of a toy and its place in our world. Even better on repeat viewings.
Grade: A

Meredith Loftus
Greta Gerwig truly brought Barbie to life! Her script with Baumbach packs so much humor (seriously how did Mattel sign off on some of these jokes?!) Robbie is pitch-perfect & Gosling is really THAT good as Ken. From the production design to the costumes, Gerwig ushers you into this perfect little world that you just want to play with. In the end, she & Barbie allow audiences to discover what it means to be a woman, both inside Barbieland and in the real world.
Grade: A

James White
Greta Gerwig pulls off something quite astonishing with Barbie –– spinning what could have been yet another lazy trip into IP-based land for something subversive, weird, silly, and smart all at once. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are excellent anchors as the central Barbie & Ken figuring out their reasons for living, but shout out also to the supporting likes of Simu Liu, Issa Rae, America Ferrera, and more. Could any element have been removed without affecting the plot too much? Perhaps we might do with less of Will Ferrell’s Mattel CEO and his boardroom pals, but otherwise, this is, as Gosling’s Ken states at one point, “sublime”.
Grade: A

Zofia Wijaszka
I loved Barbie so much! Greta Gerwig’s pastel-colored tale about one of the world’s most famous toys surpassed my wildest expectations. It’s not only utterly hilarious and inventive; the film also pulls some emotions to the surface, particularly those relating to being your genuine self, fear of change, and women in a patriarchal world.

I cannot even find words to describe how fantastic the cast is. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken brought back so many of my childhood memories, all surrounded by the explosion of pink hues. Casting is one of the most significant, if not the most important, aspects of the picture; each character, be it America Ferrera or Ariana Greenblatt, brings something to the table.

Furthermore, Greenblatt as Sasha stands in stark contrast to the pink world and brings attention to the darker side of Ruth Handler’s work, which contributed to the toxic body image of women and girls worldwide. Gerwig’s film is very self-aware, meta, and just so much fun in one!

I cannot recommend seeing it in theaters enough. Barbie is a smart, empowering film with a distinctive, memorable soundtrack and it definitely has the potential to become an instant classic.”
Grade: A

Nate Adams
It’s remarkable that, in our IP-driven world where products sell movie tickets, no studio had tried cracking the Barbie code. Maybe that’s how Mattel, the company which manufactures the iconic doll, wanted it, or perhaps it was because no filmmaker was brave enough to tackle the complicated history of Barbie in a way that could make sense in 2023. But there’s only one Greta Gerwig and if any director could convince a major studio to fork over a truckload of cash and disguise a movie based on the world’s most instantly recognizable doll as a thoughtful (and rollicking) meditation on gender norms, what it means to be a human, and fragile masculinity while also doubling as an homage to “An American in Paris” and “Singin’ in the Rain” (complete with dream ballets!) it would be her.
Grade: A

Ashley Saunders
Barbie is an entertaining, fiercely funny, clever, pink-tastic dreamhouse that will make you laugh, cheer, and possibly tear up. From the moment the young girls destroy their baby dolls to the final scene, it is utterly delightful and unlike anything, anyone could have anticipated from a story about a Barbie doll. It could have easily become a commercial for Mattel but with Gerwig at the helm and the script she penned along with Noah Baumbach, it is anything but. This Barbie has something to say with insightful criticism on everything from gender roles to wage gaps, capitalism, and the patriarchy. The result is a witty and sharp film that isn’t afraid to be campy or serious, elevated even more by the outstanding performances of its cast.
Grade: A

Gaius Bolling
Not only is Barbie hilarious & infectious in its charm, but it also has layers that are expertly handled by Greta Gerwig. The fact that she pulled this off is a testament to her talent & she’s easily crafted one of the best films of the year!
Grade: A

DarkSkyLady
Barbie captures the mixed emotions stemming from a toy that underwent many transformations. It’s a delightful, fun summer frolic with all the bright colors accompanying it. The cast is outstanding, with standouts being Margot Robbie, as always, and Ryan Gosling. Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach craft a film that’s larger than life with verve, humor, and depth, pulling the viewer out of their humdrum life and making you wish for a Barbieland.
Grade: A

Tom O’Brien
Come for the pink effervescence, but stay for Greta Gerwig’s thoughtful and provocative look at male and female roles in society — how we are often trapped by them and perhaps what we can even do to break free. The film’s production elements are stunning, and Gerwig’s sure hand with actors is evident once more. (I could have done with a little less Will Ferrell schtick, but that’s just me.) But, as always with screenwriters Gerwig & Noah Baumbach, it’s the words that count, and what the meaning behind the words spoken by these characters has stayed with me long after the final credits rolled.
Grade: A

Alexander Robinson
If I were to tell my teenage self that I would end up enjoying a Barbie movie more than a new Christopher Nolan movie, he would’ve looked at me like I was insane. As someone who played with Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and Godzilla toys, I wasn’t really interested in this movie, and yet Barbie is easily one of the biggest surprises of the year. Greta Gerwig makes this film far better than it has any right to be. The script that she co-wrote with Noah Baumbach is very clever, funny, and surprisingly meta, as well as thought-provoking. The cast is great with Margot Robbie being a pitch-perfect Barbie and Ryan Gosling giving Michael Keaton a run for his money as the best Ken. It also has a very unique visual style for Barbieland, with a lot of real sets; an almost dreamlike feeling to it when compared to how the real world looks. It’s a film that I can easily recommend to anyone whether they grew up with Barbie dolls or not, because it is that good.
Grade: A

Kolby Mac
Greta Gerwig doesn’t only “GET” Barbie, she “GETS” Ken, even more she “GETS”, Us! #Barbie is more than a movie about a doll, it’s about the human shared experience of life. It’s Brilliantly told in vibrant colors, compassionate writing, smart comedy and amazing performances.
Grade: A

Kit Bowen
It’s Barbie’s world and we’re just living in it! SO. MUCH. FUN.
Grade: A

Maggie Ma
Barbie is my fav of the year so far. Love the music numbers, costumes,casts, everything. Especially how this movie discusses about gender roles,reality of women,the importance of respect & self love. It’s funny and sharp ans also has so many moments brough tears in my eyes. Another successful female driven film by Greta Gerwig! 
Grade: A

Jami Philbrick
Barbie’ is a beautifully directed, charming, and funny movie! Director Greta Gerwig creates a subversive tone with gorgeous sets and costumes, while Margot Robbie is perfect as Barbie and Ryan Gosling delivers a hilarious performance as Ken.
Grade: A-

Josie Meléndez
Barbie is a hit! A wonderful reflection of a multitude of concepts relating to femininity and womanhood but also our self-worth and our purpose in life. That being said, the film tries to tackle too much within its limited runtime and comes off as delivering multiple messages that don’t quite land in their entirety. Despite this, the care with which this film was made is evident in every moment. It’s also important to note that the cast is phenomenal with everyone giving it their all. Special standouts including Michael Cera, America Ferrera, Margot Robbie, and obviously Ryan Gosling. 
Grade: A-

Nicholas Spake
Barbie exists in an idyllic dream world removed from anything resembling reality. At the same time, Barbie reflects every woman’s aspirations, whether they want to be a judge, lawyer, or mermaid. In this film, Barbie also provides a platform for every woman to share in their mutual frustration. America Ferrera delivers a powerhouse monologue about the impossible system that’s been designed to hold women back. Yet, the film cleverly doesn’t turn its male characters into straight-up villains. Every character is empathetic, showing that we’re all human (even the plastic ones without reproductive organs). And yes, Barbie touches upon this, resulting in some of the year’s biggest laughs to go with the unexpected tears. A somewhat chaotic second act aside, Barbie epitomizes everything right about cinema, unapologetically taking creative risks that pay off in wonderful ways.
Grade: A-

Megan McLachlan
I loved Barbie . It captures the fun of playing with your dolls as well as the adult baggage that comes with that. Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach deliver a clever script without it sounding too self-righteous. I see why some men don’t like it (they’re the Kens who explain The Godfather to you/make you listen to shitty music). The beauty is that’s THEIR Barbie! They don’t have to love it, which is what Barbie celebrates: individuality!
Grade: A-

Patrick Stoner
Although a consummate summer escapist film on the surface, social commentary is interwoven within its cloud of pink charm. The triumvirate of Greta, Margot & Ryan takes us on a joyful, yet thoughtful ride.
Grade: A-

Paul McGuire Grimes
Barbie the movie is poignant, and touching, and will have you in awe by the end thanks to its commentary, the design, and the brilliant performances. It should be showered with Oscar nominations across the board as it’s not your usual Oscar-style movie, yet everyone deserves recognition for their work.
Grade: A-

Erik Anderson
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is something of a miracle. As silly and goofy as an Austin Powers movie (Ken’s song and dance number is gonzo) but grounded in its matter-of-fact look at traditional feminine/masculine realities (America Ferrera has THE moment), it’s audacious and fun. This might be the career-defining role for Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling continues to prove how absurdly good he is at comedy; his timing is impeccable.
Grade: A-

Rasha Goel
A fun light-hearted film! Went in with no expectations and had some great laughs! I enjoyed how the film explores the contrast between a female-centric fantasy world and our human modern society’s realities. The Ken-ergo was on point and beyond with Ryan Gosling! The set design makes me want to play a day in Barbieland!
Grade: A-

Sara Clements
I was a Bratz girl and now I’m a Barbie girl. It may be eye-popping in its candy-like coating, but Gerwig proves life in plastic is not fantastic. An emotional commentary on the molds and stereotypes that women and men are often forced to conform to. It can feel heavy-handed at times but it’s hilarious and Kenergetic.
Grade: A-

Grant Hermanns
Some of its satire could be a little more pointed, a few of its emotional beats more distanced from its jokes, and mother-daughter story better established, but that doesn’t stop Barbie from being a sharp and insightful reflection on the doll’s legacy packed with guffaw-inducing humor, gorgeous direction, powerful moments and pitch-perfect performances from its cast.
Grade: A-

Scott Menzel
Barbie is a wildly creative love letter to womanhood. This is Greta Gerwig’s most personal film yet and also her most impressive. The energy in this film is off the charts. You can feel that the entire cast and crew had the time of their lives making this film. Margot Robbie perfectly encompasses the ideology of Barbie both past and present. Her performance is one that is multilayered and filled with such humor and heart. Ryan Gosling, as expected is the scene-stealer. Ken, in many ways, breaks down male stereotypes while at the same time mocking them. It’s quite the creative dance that Gosling does but it is brought to life with such absurdity that you can’t help but smile and laugh the entire time. Barbie is one of the most entertaining and enjoyable films I’ve seen so far in 2023.
Grade: A-

Joey Moser
Gloriously candy-coated, Barbie is a comedy that we will be coming back to for years to come. Greta Gerwig’s script challenges our perceptions and long-buried opinion of the storied Mattel doll’s history by confronting it with zippy humor and hilarious sight gags. The costuming and production design are perfect. When was the last time a July blockbuster was this…weird? Margot Robbie’s physical comedy is impressive and everyone is game to be the best Barbie and Ken that they can be.
Grade: A-

Diego Andaluz
Barbie is a blast. Greta Gerwig crafts a film with remarkable social & thematic depth and showstopping performances from Margot Robbie & Ryan Gosling. With an ambitious finale that juggles much but recovers to stick the landing, it cements itself as a wildly clever & hilarious hit.
Grade: A-

Peggy Marie
Barbie – The Movie was a feast for my eyes. Visually, the colours were beautifully done. Margot Robbie IS Barbie and Ryan Gosling IS Ken and they fit in every possible way. But I think people will be surprised by the story. It’s much stronger & funnier than one would think I lived my best Barbie life while watching it and while it’s comical, it also has depth. The Barbie movie is just plain old delightful fun.
Grade: A-

Ricky Valero
Barbie not only lives up to the hype but it exceeded any expectations I had for the film. America Ferrera’s monologue is award-worthy, Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie are pitch-perfect. Greta Gerwig, you did the damn thing.
Grade: A-

Rachel Wagner
Barbie is as much of a critique of modern feminism as it is of Barbie and all she stands for.
Grade: B+

Kit Stone
Barbie is a fun and genuinely feel-good cinematic experience. It’s a compelling and beautiful meta-film centered around re-discovery. The movie delves into the essence of identity and what it means to be oneself. Audiences will be clamoring to embrace their unique versions of Barbie, Ken, or even Allan. Gerwig’s directorial prowess is unmatched. With a perfect score filmography, one can only wonder if her foot is arched beneath her shoe.
Grade: B+

Stacey Yvonne
I’m still processing Barbie but I will say every performance was top notch. America Ferrera was a stand out and of course, Margot and Ryan killed it, nailing the internal complexity of their plastic roles. I recommend it and I’ll probably see it again but get ready to take notes!
Grade: B+

Lupe Rodriguez Haas
As expected, Greta Gerwig’s live-action BARBIE movie is filled with subversive feminist messaging but Gerwig balances the truth bombs with comedy, although the satire becomes repetitive.
Margot Robbie is a perfect Barbie and Ryan Gosling steals the show with his himbo Ken-energy.
Grade: B+

Nestor Bentancor
A unique, beautifully realized big budget comedy with auteur sensibilities, that is elevated by talented and committed artists. 
Grade: B+

Abe Friedtanzer
Greta Gerwig brings Barbie to life in a fantastic way, presenting her in all her pitch-perfect glory and showing the slow unraveling of that fantasy as she enters the real world. It’s both a send-up of the way Barbie has permeated society for years and a truly fun ride, featuring terrific performances from Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, and a superb supporting cast. The visuals are just as phenomenal.
Grade: B+

Matt Neglia
Greta Gerwig has done it again! BARBIE never loses its joyous spirit while telling a thoughtfully meta-story about gender roles, existentialism & self-worth. First 15 minutes had me a bit nervous but as it progressed beyond Barbieland and into the real world it became much more layered & emotional than I was expecting. Margot Robbie is beyond perfect in a role she was born to play, while Ryan Gosling is exuberantly hilarious. Endlessly creative, silly & fun.
Grade: B+

Clarence Moye
Barbie is Greta Gerwig’s best film as a director. She excels at telling a deeply metaphorical story on a broad canvas. She creates a fun film that still offers emotional engagement and thoughtful commentary. I honestly can’t believe the film was even made. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are perfect. Not everything fully works, but when it’s good it soars.
Grade: B+

Abbie Bernstein
BARBIE’s script, by director Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach, is also loaded with ideas that turn over and over and over. There’s comedy, there’s parody, there’s self-satire, there’s overt meta-commentary (at one point, the narration mentions a cast member by name), there’s tart observation of the real world, there’s an illustration of the sometimes-vast gap between what a creator imagines and how the creation actually lands with others. In other words, by the time the film is over, we’re not quite sure if the film is really saying what it seems to be saying, or if we’ve gotten stuck one step back in comprehending it. It’s not a flaw, per se, but the ambiguity does leech a bit of fun from the ultimate effect.
Grade: B+

Patrick Beatty
Barbie is a warm, hilarious, and immersive experience perfectly crafted by Greta Gerwig. Margot Robbie shines as Barbie with a juiced up but slightly underused supporting cast. Ryan Gosling is a scene-stealing madken in all the best ways. The set design and unique world-building makes this a must-watch for everyone.
Grade: B+

Ryan McQuade
Barbie is Great Gerwig at her most ambitious, throwing everything and the kitchen sink at the wall (meta jokes, musical sequences, feminist anti-patriarchy commentary) and for the most part, it sticks. The whole cast is fantastic, especially Robbie, Gosling, Ferreira, and Cera. The film runs a little long and not all the jokes land but it’s a fun time!
Grade: B

Aaron White
It’s an enormous challenge to be both of the machines and critique it at the same time, so it’s no surprise that BARBIE’s attempt to do so is only somewhat successful and easily the least effective part of the film. As satire about the state of gender in our current world, though, it absolutely shines. I never felt like it was punching down and it addresses so many important aspects of womanhood, yes, but also what it means to be a man today. It’s constantly funny and visually appealing, with great song selections and extremely energetic and entertaining musical numbers. Everyone in this very diverse cast is having a blast, and Robbie is of course amazing, but Gosling truly steals every scene he’s in. His comedic timing is just perfect. The film does get a little too meta for its own good, but it’s such an enjoyable romp that it doesn’t ruin the fun. Keep in mind that the themes are pretty heavy so parents should be prepared to explain to younger kids.
Grade: B

Kevin L. Lee
Barbie felt like two different films – one satirical and the other existential. I love them individually, but together, I felt the funny stuff took away a lot of precious time/space for the emotional stuff to land. But I love its ideas and I’m glad it lands for a lot of people.
Grade: B

Aaron Neuwirth
A colorful exploration of a fashion doll having an existential crisis. It’s as weird as it sounds, which works well in favor of a movie happy to lean into absurdist comedy, wacky set pieces, and strong themes involving maturation and womanhood.
Grade: B

Rob Licuria
There is so much to love about Barbie. It is a gorgeously rendered trifle of impeccable production and costume design, with a witty script by director extraordinaire Greta Gerwig and husband filmmaker Noah Baumbach and a star-studded soundtrack. Margot Robbie proves once again that she is one of the actors of her generation, leading an excellent ensemble with heart. Ryan Gosling goes all-out and really delivers the laughs. Perhaps it’s a bit silly at times, but it’s meant to be. And anyone telling you that it is too “woke” or “activist” needs to turn off Fox News and lighten up a little.
Grade: B

Maggie Lovitt
Barbie is a delightfully campy film, with glorious costuming, that will make you wonder how it ever got made. The humor is the perfect blend of mature, but not too mature, and the bits never go on too long. Robbie is utterly delightful as Barbie, bringing her unique brand of powerful performance and graceful looks to the role, which helps her really feel like the doll we grew up playing with.
Grade: B

Ashley Bissette Sumerel
Barbie is as creative and fun as you’d expect, with clever writing and a solid message. However, it tries to do too much in the time it has, and glosses over some of its most interesting points. Ryan Gosling as Ken is is perfect in every way, though too much time is spent on the Kens in this film.
Grade: B

Shadan Larki
Candy-colored, hilarious, stuffed with Barbie nostalgia. The problem is that Barbie is a too stuffed with competing themes and ideas to fully commit to a single vision and feels disjointed as a result. Still, Robbie and Gosling are fantastic and a joy to watch.
Grade: B

Rick Bentley
Greta Gerwig’s lack of commitment to making the film a humorous slap at a toy national treasure or a pink-colored soap box for discussions ranging from corporate greed to Ken-atalia eventually hurts the product. It doesn’t help that Gerwig’s idea for an ending is to hide behind the logic that Barbie’s story will never end. The tale of the doll can have such longevity, but a movie needs at least an attempt to wrap up things.
Grade: B-

Dan Murrell
Instead of the pretty-looking but empty piece of corporate fluff Barbie could have been, Greta Gerwig instead delivers a funny, insightful, and ambitious film…that’s still pretty to look at. While I felt some of the messaging was on the nose, it’s also full of deeper meaning that tackles modern society through the lens of a 60+-year-old toy doll. Margot Robbie finally gets a role worthy of her talents and brings more depth to Barbie than anyone could have anticipated. Ryan Gosling, as Barbie’s aimless companion Ken, also gets to flex his comedic muscles. While it didn’t strike as deep a chord with me as it has with others, it’s still great to see a property this meaningful given to a creative team that’s not afraid to do something with it.
Grade: B-

Kevin Taft
While it has an All-Star cast and a more than capable director at its helm, BARBIE can’t just feel like an overly long SNL sketch. It’s a cute joke stretched waaaay too long.

The points it tries to make about feminism, misogyny, the patriarchy, and finally about finding oneself, all seem obvious and trite. I found myself drifting bc there wasn’t any sharp dialogue to anticipate or truly any real surprises. Even some of the comedy falls flat. (Our West Hollywood audience was quiet when everyone on screen was going for the joke.)
So bummed bc I wanted to love it and the trailer was so very promising.

I know I’ll be in the minority just like with “Oppenheimer” (a solid B ) but I cannot tell a lie. Stereotypical Barbie wouldn’t want me to.
Grade: C+

Sean Chandler
Barbie was a frustrating film. The production design and costumes are fantastic. The cast is so much fun. And it can be very funny and smart at times. But it also didn’t know when to stop. It tackles so many ideas that it feels like none of them are fully explored. By the third act the movie resorts to monologuing to get all of its points across. Likewise, the film is designed in a way where its social commentary and humor are all based on prior knowledge. Thus giving the movie this feels like it’s all one big in-joke.
Grade: C+

Mark Johnson
If my theater is any indication, Barbie is going to make a lot of money. But the quality of a film is not always reflected in box office results. There’s a target audience for this film that will make it a big success (hint: it ain’t me), and that’s good for the industry.
Grade: D+