Suffice to say, none of us had ‘The Barbie movie making us ponder the meaning of life’ on our 2023 bingo card, but here we are. Released last week, the main trailer for Warner Bros.’ Barbie finally gives us a taste of what to expect from Margot Robbie‘s plastic fantastic hero. In the film, Barbie is set to embark on a profound journey of self-discovery, but this time she isn’t battling paper jams in Magic Moves Home Office or engine failure in the Star Traveller Motorhome. No, this Barbie is grappling with an existentialist crisis, foreshadowing her imminent and impending demise. Heavy stuff for a movie about a children’s toy.
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Margot Robbie in ‘Barbie’ (2023) | Image: Warner Bros.
Up until now, the movie’s plot had largely remained a well-guarded secret, however, the latest trailer gives us more than a peek into the essence of Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated summer blockbuster. The new trailer walks us through the seemingly idyllic and routine life of Margot Robbie’s Barbie and Ryan Gosling’s Ken in Barbie Land, which is all about having fun and a good time.
This whimsical world is inhabited by diverse interpretations of Barbies and Kens, excellently portrayed by actors such as Issa Rae, Hari Nef, Simu Liu, and a few others. But it turns out that even amidst the constant chorus of “best days ever,” all Robbie’s Barbie can think about is death. In one of the shots, a dazzling dance party comes to a complete and utter halt as Barbie against all expectations, asks, “You guys ever think about dying?”
Kate McKinnon in ‘Barbie’ (2023) | Image: Warner Bros.
Margot goes on to explain some of the odd triggers that have led her to wonder about life and death, such as the chilly shower water, accidental falls from her house, and the unimaginable horror of her feet losing their arches. This existential exploration leads Robbie’s Barbie to seek guidance from Kate McKinnon’s Barbie, who confronts her with two distinct paths: to either continue living her fake fantasy life resplendent in high heels or to embark on a journey into the so-called “real world” wearing Birkenstocks. To which Robbie responds, “The first one. The high heel.”
She ultimately decides to take a trip down to the real world, but little does she know that Ken is also in the backseat, accompanying her on this ride to reality. However, things take an unexpected turn for our duo when they enter the real world, with their unique and somewhat eccentric style becoming the subject of mockery.
Ryan Gosling in ‘Barbie’ (2023) | Image: Warner Bros.
In the trailer, we see Barbie hit a man who smacks her butt on Venice Beach, leading to her and Ken’s arrest. Meanwhile, the presence of a real-life Barbie wandering the streets of Los Angeles sparks a wave of astonishment and fascination among the people in our world, causing quite a stir in the city.
Joining Robbie and Gosling in ‘Barbie’ are some pretty prominent actors, including Will Ferrell, Connor Swindells, Nicola Coughlan, Emerald Fennell, Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, America Ferrera, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Rhea Perlman, Sharon Rooney, Ana Cruz Kayne, Ritu Arya, Jamie Demetriou, Emma Mackey, Dua Lipa, Issa Rae, Hari Nef, Alexandra Shipp, Simu Liu, Scott Evans and Ncuti Gatwa. Greta Gerwig has co-written ‘Barbie’ with her husband, Noah Baumbach and is also directing. The film is a co-production by Mattel Films, Heyday Films and Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment. Josey McNamara from LuckyChap and Ynon Kreiz from Mattel serve as executive producers.
Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie in ‘Barbie’ (2023) | Image: Warner Bros.
Ryan Gosling in ‘Barbie’ (2023) | Image: Warner Bros.
