PLATTSMOUTH - Barbiemania is back in full-force with the introduction of “Barbie,” a movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosline as the dynamic duo, Stereotypical Barbie and Ken.

Although there is plenty of pink throughout this flick, it’s also packed with heartfelt messages for all ages and sexes. People throughout the United States shared their opinions about this doll-oriented movie including area residents.

The movie opens in Barbie Land where Stereotypical Barbie and her friends dominate all careers,  own their own homes, boats, companies and, of course, designer clothes. It’s not a boy-meet-girl movie, because the Barbie doll, which debuted by Mattel in 1959,  has known her boyfriend Ken for 62 years without ever tying the knot. The movie explains Ken has been more of an accessory than a great love to his girlfriend.

The plot thickens when the traditionally super happy Barbie starts thinking about death. To waylay these dark thoughts, she is forced to leave Barbie Land and enter the real world. Ken tags along despite her objections. In the real world,  Ken and Barbie learn that men rule, and women are the accessories. Ken embraces the concept. The discovery saddens her.

 

To return to Barbie Land, she must track down her owner, Gloria, a mother and Mattel employee, portrayed by America Ferrera. Gloria shows Barbie the challenges women face in a patriarchal society.

Sixteen-year-old Josey Freel of Plattsmouth attended the movie with friends on July 21 at Twin Rivers Theater in Bellevue. The three young ladies even dressed in their interpretation of Barbie outfits.

“I thought it was going to be pretty and joyful,” Freel said. “It kind of took me off guard and made me think a lot more about reality. Gloria’s speech was very moving. It was an important movie that talked about patriarchy and women.”    

Plattsmouth teenager Ashley Abercrombie’s favorite scene in the movie was when Barbie talked to an elderly woman sitting on a bench at the bus stop. “Barbie has never been shown to age or get old, which is why she has anxiety about death, aging and cellulite, “ she said. “She has always been depicted as perfect and plastic, however, when she talks with the elderly lady, she begins to realize what being human is like.”

Although Ken becomes obsessed with power after being in the real world and tries making Barbie Land into Ken Land, Abercrombie did not see it as a hate-men movie.

 

 

“The Barbie movie encourages men to find themselves and let their emotions show. Ken got an entire character arc, and song, about how the patriarch negatively influenced his relationship,’ Abercrombie said.

The movie, she admitted, deeply affected her.

“I had a lot of emotions hit me when I finished the movie. I was sitting in my theater seat just sobbing my eyes out. The movie really exceeded my expectations. From the costumes and set design to the jokes and the theme of the movie.”

Shaina Kennedy of Plattsmouth attended the movie and loved it.

“We had a good time and I thought it was humorous and well-done.” Kennedy said.

 

 

Nebraska City native daughter Beth Kellogg also enjoyed the movie. “It was visually delightful. The attention to detail in the set, costumes and history makes you want to see it twice to get everything. Even the husbands liked it. If you’re a fan of Ryan Gosling, you won’t been disappointed. I took my original Barbie and Midge.”

Colleen Dessell from Olympia, Wash. Creates couture outfits for Barbie and shared her views of the movie in the Facebook group, Barbie Sewing Club. “I enjoyed the movie but felt it did not show negative aspects of real life. “They showed Barbie what can happen in real life and that all of it was positive, not anything negative. Life is full of negative things – pain, sorrow, death, etc., and not showing them puts an unreal spin on life.”

Critics have said the doll makes women want to look like. Seventy-one-year-old Kathy Norton of  Yakima, WA, disagrees.

“I went to the Barbie movie the first day it was released,” said  Norton, who also sews haute couture Barbie outfits.

  She identified with the little girls in the beginning of the movie who destroyed their baby dolls when the original Barbie, like a monolith,  entered the ancient scene to the “2001 Odyssey” music theme.

I loved the movie and all the in-jokes, although the pink was a bit overwhelming at times. I found it a ‘bit’ heavy on the preaching at times but overall, it was great fun. I never felt the desire to look like Barbie--my dolls were ranchers, spies, millionaires...whatever I wanted them to be,” she said. “ I hated baby dolls and would have nothing to do with them. I loved Barbie and her fashionable world although I never thought she looked like a teenager. To sum up, I loved the movie as a nostalgic salute to an iconic doll and the way she could and can fire the imagination. Was it perfect? No. Was it fun? Yes. And after a worldwide opening of $337 million, I bet the production team are laughing all the way to the bank! Isn't that the best revenge?”