I have a golden rule with films. I started it during university and Iโve stuck with it ever since (simply because I feel like a schmuck if I donโt stick to it); Iโm not allowed to criticise a film until Iโve watched it. The whole way through. Credits and all. There have been some surprises (LaLa Land, Mean Girls and Cold Mountain to name but a few) and no surprises (Sound of Thunder, The Guru and (shudder) Bridget Jones Baby. All of which I am still recovering from...). Barbie is one of those films I saw advertised and thought โthat just isnโt meโ. But, I have to confess Ryan Gosling looked funny in the trailer (he is the sole reason I enjoyed LaLa Land) and even Iโve got caught up in the whole Barbenheimer thing.
Then it got nominated for an Oscar for best adapted screenplay. Various folks and online groups started questioning its validity as an Oscar nominee because it was successful, not quality (apparently). So that to me is the perfect challenge. Accepted, say I! Letโs have itโฆ
Plot in a nutshell: Barbie and Ken are living their best lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when Barbie starts acting strangely, they are urged to visit the real world to find the solutionโฆ
Straight in, Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach nail the delicate line of introducing the world of Barbie and its inhabitants within reality and yet separate to OUR reality. Itโs as if weโve stepped into a childโs imagination and been immersed completely. Real world rules donโt apply here! Bubblegum coloured utopia kicks in (LEGALLY BLONDEโs Elle Woods would be homecoming queen of this world), with a dash of tongue in cheek sardonically narrated by Helen Mirren (named here as the narrator, oddly enough).
From there, the script becomes a chain of basically thinly veiled messages. Empowerment. Standing up to bullies. Being true to yourself. Fighting for what you believe in is a BIG one. The messages arenโt necessarily conveyed in a subtle manner (the word โsledgehammerโ comes to mind), but thatโs what this script does really well. It wears its heart gloriously on its sleeve and preaches its message from the rooftops. The imaginary world of Barbie has been cleverly adapted into the perfect arena for the writers to exercise their issues and approach to solutions. To have such a broad canvas (based on a toy line for heavens sake!) ask so many questions, make a multitude of points and still keep it (relatively) light is testament to the clever mould that the script has created. Iโm not going to get into the whole online chatter about this film and start getting into politics, semantics and all the stereotype examples people have complained about though, so letโs be clear in one thing; Iโm here for the scripts teaching potential!
So, what did I learn from BARBIE?
1. How to translate a toy line into a purposeful story AND an entertaining (and for some) highly inspiring romp. Or just as a great example of how to incorporate current or longstanding issues into palatable means of sharing. But either way, itโs certainly a unique example of how to voice your beliefs in a way thatโs hard to ignore.
2. Montages get a simple and effective shorthand here. Line by line, minimally explained. Effective, clear and easily adaptable for further edits. Nice.
3. Crossing boundaries from imaginary land to โrealโ land. Itโs just one example (multiple ludicrous means of transport going one way to get there and then reverse to get back. Yes, that simple), but in the context of the world created, makes perfect sense. Go with the feel and the flow and you get the idea. Donโt be afraid to be a bit ludicrous sometimes. Actually, Iโd argue be as ludicrous as you can as often as you can. Why not? Thatโs definitely where the fun will be!
Not gonna lie. Iโve never read anything like this before. Which is both refreshing and unique. Is it Oscar worthy? For being an adventurously original template for telling a story...yeah, sure. In reality, I think depth has taken an early shower so that the messages can stand proud and central. Which may not be a winning ticket. But maybe thatโs where there needs to be real changeโฆ
Link to the script;
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