Before taking my kids to see the movie, I scoured early reviews and checked out FilmRatings.com, where the MPAA posts official ratings. In the case of the “Barbie” movie, the MPAA handed down a PG-13 rating for two main reasons: Brief language. Suggestive references.
So, is Barbie appropriate for your kids to watch? This has become a hot debate among parents, as the movie is rated by the Motion Picture Association as PG-13, suggesting only teens and adults should enjoy the flick.
This overwhelming success can perhaps be attributed by the fact that director Greta Gerwig and the entire cast understood their main target audience—women and girls.
The new 'Barbie' movie has been given a PG-13 rating due to some suggestive references and brief language used throughout the film. This means it might not be suitable for kids under the age of 13 without parental guidance.
The doll, called “My First Barbie,” is specifically created for kids three years old and older, said Lisa McKnight, executive vice president and global head of Barbie and dolls for Mattel. The age range for the original Barbie fashion dolls is for kids 3 and up. “We talk to parents and kids almost every day.
However, the BEST age to give Barbies would probably be to a kid between 3–8. For three year olds, it might just be a babydoll, but as they get older they could get some Barbies! This is typically the prime age to play with them, and their friends will most likely have em too!
Dolls are important to children between the ages of 1 and 2, as they help them to act out their experiences in pretend play. Dolls provide a connection to people, which is an important part of life at this age. It's a lot harder to act out hugging, kissing, and bedtime with blocks.
“PSA to parents of young kids who love Barbie: hold off on the movie unless you want to have a lot of earlier-than-planned discussions of death and existential fatigue,” a parent named Kit warns. Parents should also be aware of other potentially problematic themes in the movie, like depictions of consumerism.
It's not explicit or vulgar and there's nothing that resembles nudity. At one point the words "vagina" and "penis" are used. There is also that reference mentioned earlier when Ken asks Barbie to stay the night, but he doesn't know what that really means. Ken does try to kiss Barbie more than once.
Barbie is very entertaining and despite the apparent artificiality, it questions social mandates. Throughout the film, a successful sense of humor is maintained regarding the struggle of the sexes and its cultural implications, without being offensive.
So she heads to the real world with her companion Ken (Ryan Gosling) to figure out how to fix herself. Despite the fact that the doll is marketed to children, the movie seems to be trying to appeal to older audiences who have memories of growing up with Barbie.
Enter Greta Gerwig and the Barbie movie. This is a film that explicitly acknowledges the un-coolness of Barbie when Robbie's Barbie is belittled by a middle-schooler in the school cafeteria, and pokes fun at the Barbies for their delusional belief that they've “fixed” gender inequality in the real world.
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.
What are the trigger warnings for the Barbie movie?
No children are abused in the movie, nor do any parents treat their children poorly. The closest trigger that may be for a person is that a mother yells. It is during a car chase scene after her daughter makes fun of her, though, it is evident the mother loves her daughter and truly does her best to support her.
A big plot line in the Barbie movie, one that was teased in Ryan Gosling's impassioned performance of the summer bop “I'm Just Ken,” is Barbie's lack of romantic interest in Ken. Minor spoiler alert: turns out, Robbie's Barbie never actually kisses Gosling on the lips in the film.
I was surprised that people actually dressed up in pink to see it. It's really good. Most I've laughed at a film in a while. It's definitely not for kids, but not in that it's "adult", but that they wouldn't understand most of the humour and references, and might not enjoy it.
Detractors argue that the movie is "anti-male" and deemed propagandist due to its exploration of a society where Barbieland is governed entirely by women, while the Kens are relegated to mere objects devoid of inherent value.
There are three swear words used in the movie, but one is bleeped out. Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie as Ken and Barbie in "Barbie."Courtesy of Warner Bros. The MPA's rating is mainly focused on the brief strong language and suggestive references in the movie. Throughout the movie, there are a few sexual innuendos.
Barbie, formally known as “Barbara Millicent Roberts,” was born in 1959, which would technically make her 65 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 84 years old.
There is no one "magic age" at which all children stop playing with dolls - it varies from child to child. Dolls offer children a way to express themselves and their imaginations, and they can also help promote cognitive development and early literacy skills.
People are in such a rush for their kids to grow up. My 12, almost 13 year old, still enjoys dolls and toys (she probably wouldn't advertise that to her friends but in the comfort of her own home we do find her playing sometimes) 7 is definitely not too old.
