*This review is my own opinion and is not sponsored by Mattel, Barbie or book shops.*
Barbie: The Movie Screenplay Book written by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach is an exploration into the world of Barbie (or as they say ‘Barbie Land’). I read a few reviews on IMDB and someone said that ‘the marketing was better than the movie’ which is also a great summary of Barbie’s power over the summer of 2023.
There was so much pink and the ‘Barbie’ logo was plastered everywhere that there really was no escape to either have watched the movie or at least know about the cinema revival that was ‘Barbenheimer’.
But with all the merchandise and exquisite ‘Collector’ doll line it wasn’t enough to save Barbie on its own and the fault really lies in this book. A lacking Screenplay means a tough-to-watch movie.
However, it’s best moments lie in the Barbie Trivia which true doll fans will easily pick out. Not limited to Barbie’s iconic outfits that Ken throws out of ‘Barbie’s Dreamhouse’ to transform into his ‘Mojo Doja Casa House’ with some of Barbie’s most iconic fashion pieces from her ‘Celebrate Disco Bell Bottoms’ to the ‘Ice Capades Pretty Practice Suit and Dazzling Show Skirt’, ‘Pajama Jam in Amsterdam’ and the ‘Pretty Paisley Palazzo Pants’ (pp. 77-78).
As well as, popular Barbie vehicles over the era from the Barbie Speed boat, Campervan, Rocket Ship, DreamPlane, Tandem Bike and Snowmobile were all nods to Barbie playset releases over the years.
The return of rejected characters – Midge and Allan join with controversial dolls like Sugar Daddy Ken, Earring Magic Ken, Video Barbie, Growing Up Skipper and Barbie’s Dog Tanner. All dolls in which Barbie fans already know the history of and the inclusion of relatable memories with playing with dolls including, Gloria’s childhood memories, Weird Barbie – a doll that stereotypically every child had – who was constantly in the splits with a crooked haircut and hidden away in the basement – are memories most women had experienced as young girls.
This not only shows the power of Barbie to reunite different generations with an intergenerational audience spanning from young girls who watch the movie with their mothers and grandmothers – all who mostly grew up with Barbie.
The inclusion of Ruth as Barbie’s maker is also a special touch and the humour of Mattel HQ and its CEO – Ynon Kreiz. But what’s special here about the Barbie screenplay is the plot had so much potential. The clever inclusion of a doll – Barbie living in her Dreamhouse in her own Barbie Land with the other ‘Barbie’ dolls replicate how a girl plays with her dolls. As Gloria represents ‘Stereotypical Barbie’s’ toy owner – a now grown-up woman who had fond memories of playing with Barbie.
But how the plot was resolved – with Gloria gifting the Barbie’s with her ‘feminist talk’ was not really believeable enough to break them out of their trance. But then it’s not intending to be a serious film and it takes itself as a joke especially with all the Ken-focused humour.
The biggest factor to take into account is that this is the first ever live-action film the world has seen of Barbie. In her 65-year history, this is the biggest representation we receive of the world’s most famous and widely-recognised doll.
Of course, we have high expectations. But when it doesn’t deliver (especially not within its dialogue) we can’t be surprised it didn’t sweep the award season and failed to be nominated (in the majority of categories) for an Academy award.
As a huge Barbie fan myself, I did expect to see more snippets of Barbie Trivia mixed in with the storyline and instead we got plenty of movie references from cinemas greatest films from The Godfather to Jaws. But we are watching a film about Barbie here and I can’t help but think it had an average audience member in mind – not for Barbie collectors.
I mentioned in my review of Barbie: The Movie which I saw in the cinema that it clearly wasn’t written by a Barbie fan/expert and as a huge Barbie enthusiast myself, I can tell Greta Gerwig isn’t a Barbie expert (but she still did well to flesh out who Barbie really is!) I know many fans enjoyed the film but I think the majority of the movie’s popularity came from its clever marketing ploy and its spark from online trends.
Everything from wearing pink in the cinema to dressing up as Barbie and Ken at Halloween all adds to its box office numbers. As a Barbie fan, I really wanted to like the film more and went into the cinema with an open mind – not knowing what to expect. But neither the Screenplay nor the movie grabbed me and I wasn’t enticed to watch the movie again.
But I decided to give it a second chance when I rewatched it in April 2024 – 9 months after seeing the film in its cinema release. Nonetheless, I still think it had huge potential (especially since the idea has been in the works for 12 years with Margot Robbie!). Be sure to stay updated on my new blog releases by signing up to the newsletter. Be sure to check back on the blog and re-watch the movie with me in – ‘Re-watching Barbie: The Movie – Giving Barbie A Second Chance.’
Check This Out!
On the publishers website, Faber & Faber they have a Script to Screen version of the Screenplay with the audio and scene playing alongside the script. Featured are popular scenes from the movie like Gloria’s infamous Speech and Barbie’s Talk About Dying. You can watch and read scenes like these and more here.
Overall Rating
I give the Barbie: The Movie Screenplay Book … 2 & 1/2 Tiaras.
Overall, my favourite part of the screenplay are the little images referencing Barbie dolls from different eras as well as snapshots of scenes from the movie. Throughout the book, Barbie dolls such as, the original 1959 doll, Barbie Mermaid, Chelsea’s Treehouse Playset, Happy Family Midge doll, Barbie’s Care Clinic Playset and Mermaid/Merman Ken doll all feature within the pages of the screenplay to help visualise the story.
Where Can I Read the Barbie Screenplay Book?
In the UK, Barbie: The Movie Screenplay Book is available in WhSmith, Waterstones and on the official Faber & Faber website.
In the U.S. the book is available in Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million.
And of course, make sure you source books whenever you can at independent and local book stores to support those hardworking small businesses!
Let me know in the comments what you thought of the Screenplay for Barbie: The Movie. And if you haven’t read it let me know your thoughts on the movie itself or if you plan to read the Screenplay!
Want to Read More About Barbie: The Movie?
Check Out the Links to the Blog Posts Below!
Remember! Don’t forget to check out my other posts related to Barbie: The Movie!
- ‘Every ‘Barbie Doll’ Merch Released For Barbie: The Movie‘
- ‘Barbie Fashion References From The Barbie Movie’s Pink Carpet Premiere’
- ‘Barbie Dolls: 30 Doll References in Barbie The Movie’
- ‘Hi Barbie! The Movie References in Barbie The Movie‘
- ‘Barbie: The Movie (2023) – From a Doll Collector’s Perspective!’
See you next time when I review People Magazine’s Special Edition Barbie Issue.
Until next time, Barbie Fans!
Hannah x
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