Anticipating the dawn of July, an improbable quest narrative emerges as the cynosure of all cinephiles. The cinematic incarnation of the beloved toy, Barbie, piloted by the deft hand of Greta Gerwig and personified by Margot Robbie, has engendered a surging wave of eagerness. Inaugurating Barbie’s live-action tenure on the silver screen, the film promises to pirouette into theaters this July. Should one be pining for a larger dose of Barbie-themed amusement, a quartet of films packed into a DVD collection, guaranteed to get you crooning, “Come on Barbie, let’s go party!” is soon to hit the stands.
This cinematic quartet, set to launch on the 18th of July, encompasses a variety of adventures: Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams, where our heroine embarks to New York for a summer expedition, Barbie: Dreamtopia, that narrates an epic tale of mermaids, Barbie and Chelsea: The Lost Birthday, and Barbie: Princess Adventure. In the final two narrations, Barbie aids Chelsea in recovering her misplaced birthday on a familial sea voyage and engages in a life swap with Princess Amelia. The voices of Barbie “Malibu” Roberts and Barbie “Brooklyn” Roberts are rendered by America Young and Amber May, respectively. Barbie’s persona has starred in numerous straight-to-home films since the doll’s inception in 1959. Despite their overtly juvenile theme, they serve as effective tools to stimulate young minds. They offer a vibrant, adventurous extension to the tangible toy line, designed to ignite the imaginative stories children fabricate while playing with their Barbie dolls. The compilation of these four films into this rose-tinted collection thus, becomes a cause for joy.
What’s the Live-Action Barbie About?
In the live-action film, the focus is on the central character of Barbie, portrayed by Robbie, amidst the multitude of Barbies and Kens populating Barbie Land. The effervescent Barbie finds herself grappling with an existential quandary. As she experiences a spate of misfortunes, including tumbling from her roof and facing an existential crisis that leaves her doll counterparts bemused, Barbie embarks on a sojourn into the tangible world and the very offices of Mattel, to unearth her life’s true calling. She is accompanied in this quest by her steadfast partner, Ken, essayed by Ryan Gosling. The film, as suggested by the teasers, presents an engaging, quick-witted and self-aware interpretation of this plastic paradise. Though this Barbie is far from adult-oriented, its infusion of risqué humor has garnered significant interest, with the film being smartly promoted to those “who loathe Barbie”. Gerwig’s directorial finesse, a celebrated, Oscar-nominated entity, lends an element of credibility that has caught the attention of even the most skeptical observers.
When Does Barbie Release?
Barbie’s adventure into the real world culminates in her roller-skating arrival in cinemas on July 21, 2023. It shares the marquee with Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, scheduled for a simultaneous release, creating an amusing double feature. As the cineastes await Barbie’s live-action premiere with bated breath, the upcoming four-film collection can be reserved in advance of its July 18 debut on Amazon.
