What if dolls were real and living in a perfect, plastic paradise where women ruled and everyone was happy?
Well, take a trip to Barbieland and you may just get your wish.
But will it be a dream or a nightmare?
We headed down the nearest cinema to give you all the tea about Hollywood’s latest chick-flick blockbuster, Barbie (2023).
Rated PG-13 by cinemas, this pink-fuelled fever dream tackles patriarchy, feminism and existential crisis.
But is it really kid-friendly?
Let’s find out.
PS: Minor spoilers ahead!
The Overarching Themes
Life in plastic. Is it really fantastic?
That’s basically the gist of the movie.
Barbie tries to address various current social issues going around: pretty privilege, women’s rights, female empowerment, gender equality, toxic masculinity.
There’s a lot going on.
In fact, republicans will probably call the movie ‘extra woke’.
But for the most part, younger kids will probably not understand a single thing that’s going on other than ‘ooh, pretty,’.
There are some secondary themes surrounding motherhood, but this is for another article.
Trigger Warnings
The opening scene already starts off with a bunch of little girls smashing the heads of baby dolls.
Not halfway through the movie, Barbie asks, ‘Do you guys ever think about dying?’
Some things you may encounter in passing while watching the movie are: mild violence, adult issues, sexy/revealing clothing, misogyny with mention of genitals.
Additionally, there’s shoplifting, body dysmorphia, thoughts of death, reckless driving and teen angst.
Also, not to forget words like ‘rampant consumerism’, ‘professional bimbo’, ‘sexualised capitalism’, and ‘fascist’.
Now, these may not count as trigger warnings for some (or even ideas kids would understand).
But they may not be something you want your kids hearing about, either.
So, Can Your Kids Watch Barbie?
You might think a film about every girl’s favourite childhood doll is 100% kid-friendly.
But don’t judge a movie by its poster.
Barbie is not the cookie-cutter Disney princess fairytale story that your child is used to.
Sure, the dance numbers are great.
And the wardrobe department really went an extra mile.
But the movie is intended for adults.
To get them to contemplate and digest the gender inequality going on in the real world.
You Decide
In summary, Barbie explores complex issues and it has some trigger warnings (sort of),
But it is a fun watch—for the first 15 minutes of the film, perhaps.
It’s rated PG-13 but it should more realistically be rated PG-18 and older.
There is no mistaking it.
While it is an adult movie, it may actually be fine for older kids.
And considering the movie is being screened in Malaysia, it can’t be all that controversial.
This may sound like an ambiguous review, but kids today are exceptionally bright and educated.
So, it’s up to your discretion as parents.
If you decide to greenlight the film, parents may consider giving their kids a heads-up.
To ensure they’re not disappointed.
Since it may not exactly be the girly, whimsical, technicolour adaptation of their dreams.
For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!