With its seismic $275 million opening weekend in the rearview mirror, Barbie has undoubtedly introduced the world at large to the comedic genius of Ryan Gosling. Standing out in the technicolor Dreamland conjured by director Greta Gerwig was never going to be easy, particularly when vying for screen time against the magnetic Margot Robbie, but he handled the assignment with ease. In our Barbie review, we noted that the film "shines whenever Gosling is on screen" – a result of his presence, his temperament, and his timing; anchors in a world eschew. Some are already calling for Gosling to be handed a 'Best Supporting Actor' Oscar nomination for his turn as Ken.
That's fair – he was robbed of Academy Awards a decade apart for his performances in Half Nelson and La La Land. But if the kinetic Kenergy that Barbie has spawned results in anything, I hope that it's a sequel to one of the best (and most overlooked) movies in Gosling's wide filmography: The Nice Guys.
