In the past week, my feeds across social media have been filled with talk about the new Barbie movie. The official teaser trailer came out last Tuesday, and social media has been buzzing about it. From easter eggs, to Barbie and Ken memes, and theorizing what the movie could be about, the trailer caught the attention of many.
Barbie is directed by Greta Gerwig, most known for Ladybird and the most recent adaptation of Little Women. Greta Gerwig is one of my favorite female directors and her previous movies, like many other young women, have a special place in my heart. Her coming-of-age movies came out around my teen years, and I spent more nights than I’d like to admit rewatching them.
An even bigger connection for young people is the fact that we’re getting a new and “grown-up” Barbie movie. On TikTok and other social media platforms, many have been bringing back videos and clips from the Barbie movies made in the 2000s. Ridiculous dancing animals and all, the Barbie movies were a childhood staple at sleepovers and movie nights for many. I distinctly remember getting a pack of all the movies for my birthday and demanding to watch the movies all in one night, my favorite character being Bibble, of course. From the trailers, it’s clear to see that Gerwig intends to bring back the magic and design flair that defined our childhoods.
The main stars playing the iconic Barbie and Ken are Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. I’m excited to see such talented actors take on a more playful role. The rest of the cast is even more exciting, though, as it features SNL stars, much of the cast from Sex Education (one of my favorites!), and other celebrities like Dua Lipa. Despite knowing the release date, there are still a lot of questions left unanswered. Most people are wondering what the movie is about, and if it will be true to what we grew up on. Neither have a direct answer, but internet sleuths have used some hints and possible easter eggs that could give us more of a clue.
When watching the trailers, it’s clear that the set designers and costume designers were extremely detail-oriented and purposeful with what they chose. Barbie Land looks straight out of the Mattel dollhouses, beaches, and cities. From the first shot of Barbie, you can see her walking out of her heels with her signature arch. Barbie’s typical car, a pink convertible, is also featured in the trailer. This was one of my favorite details as I remember begging for the pink convertible and driving it recklessly with my Barbies. Another detail that will bring anyone that played with dolls back is Kate McKinnon’s character. Her Barbie is “always in the splits,” and has choppy hair and markers all over her face. Whether it was you, a sibling, or a friend that was the reckless Barbie type, everyone has seen a collection of dolls that have been through some failed makeovers. Although I never drew on my Barbies, I was always making them do the splits and doing “stunts” with them. This was such a fun touch and truly brings the essence of Barbie and how kids play with them, even if it’s a bit chaotic.
The costume design just from what we’ve been able to see is exactly what I would picture for a Barbie movie. Bright, lots of pinks, and reminiscent of past decades. The costumes cover designs from the 1960s when Barbie was created, until today, making it nostalgic for all ages. In the first trailer teaser, you can see Margot Robbie as a giant Barbie on the beach. Robbie is dressed as the original Barbie from 1959 with her curled ponytail, black and white one-piece, and white oval glasses.
The biggest continuous reference though was not to Barbie dolls or movies, but to The Wizard of Oz. The first outfit Barbie wears on the beach is a pink gingham babydoll dress similar to the one worn by Dorothy. Later in the trailer, when Barbie is driving around the town, the movie theater is playing The Wizard of Oz and there are pictures of the Cowardly Lion and Dorothy. The last scene in the trailer is Barbie and Ken driving on the road seemingly out of Barbieland. The road is long and laid with pink bricks, just like the famous yellow brick road. Fans have speculated that these easter eggs may mean a similarity in plot between the two movies. A possible fan theory is that Barbie will leave Barbie Land for the “Real World” and have an adventure.
Overall, I personally can’t wait for this movie to come out. It’s definitely going to be the movie I make my personality this summer, just like I did last summer with Top Gun. I think it’s going to be the perfect summer flick between the colorful palette and nostalgic fun. There’s a lot of mystery about the movie and its plot, but I think it’s better that way. A lot of movie trailers reveal too much about the movie or narrow its audience by revealing so much information. I like a bit of intrigue, wondering what I’m going to get in the theaters. As a Barbie lover, Greta Gerwig fan, and costume design nerd — this is my perfect movie.