Barbie has long been a controversial figure in the world of movies, often criticized for promoting an unrealistic and narrow standard of beauty. However, the iconic doll is taking a major step forward with the release of its latest movie, which aims to dismantle the traditional “blonde, white” beauty standards that have long been associated with Barbie. Barbie, according to Simu Liu, will abandon the narrow definitions of beauty that doll companies have traditionally promoted.
Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie play Barbie and Ken in the forthcoming movie, which was co-written by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach. While the two are textbook examples of Mattel-made perfection, they are only two of the countless Barbies and Kens who exist in the “Barbie” universe.
Cast of Barbie also includes Kate McKinnon, America Ferrera, Will Ferrell, Issa Rae, Michael Cera, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Ncuti Gatwa, Hari Nef, Nicola Coughlan, and Emerald Fennell. In the film, Barbie teams up with a group of diverse dolls, each with their own unique sense of style and personal story. Together, they challenge the narrow beauty standards that have long dominated the fashion world and inspire young viewers to embrace their own individuality.
The release of “Barbie” comes amid a larger trend of increased demand for more diverse and inclusive representation in media. From books and movies to toys and games, consumers are increasingly seeking out products that reflect the diversity of the world we live in. The movie, which features an all-star cast of singers, including Selena Gomez and Shia LaBeouf, has already received widespread praise for its positive message and diverse representation.
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Liu said during the 2022 Unforgettable Gala honoring Asian artists and leaders in the entertainment industry (via Vanity Fair), “I remember very clearly about some of our big intricate dance sequences, Greta was very, very conscientious about who she cast. We were able to cast people of different shapes, sizes, differently abled, to all participate in this dance —all under this message of: You don’t have to be blonde, white, or X, Y, Z in order to embody what it means to be a Barbie or a Ken”
Liu stated, the film is “really about finding your inner beauty and owning that part of yourself and being the best possible version of you, I will say, going on set I was never isolated. I felt like I was going to work every day with a cast that really celebrated each other and celebrated each other’s differences, no matter where we came from,” Liu said of working with Oscar nominee Gerwig. “I think when you watch the movie, you’ll see that reflected on the screen.” If you don’t know the most amazing animated movies, check it out now.
Taking on a Barbie movie was once supposed to be a “career-ender,” according to director Greta Gerwig, who later praised that Mattel was a “wonderful collaborator” during the production. “They have given us such trust and such freedom, and I think that is incredibly rare,” the “Little Women” helmer said during an episode of Dua Lipa’s “At Your Service” podcast. “Whatever we wanted to be, they did not try to micromanage it.”
As “Barbie” hits theaters around the world, it is our hope that young viewers will be inspired to embrace their own unique qualities and to celebrate the diversity that makes our world such a beautiful and vibrant place. Whether they have blonde hair or rainbow hair, fair skin or deep brown skin, these dolls and the movie that tells their story are a celebration of all that is beautiful and wonderful about being yourself.
