But perhaps the most heart-wrenching lesson of the movie came in a scene that Gerwig was asked to cut, and which she called the "heart of the movie:" a scene in which Barbie experiences crying for the first time.
But many of those moviegoers also looked deep into the Mattelian abyss and found themselves surprised to not just be laughing, but crying … a lot. In the days since the film was released, emotionally overwhelmed Barbies and Kens have been posting evidence of their teary journeys through Greta Gerwig's masterwork.
First when Barbie looked around in the real world and started crying for the first time herself, again when she had her breakdown about not doing anything right, and again at the end when Ruth held her hands and showed her all the memories and mothers with their daughters.
They are reacting to America Ferrera's monologue about womanhood and how resonant (or not resonant enough) it is; they are reacting to the beautiful montages that stir up memories of how important or not play was in our lives; the comedy skewering Mattel is either brilliant or complicit in the film's capitalism; the ...
Topline. Barbie was pulled from theaters in Algeria this week, joining a growing list of countries that, despite the summer blockbuster's widespread success, have banned the film because of its themes of gender and sexuality or because of the film's alleged use of a controversial map.
Barbie is rated PG-13 for suggestive references and brief language. Credit: Warner Bros. This is the classification the MPAA has offered for the Barbie movie.
Some kids may lose interest in dolls around the age of 5 or 6, while others may continue to play with them into their pre-teen years. There really isn't a "magic age" at which all children suddenly stop playing with dolls - it varies from child to child.
Though Barbie quickly covers her blunder, it's clear something isn't right. The following day, as it becomes apparent that her regular morning routine is going wrong at every turn, the soundtrack even references Barbie's encroaching fear of death.
The doll's creator, Mattel, claims that the proportions were created for the ease of dressing and undressing the doll, not replicating the realistic size and shape of an adult woman. However, there is no such rationale for the very thin representation of Barbie in her TV show, movies, books, and range of online games.
She has been an astronaut and a judge, but the character has never been marketed or sold as a mother. As Dr. Amanda Anthony has pointed out, the fact that Barbie hasn't been “specifically branded as mom isn't necessarily a negative thing, if you see it as being an alternative.”
While the original Barbie doll, meant as a high fashion toy, didn't have pink marketing, in the 70s, Mattel made a push to market the doll to young girls, instead of adolescent girls, and used pink as the main color for the doll's brand identity.
Previously perceived as a symbol of unattainable beauty, Barbie has transformed into an emblem of inclusivity and empowerment. The scene of Barbie visiting a gynecologist encapsulates this change, underlining that health is vital to being a “real woman.”
Barbie, formally known as “Barbara Millicent Roberts,” was born in 1959, which would technically make her 63 years old — except for the small fact that she was born as a 19-year-old. Yep, that's right: The first ever Barbie was officially 19 years old, which would make her age closer to 82-83 years old.
“Pregnant Barbie” is actually Margaret Hadley Sherwood, or Midge, as her friends call her. Midge was created to be a less glam, more relatable Barbie, per Buzzfeed News. The doll was launched in 1963 as Barbie's bestie. She had freckles and red hair, and she wore less makeup than Barbie did.
In the early days of Barbie, her parents were never mentioned. She was simply a doll with no backstory. But in the 1960s, a series of books was published that introduced Barbie's parents, George and Margaret Roberts. These books revealed that Barbie had a younger sister named Skipper and a dog named Taffy.
While not emaciated-looking like the original Barbie, she's still quite thin, likely a US size 4 or 6. The “tall” Barbie has longer legs and is as thin (if not thinner) than the original. The “petite” version of Barbie is shorter, but still thin, with an hourglass shape.
If a child still wants to play with toys as they move into adolescence, it is totally normal and to be celebrated! Unless a child's play is affecting or replacing real-life friendships, there is no need to worry.
Because they are too old for that? As experts would tell you, there is no age limit for dolls. It may seem unusual in this day and age, but several 12-year-olds still play with dolls. And in a world where the internet is widespread, this may be a good thing.
No one is ever too old for dolls. I am 51 and have collected dolls for nearly 30 years. I played with them until I was 13 and then, like most other people that age, was told that I should be 'too old' for them. I put my dolls away, reluctantly, but still noticed and liked dolls.
While the movie is given credit for including a gay character, he's largely made fun of and glossed over as an accessory to the Barbies. With a lack of queer people in the "real world" of this movie, families with two queer dads seeing this movie only have Allan – a character largely joked about – as a portrayal.
Barbie (2023) has a PG-13 rating. The movie has some suggestive dialogue and double entendres, but no extreme violence, nudity, or drugs/alcohol. The film explores themes of beauty standards, gender inequality, identity, and the meaning of life, but these may be lost on younger kids.
As a lot of people told the mother that it's not necessarily unsuitable for younger children but would probably be uninteresting to them. But, as it is PG-13 you can still bring children to see the Barbie movie as long as they have a parent with them.
