'Barbie' garners exciting first reactions, critics say 'give Ryan Gosling an Oscar nomination'

Greta Gerwig's 'Barbie' is scheduled to premiere in theaters on July 21, alongside Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer'
UPDATED JUL 10, 2023
Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie for the promotion of 'Barbie' (Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)
Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie for the promotion of 'Barbie' (Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The first reactions to director Greta Gerwig 's film 'Barbie' are in, and it seems to be a resounding success. After the Hollywood premiere on Sunday, July 9, the first reactions praised various aspects of the film in the highest terms.

Gerwig's direction was particularly praised, as were the excellent performances by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in their respective roles. The positive response suggests that Barbie has struck a chord with audiences and has the potential to be highly regarded. Thanks to the memorable moments and clever marketing campaign, 'Barbie' has attracted a lot of attention and has become one of the most-watched films of the summer. The film is gearing up for its theatrical release on July 21 and will compete with Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer.'

'Greta Gerwig aims for the fences and hits a home-run'

After a fortunate few were granted a sneak peek into the world of Barbie, social media exploded with a flurry of reactions. ScreenRant writer Joseph Deckelmeier tweeted, "#Barbie caught me off guard & I mean that in the best way possible. It’s funny, bombastic, & very smart. Greta Gerwig aims for the fences & hits a home-run. Margot Robbie’s performance is great & @RyanGosling & @SimuLiu are pure entertainment! The whole cast is brilliant!"



 

'Give Ryan Gosling an Oscar nomination'

Jamie Jirak of ComicBook.com labeled the film as her "favorite film of the year," writing, "I can't officially quit Twitter before telling you all that #Barbie is currently my favorite film of the year. Greta Gerwig somehow exceeded my expectations. She tackles the positives and negatives of Barbie so beautifully. Give Ryan Gosling an Oscar nomination, I'm dead serious!"



 

'Ryan Gosling is a scene stealer'

Host Sharronda Williams wrote, "#BarbieTheMovie is witty, heartfelt, and downright fun at times. Ryan Gosling is a scene stealer delivering most of the laughs while Margot Robbie’s heartfelt performance will tug at your heartstrings. While I enjoyed most of the film the screenplay feels bloated at times."



 

'The entire cast shines'

Katcy Stephan, Variety's social media editor, referred to the movie as "perfection." She wrote, "#Barbie is perfection. 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."



 

'The craftsmanship is incredible'

Perri Nemiroff, a writer for Collider, expressed high praise for the craftsmanship displayed in the film, specifically highlighting the exceptional costume and production design. "I have seen #Barbie! The craftsmanship is incredible. In particular, the costume & production design includes next-level work that heavily contributes to creating the feeling that these truly are Barbies, their dream houses, and their worlds come to life," she said. However, she had mixed reactions to the plot, "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."



 

'Ken is more than an asset'

One user tweeted, "I saw #BarbieTheMovie and Greta Gerwig left me all in my feelings as did the production design, costumes, Hair and makeup! I was living for the dance numbers led by Simu Liu! It’s overblown fun with a feminist twist." Another wrote, "#BarbieTheMovie is everything you wouldn’t expect from the series. It peels the layers off the superficial doll we all grew up with while showing how Ken is more than an asset and is figuring his identity out." They followed up on a second tweet, saying, "A lot of us strive to be 'perfect' like Barbie, but the film will show you don’t always have to be so perfect, because even in a “perfect world,” we still have flaws and that’s okay. It’s for teens and an adult crowd who grew up with the franchise."



 



 

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