The lead-up to Barbie’s release has seen a marketing blitz akin to being hit repeatedly over the head with a very pink, very corporate shovel. With Mattel and Warner Bros. livery on full display, the none-more-peppy trailers suggest that the movie will be plastic, ironic, and FUN (whether you like it not, Skipper). And though the involvement of filmmaker Greta Gerwig has indicated some anarchy at play, it’s been hard to get around the creeping sense of cash-in cynicism.
So, it’s a relief to discover that the Lady Bird/Little Women director’s tale of a dress-up doll is profound, silly, moving, smart, existential and, to use Ken’s word, SUBLIME! (shout this (K)energetically, please).
