Barbie (****1/2) is esoterica

Director Greta Gerwig
Screenplay Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach
Starring Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Ariana Greenblatt, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, Will Ferrell, Kinglsey Ben-Adir, Simu Liu, John Cena, Alexandra Shipp, Michael Cera, Emerald Fennell

Don’t let me explain this film to you. It’s uncertain if I even could. The story contained in Barbie, the movie feels like the very process of being uncontained. As she is living in her perfect world, Barbie (Robbie) has a thought that literally stops the party mid-dance. From here, things start to unravel and she becomes aware enough to go seek advice from Weird Barbie (McKinnon) on the edge of Barbieland. Weird Barbie explains that the fabrice between Barbieland and the Real World has been damaged, likely because something is wrong with the person who plays with her particular Barbie. She is implored to go to the Real World and figure out why.

Her Ken (Gosling) who is more enamored with Barbie than the other direction, hitches a ride to the Real World. They each have different reactions to their experience there. Ken heads back on his own. Barbie finds her persons and heads back later.

What they find there is a reflection on the world we live in. It’s not ideal due to the mixture of the realities. It’s a mess.

From here, the film hits its stride. Barbie’s person, Gloria (Ferrara) and her daughter play a large part in explaining the contrast between the ideals Barbie represents and the expectation of girls and women in the real world. In other hands, this speechifying could have been horrible.Gerwig and Baumbach walk the line between preaching and expression of genuine feelings.

As a result, the last act is electrified. The plot that ensues has so many hilarious truths, it might be the funniest 30 minutes of a film this year. They don’t limit the truths to one side of the world. If one is careful, there’s a lot of understanding to go around. All the women and their men who accompany can find something at which to laugh and identify.

Robbie finds a way to make her character an unforgettable and real person. It’s something she’s done throughout her career. Her performance, augmented by Ferrara and Perlman, is one of the best of the year. She constantly outshines her obvious looks and makes her characters relatable.

The film is a literal trip through the history of Barbie fashions and toys, in addition to the remarkably complex plot. Those who love attention to detail will find much to enjoy here. There are dolls that didn’t go very far, like Allan (Cera), Midge (Fennell) and Skipper as well as genuine mistakes, like Sugar Daddy Ken. Each have their moment to shine, or not.

The only drawback to the film is the inclusion of an obvious character placed there for making waves. There is no sense in saying more than it’s obvious and out of place. Like sand in the vaseline. If one just ignores those odd moments, the rest of the film works well. Especially the last line.

(****1/2 out of *****)