THEthe highest grossing in history for a film directed by a woman. The not only cinematic phenomenon of summer 2023, in which director/screenwriter Greta Gerwig, who comes from independent cinema, manages to bring her ideas into the mainstream. Two years after its release in cinemas, Barbiewith Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, airs tonight on Canale 5 at 9.20pm. What is left of such a talked about title?
Barbie on Canale 5 tonight 6 January: plot of Greta Gerwig’s film
In Barbieland, stereotypical Barbie and others like her live in a society where women are powerful and successful, and men subservient to them. An all pink and shiny world, in which suddenly something breaks. The protagonist begins to think about death and have physical ailments. On the advice of weirdo Barbie, she and Ken embark on a journey into the real world.
Thus they discover patriarchy, a reality opposite to Barbieland. Taking advantage of his absence, Ken also establishes him in his world. When Barbie returns, she tries to put things right with the help of the others, pushed to become aware of the role of women and the need for emancipation.
The review of the film with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling
At the beginning of Little women by Greta Gerwig, it is Florence Pugh who looks intensely at Timothée Chalamet in their first meeting. The camera lingers on his face, overturning the classic dynamic of the romantic film in which it is the woman who is born from the male gaze (and desire). At the beginning of Barbieit is Ryan Gosling’s Ken who constantly asks the protagonist for his attention. The film therefore fits perfectly into the director/screenwriter’s poetics on female revenge and the value of solidarity between women.
As a film about a well-known gaming intellectual property, Barbie it then owes a lot to The Lego Movie. Both outline a ruthless satire on society that does not spare sentences directed at the viewer and digs at Warner and Mattel. Barbie However, he loses his anarchic and crazy character to write a clear manifesto of emancipation. An even more urgent theme today, which the film pursues too directly, with motivational phrases and explicit denunciations. What pays the price is the comic and surreal dimension, with jokes that often fail to hit the mark.
Far from the immediate media outcry it had aroused, the film’s overly glittering ending and some unclear passages are jarring (why is Weird Barbie included in the hierarchy of power but is entrusted with street cleaning as if it were a source of pride?). Instead, we appreciate more the successful parable of the male characters, who learn to see and accept their own frailties. An aspect that unfortunately remains too marginal.
Margot Robbie in “Barbie” (Warner)
Barbie 2: will the long-awaited sequel be made?
At the cinema, Barbie has grossed over a billion dollars. Ever since it was still in theaters, viewers have been wondering if the sequel will be made which, incredibly, has not yet been confirmed to date.. At the time, the director said she was available if she found a convincing story. In the meantime he is dedicating himself to another project: the new adaptation of The Chronicles of Narniawhich we will see in 2026 on Netflix.
However, Mattel, creator of the iconic doll, does not intend to make the film an isolated case. He is in fact working to bring other of his well-known intellectual properties to the big screen. In particular, we talked about Polly Pocket (starring Lily Collins), Hot Wheels (with the director of Wicked, Jon M. Chu) and Masters of the Universe (starring Nicholas Galitzine). We’ll see which one arrives on the screen first, but one thing is certain: Barbie has left an indelible mark on the film industry.
The cast of the film
In the film, Margot Robbie plays the stereotypical Barbie. The Australian actress, launched by Martin Scorsese in The Wolf of Wall Streetwill return to our screens on Valentine’s Day with the new adaptation of Wuthering Heights signed by Emerald Fennell (also present in a small role in Barbie). Next to her, Ryan Gosling is the face of Ken: after the film the actor took part in The Fall Guy and from next March it will return to theaters with The last mission: Project Hail Mary.
The rich cast of the film also includes America Ferrera (Gloria), Michael Cera (Allan), Will Ferrell (CEO Mattel), Simu Liu (Ken 2). Without forgetting the fun cameos from John Cena and Dua Lipa.