The second segment of the Barbenheimer double feature was a film that had no right to be as good as it was. I mean… what were the odds that I was going to like a Barbie movie?

As it turned out, the odds were pretty good.

Greta Gerwig, director of such great movies as Lady Bird and Little Women, directed the adaptation of one of the oldest and most iconic toys in Barbie, and she did it in a highly entertaining, funny, clever and one of the most visually stunning movies of the summer.

Everything seems to be perfect in Barbieland for Barbie (Margot Robbie) and all of the other Barbies. Every day is a party, a trip to the beach with Ken (Ryan Gosling), Ken (Simu Liu), Ken (Kingsley Ben-Adir… honestly it is a little difficult to see him and not think about Gravik from Secret Invasion) and a party at the Dream House.

However, Barbie suddenly has a thought of death, something that no Barbie ever thinks about, and it disturbs her, but that is not all. Her feet go flat. She starts to show some flab on her thigh. Her world was falling apart.

Barbie went to see Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon) and she explained that Barbie had to go to the real world and find the kid who was playing with the doll and get her to fix it.

Whereas you might think that this is just a surface level comedy, you would be wrong. There is actually quite a bit of depth to the story going on here. There is a lot of clever and insightful writing involved that is not only very funny, but also has things to say about someone being who they are and the expectations individuals face.

Margot Robbie is spectacular as the stereotypical Barbie and Ryan Gosling is brilliant as the oft-ignored and put upon Ken. Both Barbie and Ken have distinct arcs to their story and really carry this movie. Gosling steals every scene he is in.

The film is not only for fans of Barbie, but also for those people who hate Barbie. The film certainly has sections dealing with women power/feminism, but it also looks at the story of Ken, being beneath Barbie and how that affects him.

The costumes and sets, especially in Barbieland, are gorgeous and are awesome to look at.

The music in the film is hot. I have to say that the greatest song of the whole film is Ken’s song in the third act.

There is a large cast, many of which are playing Barbie. Some of these actors could have received a little more to do, but they all take advantage of what they are given to do. Other actors in the film include America Ferrera, Arianna Greenblatt, Helen Mirren (as the narrator), Rhea Perlman, John Cena, Issa Rae, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Mackey, Hari Nef, and Michael Cera as the non-Ken doll Allan.

However, Will Farrell, who played the Mattel CEO, was wasted. His first few scenes were interesting and had some funny bits, but his part of the rest of the film was dull and dumb. It was underwhelming and anticlimactic. His entire section of the film could have been removed and the movie would not have lost anything.

Barbie is a deconstruction of the roles of men and women in society, with social comment without being preachy. It is clever and funny. Witty and engaging. And all of the Barbie types shown in the film are real Barbies. Barbie is way better than I thought it would be.

4.5 stars