Barbie reviews: First reactions praise “cinematic triumph”

The first reactions for the Barbie movie are rolling in, and so far, things are looking fantastic, with rave reviews across the board.

Wrapped in plastic, she’s fantastic, and her movie is looking like it’s going to be fantastic as well. Barbie, the upcoming film by Greta Gerwig, is looking to be one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year.

Barbie films have always been well-loved, and there’s been a lot of hype surrounding this movie, to the point that it would be a major disappointment if it were anything less than great.

Thankfully, now that the first reviews are out in the wake of the movie’s premiere, things are looking good. So far Barbie has been widely praised, with special care taken for Ryan Gosling’s performance as Ken.

Barbie makes its world premiere, and fans are loving it

Barbie had its world premiere on July 9, with the pink carpet featuring many stars, including titular actor Margot Robbie dressed in a custom Barbie doll gown.

After the premiere, initial reactions to the movie started pouring in, and they’re pretty much top marks across the board.

As stated by one critic, “Barbie is a cinematic triumph. Gerwig is at the top of her game here, she’s crafted a film that’s not only gorgeous to look at, but poignant, clever, and hilarious.”

Another viewer echoed these sentiments, stating “Barbie was a deeply cathartic experience. It’s about industrialization of art/iconography forming sensibility instead of individualism, and Greta tells it with so much joy and heart. I was cackling at Gosling’s himbo Ken one scene and bawling my eyes out at the next. A classic.

“Barbie has everything from Snydercut jokes to full-blown dance battles. It’s so blissful and Gosling’s unreal commitment to Ken is a performance for the ages. I can’t wait to watch this again for the rest of my life.”

Many reviews praised the lead performances, specifically that of Ryan Gosling as everyone’s favorite trophy boyfriend, Ken.

“Greta Gerwig delivers a nuanced commentary on what it means to be a woman in a whimsical, wonderful and laugh-out-loud funny romp. The entire cast shines, especially Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in roles they were clearly born to play,” explains Katcy Stephan of Variety.

“Barbie is Ryan Gosling’s best role to date – Greta Gerwig takes everything that has made him great in his previous films and combines them into a Super-Gosling. The Oscar buzz is real, and if it happens it would be one of the most fun and inspired nominations in recent memory,” adds another.

Now, no piece of art is perfect, so there was certain to be at least some criticism. So far said criticism seems to be constructive, with Perri Nemiroff of Collider explaining, “As for the story, that’s where I’m a bit more mixed. I think the film serves Margot Robbie’s Barbie and her journey especially well, but there are other characters experiencing important arcs that needed more screen time to really dig into and explore to the fullest.” And with such a large cast as the Barbie movie’s, said criticism is likely understandable.

Are there any Barbie reviews?

Yes, as of July 19, plenty of full reviews have been pouring in.

Most of the reviews are positive, with publications such as The Playlist explaining, “Greta Gerwig models her guiding ethos in her art, utilizing the imperfect vessel of popular branded entertainment to create a splashy spectacle inquiring about gender and grace.”

In fact, you can check out our own review here, in which we state: “Barbie is an enigma of a movie. It is a children’s film made for adults, done in a thoughtful and loving way. It’s comforting, but never pandering. Like finding one of your old dolls in a drawer at your parent’s house, Barbie manages to take a stereotypical object we’re all familiar with, and make it personally existential. So even with its faults, Barbie will have you feeling exactly as you did as a child, while also embracing the adult that you’ve become.”

However, some reviewers were less than kind, with The New York Post arguing, “Barbie is an exhausting, spastic, self-absorbed and overwrought disappointment.”

Is there a Barbie Rotten Tomatoes score?

Yes, Barbie currently resides at a 89% Critics Score on Rotten Tomatoes, with 188 reviews.

As for the Audience Score, it’s even higher, with a current 94% rating. Clearly this film is looking to be one of the biggest blockbusters of the year.

Barbie will strut into cinemas on July 21, 2023. For more information on the movie, click here.