Film Bro Reviews a Barbie Movie
I’m a huge film guy. HUGE. A lot of people say they love movies, but very few love FILMS, ya know? I consider myself to be a true cinephile, and I wield this blog as a weapon of sharp commentary against any media I personally don’t like.
Today, I’m taking a break from my series of Batman movie deep-dives to review a reader suggestion: Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper. Needless to say, I was skeptical at first. Why would I be interested in a terribly animated movie for kids? Kids who have probably never even seen a Quentin Tarantino film? My hopes were as low as the Rotten Tomatoes score for Jaws: The Revenge.
I’ll begin with the cons. This movie has some of the most stiff and outdated animation I’ve ever seen. There were no notable actors; not a single appearance from Ryan Gosling, Keanu Reeves, or Joaquin Phoenix. Also, what’s with the singing? Why are the animals talking? These things made the movie difficult to take seriously at times.
Now, onto the pros. What the movie lacks in an animation budget, it makes up for in feeling. No, really, I’m serious. This film tells the heartwarming story of a princess and a pauper who are more alike than you would think. They share ambitions and dreams that can’t be crushed by their dismal situations, and throughout the film they work together to save the kingdom and themselves. (Spoiler alert: they also find true love) Wow. And yes, although the singing was unrealistic, some of the songs have been stuck in my head for days, partially due to the fact that I’ve kept the soundtrack on repeat since I watched the film.
In conclusion, though no movie will ever beat The Godfather, Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper scored pretty high in my book. On a scale of Green Lantern to Pulp Fiction I give it an American Psycho. Stay tuned for my next review!
