Barbie Movie Stuns Critics With Bold New Vision, Star Raves About Creative Brilliance

Simu Liu commends Mattel's "self-aware" reaction to Greta Gerwig's Barbie film, despite being a primary target of its criticisms. In the movie, Liu, who plays one of the various Kens residing in the vibrant world of Barbieland, joins forces with Ryan Gosling's leading Ken, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Scott Evans, Ncuti Gatwa, and John Cena's Merman Ken. The rivalry between Liu's Ken and Gosling's Ken leads to choreographed dance-offs, showdowns, and an epic beach battle.

During an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Simu Liu discusses Mattel's response to the Barbie film. The actor playing Ken highlights the avoidance of the film being a mere "fluffy, cash-grabby" attempt and praises the "subversive and self-aware" vision of its writer/director, who has been nominated for three Oscars. Read Liu's insights below:

Recognizing Greta's immense talent and intelligence as a storyteller, it was anticipated that she would craft a story that was refreshingly innovative, exciting, and thought-provoking. Margot, who served as a producer for the movie, wholeheartedly supported this vision.

To truly grasp the significance, one needs to watch the movie to comprehend the achievement of getting Mattel on board with it. This film fearlessly delves into the criticisms surrounding Barbie's past, actively engaging in a dialogue and avoiding a shallow, profit-driven approach. It bravely presents cutting assessments of Barbie as a concept and delves into scathing critiques of Mattel as well, a facet that I deeply appreciate.

But I truly believe that this demonstrates the unwavering support and belief in the vision and message of the movie from everyone involved. They insisted on including Mattel in this crucial discussion, recognizing that their involvement is essential in order for us to progress and effectively engage the audience with the story we aim to share.

Can Barbie Overcome The Lego Movie Comparisons?

Ever since news broke that Will Ferrell would be taking on the role of CEO at Mattel, comparisons have been drawn between Barbie and The LEGO Movie. Both films cleverly adapt their beloved toy lines and feature Ferrell as the antagonist seeking to put an end to the adventures of the main characters. These similarities have not gone unnoticed, with even former writer Diablo Cody acknowledging the influence of the acclaimed Phil Lord and Christopher Miller film, which played a part in her eventual departure from the project.

Despite having similarities, the marketing approach of the Barbie movie differs greatly from that of The LEGO Movie. While the latter celebrated the imaginative potential of construction blocks, the comedic and fantastical Barbie movie aims to address the negative aspects of Barbie's history, such as unrealistic beauty ideals and decreasing popularity among modern consumers.

However, as indicated by Liu and other cast members, the Barbie movie also aims to introduce the Mattel toy to a new generation and promote diversity by portraying various versions of Barbie and Ken. The film presents an opportunity for Robbie's character to establish a new and positive legacy for Barbie. Combining self-aware themes and vibrant visuals, it will be intriguing to see if the Barbie movie can break away from comparisons to The LEGO Movie and become a major success of the year.