The upcomingBarbiemovie by Mattel Films andWarner Bros.continues to gain traction. The film has now castTick, Tick… Boom!andX-Men: Apocalypsestar Alexandra Shipp in an undisclosed role.
Alexandra Shipp is one of many high-profile actors in this project. Also in the cast are Margot Robbie as Barbie, and Ryan Gosling as Ken, along with Kate McKinnon, Simu Liu, and America Ferrera. But even more impressive is the behind-the-scenes talent,as Oscar nominee Greta Gerwigis directing the picture, and writing the screenplay with her partner Noah Baumbach. Considering how these two have made films includingLittle Women,Lady Bird, Frances Ha, andMarriage Story, thisBarbiemovie actually has a fair amount of prestige behind it.
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Margot Robbie’s presence in the project also adds some clout. Not only is she one of the most beautiful and talented actors working today, but she’s also earned a respectable name as a producer, withI Tonya,Birds of Prey,andPromising Young Womanall becoming critical hits. It’s also nice to see Ryan Gosling again, as he was one of the most appealing stars of the 2010s, only to disappear for a number of years. It’s about time Gosling has a comeback, let it beBarbieor the upcoming Russo Brothers filmThe Gray Man.
Though all of this begs the question: WhyBarbie? The character has dozens of direct-to-video films, but none of them are particularly well remembered by anyone over the age of ten. She does have famous appearances in pop culture, such as her roles in theToy Storymovies, and the bizarre one-hit-wonder “Barbie Girl,” but both approach the character with a thick sense of irony. It would be fair to assume there’s not enough in Barbie to structure a movie around.
But as a point of comparison, in the late 1970s, nobodythought aSupermanmovie would workeither. But through the talents of Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, andGodfatherwriter Mario Puzo, it quickly became a prestigious project, and turned out a massive hit. Likewise in 1989, nobody expected aBatmanfilm to turn out well. But it earned trust with the involvement of Jack Nicholson, and paved the wayfor a still-profitable franchise. With all the talent surroundingBarbie,it’s more likely than not it’ll be a nice surprise. Besides, it’s about time we stop being so cynical about toys made for young girls. Barbie dolls are no more dumb than Transformers or Ninja Turtles toys, yet nobody complains about the latter. Perhaps the better question is: Why notBarbie?
WillBarbielive up to the sky-high ambitions of its cast and crew? Can Greta Gerwig and company surprise everyone, and furtherturn the tide on toy-based movies? All things considered, this is one of the more interesting gambles Hollywood is taking today.
