Film Review: "Barbie" (2023).

From the director of Lady Bird and Little Women comes Barbie. This fantasy comedy film directed by Greta Gerwig, written by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, and based on the fashion dolls of the same name by Mattel. It is the first live-action Barbie film after many computer-animated direct-to-video and streaming television films. Barbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans.

In September 2009, development on a film based on the Barbie toy line began, when it was announced that Mattel had signed a partnership to develop the project with Universal Pictures, but nothing came to fruition. In April 2014, Mattel teamed with Sony Pictures to produce the film, which would have Jenny Bicks pen the script. Filming at the time was anticipated to begin by the end of the year. In March 2015, Diablo Cody was brought onto the project to rewrite the script. Sony would again have rewrites done to the script later that year, hiring Lindsey Beer, Bert V. Royal, and Hillary Winston to pen separate drafts. In December 2016, Amy Schumer entered negotiations to star in the title role, with Winston's screenplay being used that would be rewritten by Schumer and by Schumer's sister, Kim Caramele. In March 2017, Schumer exited negotiations, blaming scheduling conflicts with the planned June 2017 filming start. however, in 2023 she revealed she left the project due to creative differences. In July, Anne Hathaway was under consideration for the title role, with Sony hiring Olivia Milch to rewrite the script. In March 2018, Alethea Jones was hired to direct. However, in October, Sony's option on the project had expired and was transferred to Warner Bros. Pictures. Hathaway and Jones ultimately departed the project. In July 2019, Margot Robbie was set to star in the title role, with Gerwig and Baumbach hired to pen the script. In July 2021, Gerwig was hired to direct. By late March 2022, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, Will Ferrell, Hari Nef, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Mackey, Dua Lipa, Nicola Coughlan, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Simu Liu, John Cena, Emerald Fennell, Michael Cera, and Helen Mirren rounded out the film's cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in mid July. Filming took place at Warner Bros. Studios, in Leavesden, England and Venice, Los Angeles, California.

The movie is so badly written, performed and so entrenched in its own space that it manages the impossible: to make us dislike Robbie and the entire cast in characters that were beloved toys.

Next to all woke films these days, this the most egregious example among films of filmmakers warping established characters to suit their own tastes and ideas rather than giving fans what they want to pay for.

Simon says Barbie receives:

Also, see my review for Little Women.