ksgladman Review of Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse

Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse (2012–2015)

BRILLIANT satirical masterpiece (this review is not a joke!)

[10/10 · 4 July 2020]

It's 2020 and this show has been part of our lives for about 5 years. It's brilliant. The more you watch it, the more you realise how clever the writers, animators, editors and everyone involved are. Not to mention the actors, whose voices are so much fun. The satirical nature of the show is a delight. The writers are so cinematically literate; the show is full of hilarious references that film enthusiasts will love. My kids and I still watch the show all that time. We quote it. Even as a two year-old my daughter would pick up on funny things in the show (she would mimic Nikki saying that Teresa is "Snobby and obnoxious: she's, SNOBNOXIOUS!" - this is typical of the fun that the writers have with language, which I think teaches kids to be creative with language). As my kids have grown they've been able to identify some of the references in the show (the Mondo Barbie head is an Indiana Jones reference, for example). So have I, in fact. For instance, I did not realise that the format is (hilariously) inspired by Keeping Up With The Kardashians (and pokes fun at that format). The characters are all brilliantly written. Not a second of screen time is wasted. The problems they face are hilarious and poke fun at the stereotypes of Barbie and her perfect, plastic life (on one occasion Malibu runs out of glitter; on another, Barbie's walk-in closet turns evil - in each episode there are clever references to well known films). My kids put this show on if they think I'm a bit stressed or tired and I need a laugh. My only criticism is that Nikki's character is under-utilised: she's so hilarious (she has a lot of great lines) that she (and Teresa) should have more air time. A perfect excuse to make more episodes. The show is funny, beautiful to look at and makes me so happy. A fabulous masterpiece. Please make more!!!