Recent Barbie films, back at it again with the bad writing. Keep in mind, I'm a 21 year old who is really into storytelling/writing , so I am definitely not the target audience of this film. But it's just a fact that Barbie films are not as well-written as they were in the early 2000s.
Nostalgia and biases aside, the old movies made SENSE. Character relationships were well-established. We could empathize with them. Their wants and needs were understandable. The conflicts were high-stakes.
The past 3 Barbie films have NONE of that.
My biggest complaint about this movie was that it was boring. I felt NOTHING watching this.
The beginning wasn't half bad, but then the MONTAGES started. First of all, we literally montaged through Malibu Barbie and Brooklyn Barbie's friendship. Their relationship did not feel as meaningful as it was supposed to because it felt so distant and glossed over--nothing established them as best friends with a deep connection. They just seemed like regular friends, so that made the main conflict seem overdramatic.
Second, Emmie is supposed to be this mega famous performer, but she came off like a character the writers added in last minute. She did not feel like a part of the world because we never got the scope of her fame or importance in the beginning, besides a passing mention. (And seeing that she played a big role in the movie, it just felt off.)
Malibu Barbie supposedly was struggling at the summer program, but again, THEY MONTAGED THROUGH IT. Her struggle felt distant and glossed over, again. They should've written an ACTUAL SCENE that SHOWED her struggle instead of doing another freaking montage.
And another complaint, I still have no idea what they did in the summer program because again, montages, and there were no extended scenes where they were actually in class. The characters seem to go where they please and do whatever they want.
Mattel has done these camp/academy type stories really well in the past, like Princess Charm School and even Rock N' Royals. We actually got a chance to understand the setting. This movie abosultey FAILED at this. It could've taken place in a cardboard box and nothing would be different.
The conflict was bland. Barbie gets expelled and moves back to Malibu. So what? Her friendship with Brooklyn was like, a week long. She apparently really cares about the summer program so she can pursue her dreams as a performer, but her deep passion as a performer was NEVER explored, so again, SO WHAT? We're supposed to feel bad for her but I don't, because Barbie can EASILY get over this with no consequences. It's a very low-stakes situation.
Elina's failure could lead to Fairytopia's demise. Anneliese and Erika's failure could lead to the ruin of their kingdom and their dreams. Classic Barbie protagonists had REAL problems with REAL consequences, both internal and external.
BARBIE ROBERTS DOES NOT.
Ultimately, what I believe makes the recent Barbie films so weak is that Barbie stars as herself. Nothing bad happens to her, and even if they do, it's nothing THAT bad. That, and the writing SUCKS. There is no regard for good storytelling techniques, nothing that makes for strong, emotional stories. Nothing that delivers the inpiration messages they're trying so hard to convey.
Do better, Mattel. No kid is gonna come back when they're older and be nostalgic for bad stories.
The songs were kinda bops tho.
Nostalgia and biases aside, the old movies made SENSE. Character relationships were well-established. We could empathize with them. Their wants and needs were understandable. The conflicts were high-stakes.
The past 3 Barbie films have NONE of that.
My biggest complaint about this movie was that it was boring. I felt NOTHING watching this.
The beginning wasn't half bad, but then the MONTAGES started. First of all, we literally montaged through Malibu Barbie and Brooklyn Barbie's friendship. Their relationship did not feel as meaningful as it was supposed to because it felt so distant and glossed over--nothing established them as best friends with a deep connection. They just seemed like regular friends, so that made the main conflict seem overdramatic.
Second, Emmie is supposed to be this mega famous performer, but she came off like a character the writers added in last minute. She did not feel like a part of the world because we never got the scope of her fame or importance in the beginning, besides a passing mention. (And seeing that she played a big role in the movie, it just felt off.)
Malibu Barbie supposedly was struggling at the summer program, but again, THEY MONTAGED THROUGH IT. Her struggle felt distant and glossed over, again. They should've written an ACTUAL SCENE that SHOWED her struggle instead of doing another freaking montage.
And another complaint, I still have no idea what they did in the summer program because again, montages, and there were no extended scenes where they were actually in class. The characters seem to go where they please and do whatever they want.
Mattel has done these camp/academy type stories really well in the past, like Princess Charm School and even Rock N' Royals. We actually got a chance to understand the setting. This movie abosultey FAILED at this. It could've taken place in a cardboard box and nothing would be different.
The conflict was bland. Barbie gets expelled and moves back to Malibu. So what? Her friendship with Brooklyn was like, a week long. She apparently really cares about the summer program so she can pursue her dreams as a performer, but her deep passion as a performer was NEVER explored, so again, SO WHAT? We're supposed to feel bad for her but I don't, because Barbie can EASILY get over this with no consequences. It's a very low-stakes situation.
Elina's failure could lead to Fairytopia's demise. Anneliese and Erika's failure could lead to the ruin of their kingdom and their dreams. Classic Barbie protagonists had REAL problems with REAL consequences, both internal and external.
BARBIE ROBERTS DOES NOT.
Ultimately, what I believe makes the recent Barbie films so weak is that Barbie stars as herself. Nothing bad happens to her, and even if they do, it's nothing THAT bad. That, and the writing SUCKS. There is no regard for good storytelling techniques, nothing that makes for strong, emotional stories. Nothing that delivers the inpiration messages they're trying so hard to convey.
Do better, Mattel. No kid is gonna come back when they're older and be nostalgic for bad stories.
The songs were kinda bops tho.