The movie does have adult themes, mild language and some suggestive references, but many parents have still felt comfortable taking their children and tweens to see it. The “Barbie” movie can be a great jumping off point for starting or continuing thoughtful discussions about diversity, inclusion and self-image.
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.
Is there anything inappropriate in the Barbie movie?
Yes, there is some “strong” language used but the one word that would really require some “earmuffs” is actually bleeped out. There is no other profanity. There is some beer-drinking in some scenes as well.
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 Real Meaning of Barbie (And That Surprise Ending) | Feminism Series
Is the Barbie movie for adults?
The movie does have adult themes, mild language and some suggestive references, but many parents have still felt comfortable taking their children and tweens to see it. The “Barbie” movie can be a great jumping off point for starting or continuing thoughtful discussions about diversity, inclusion and self-image.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“Every character was along that journey in finding out who they really are and discovering that, at the end of the day, anyone can be anything and there's no one to stop you.” “Barbie” is especially powerful when it comes to themes of feminism and the struggles we face in society.
Director Greta Gerwig, who has built a devoted following for such female-forward movies as Lady Bird and Little Women, has labeled Barbie "most certainly a feminist film." Mattel executives, on the other hand, have said the opposite.
What suggestive references are in the Barbie movie?
While there's no sex in the movie (the Barbies and Kens are frank about not having genitals), Kens are shown shirtless, Barbies get catcalled, and there are suggestive references to the dolls' bodies -- including Ken's "nude bulge" -- and how a male-dominated society expects women to be ornamental and helpful.
Those who openly hated it mostly did so for reasons having to do with what it “stood for.” They abhorred its (oddly anachronistic) third-wave feminist politics. They despised its commercialism and dreaded the prospect of future films about Mattel properties like Barney and American Girl dolls.
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.
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.
So, do actors really kiss? It depends. They usually do some form of kissing, but there are ways to get around it, such as with carefully chosen camera angles or smart editing. Whether you wind up locking lips with another actor or not, there's a lot that goes into kissing scenes that you should know about.
Actually, the scene that was almost deleted is the one in which Margot Robbie sits at a bus stop in the real world, bursting into tears overcome by her circumstances, and then sees an old woman next to her. Barbie says that she is beautiful and the old lady replies: “I know.” “I love that scene so much,” said Gerwig.
Barbie is a doll fit for all ages. But is the new Barbie movie fun for all ages? Sure, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are the picture of playtime wholesomeness in the trailers and the red carpet. However, the latest from writer/director Greta Gerwig is rated PG-13.
