‘My whole philosophy of Barbie was that through the doll, the little girl could be anything she wanted to be. Barbie always represented the fact that a woman has choices. Every little girl needed a doll through which to project herself into her dream of her future.’
– Ruth Handler, American businesswoman
TO temporarily escape from reality, I decided to join in the hype and watch the Barbie movie.
As I entered the cinema, I could feel the excitement in the air. Not just from the children eagerly waiting to see their favourite toy come to life on the big screen, but also from fellow adults who were unashamedly looking forward to a nostalgic escape from reality.
Finding my seat, I settled in as the lights dimmed and the movie began. As the colourful world of Barbie unfolded before my eyes, I couldn’t help but be transported back to my own childhood where imagination knew no bounds.
I will spare the details to avoid spoilers for those who have yet to watch the movie, but I honestly rate it a 10 out of 10.
The Barbie doll first debuted in 1959 under Mattel Inc, however it has taken more than 60 years for the character to get to the big screen.
Barbie was invented by Mattel co-founder Ruth Handler who was inspired by her young daughter, Barbara Handler playing with paper dolls of adult women, daydreaming out loud about the kind of woman she would grow up to be.
Since 1959, more than a billion Barbie have been sold worldwide with an estimated sale of USD$ 3 billion.
With more than 200 careers ranging from astronaut, surgeon, chief executive officer, and president on her resume, Barbie continues to take on aspirational and culturally relevant roles.
Margot Robbie who played Stereotypical Barbie was the perfect actress for the role. She not only reminded me of the doll that I grew up playing with but looked exactly like one.
In addition to portraying the iconic doll, she was also a producer of the US$145 million movie which she described as the biggest movie she has ever produced.
I binged on several interviews of cast members and behind the scenes clips for the movie prior to watching it, which fueled my excitement and high expectations of the movie.
What I was looking forward the most to seeing on the big screen was the life-sized Barbie Dream House.
The Dream House was brought to life after being designed by production designer Sarah Greenwood and set decorator Katie Spencer who told Architectural Digest that they were inspired by mid-century Palm Springs designs.
In an exclusive interview with Architectural Digest, Robbie gave a tour of the three-storey stunning mansion built without walls so the Barbies could see one another from their Dream Houses.
I was so amazed at how they paid close attention to ensuring little details for the Dreamhouses including incorporating numerous shades of pink that one can imagine.
Barbie’s bedroom featured a heart-shaped bed with a clamshell headboard dressed in a sequined coverlet.
On the second floor, her walk-in closet featured a toy-box display case pinned with gorgeous outfits and accessories.
Of course, Barbie’s living room is an all-pink area which opens onto the kidney-shaped swimming pool with a spiral slide.
Her kitchen has a mixture of 3D items and 2D decals, the combination can be seen in the fridge where it features a decal of food and beverages for the interior and toy versions of them in the door shelving, as how the actual dream houses do.
What was equally stunning about the Dream House in the movie was the vibrant and gorgeous painted skies backdrop as the movie did not use any CGI.
Walking out into the real world again, I felt a renewed sense of wonder and optimism.
The movie had not only allowed me to escape reality for a couple of hours, but also reignited a spark of creativity and positivity within me.
As I made my way home, I could not help but reflect on how important it is to take these moments to pause and engage in activities that bring joy and a sense of childlike wonder into our lives, no matter how busy or grown-up we might be.
So, yes, I was an adult who eagerly waited and went to watch Barbie, and I am grateful for the experience.
It reminded me that sometimes, we all need to embrace the child within us and take a break from the seriousness of life.
And who knows, maybe the next time a delightful and nostalgic movie comes around, I will be among the first in line, ready to embark on another enchanting journey into a world of imagination and magic.
