Pull out the musical numbers and the movie becomes a short. I am curious, is "Brooklyn" Barbie a "token" character or is Mattel looking to expand the brand? Can we look forward to an all new show that follows "Brooklyn" Barbie? A product line is going to follow, that's a given. This appeared to be a way to premiere a whole new product line, hence the thin story. This was much better than the Lost Birthday movie though.
8 Reviews
The Movie Doesn't Hold Up
blytheandferb-1096729 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I'm a fan of most of the films in the Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures world, even considering Barbie And Chelsea: The Lost Birthday to be underrated. However, this is one film in this world I would probably rewatch the least since I don't think it holds up. It's not that it's bad, but it sets up how the vastly overrated Barbie: It Takes Two would turn out. I'll admit that it has a strong start. Barbie Malibu Roberts goes to New York to learn more about music. Speaking of which, the songs here are pretty solid. It's not up to the standard of Barbie: Princess Adventure, but I like them enough. I think the movie kind of goes off a cliff when Barbie Brooklyn Roberts is introduced. Introducing a black main character into the cast is something I'm all for. However, I think the movie made her near flawless. She doesn't have much in the way of notable character flaws other than being a bit stubborn. The movie props her up as some kind of Messiah like figure who can do no wrong, which makes the attempt to give her flaws during the second half (where she thinks Malibu Barbie intentionally sabotaged her when that's not the case) fall flat. This in turn also makes Malibu Barbie appear far weaker than she is. Yeah, she's prone to making mistakes in her own series and other movies, and though not to the extent of her flanderized self in Barbie: It Takes Two, she seems too dependent on this girl to function. Rafa is still good as the supportive friend. Emmie is fine, though it's sad how the franchise basically treats her like an afterthought after this movie. I think this movie would've been better if it showed how both girls can help each other out, not having one be seen as better or worse than the other. It's fine, but I'm not in a hurry to watch it.
Overdramatic and yet boring
ireenchau3 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
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.
Bland
brookenichole-980548 September 2021
I was hoping this Barbie movie was going to be great. Instead I got a really bland movie with some random musical scenes added in. There were a couple musical numbers that were fun. The friendship between the two girls was alright. But I didn't like the fact that there were two Barbies. Or that Teressa, Ken, Raquelle, or Nikki weren't even in it.
Barbie movies used to be great and special. Now there just used to make sure people buy the dolls.
Barbie movies used to be great and special. Now there just used to make sure people buy the dolls.
Liked it!
AnnaPagrati6 September 2021
This film in my retrospective...
libianmb23 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Honestly, in the 5 years of me watching Barbie films, I saw the Princess Adventure film and I found it a bit flattering. Then there was the Lost Birthday, which was Mattel's last film that I found mediocre. Starting here, it went downhill. And how? Mattel easily jumped the shark with Brooklyn Roberts. Unlike the one and only Malibu Roberts, Brooklyn has no bits of backstory, as for the film and the plot there's way too much musical interludes and montages, this film is a bit sickening and a grand, New York flavored disappointment from my point of view. Now, before you flood me with comments about this being a kids movie and Brooklyn being a huge step in inclusion, first of all, I don't like Brooklyn due to her lack of story and funding, the only redeeming quality I see on her is her design and appearance, it's a bit refreshing seeing someone of color in a lineup of mainly white people, I also find the first taxi sequence a bit funny. Its just like Mattel doesn't care about quality and only churns out whatever they can for cash. Sadly, this is a bit too late, yet I can only imagine what is up next in Malibu's long, and a bit rough road now that there are two of them.
I loved it!!!
coxaneesa8 September 2021
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