Wow, this is so well said! Originally I thought the movie would be all fluff. And then I started to hear positive experiences and reviews. Now both my husband — who really respects the director — and I plan to see Barbie. Can’t wait! Meanwhile, this review from Jackson Katz gives us some fabulous glimpses. And I couldn't resist adding the picture at the bottom. Ha! 😊💗🙏 Molly
Hi, All.
I just saw the Barbie movie yesterday. Then I started to read and hear some of the voluminous criticism regarding the film — pro and con — in corporate mainstream, "right," and "left" publications and podcasts.
After hearing out some of the incredibly simple-minded and cartoonish takes on the film from various popular right-wing media personalities (especially their fury at the storyline around Ken) I feel compelled to write about the film myself.
I will do that, soon. I just wanted to get this out now, as the box-office record-breaking BarbienHeimer weekend closes out.
For anyone who is interested in my eventual take, here is a spoiler alert: I loved the movie. I am super impressed by what Greta Gerwig (and her many collaborators) accomplished here.
And I think the idea that the Barbie movie is an exercise in woke male-bashing is...unhinged.
As a man I frankly find it embarrassing that so many men (and some women, and others) can't take even a mild critique of "patriarchy" and its deleterious (and often disastrous) effects on human thriving without melting down into pools of grievance and complaint.
I take heart that Not All Men(!) feel that way; 35% of Barbie's opening weekend viewers were men! It appears that millions of men are not threatened by basic feminist assertions of women's agency and advancement.
And many of us have enough of a sense of humor to laugh at ourselves and some of the less attractive features of male-dominated cultures without crying foul and embracing an unearned victim status.
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