Barbie is a film with undeniably gorgeous production design and distinct visual charm, and it's at its best when it embraces its surreal absurdist humor and runs with it. This has some of the funniest sequences of the year.

Robbie, Gosling, and most of the rest of the cast have impeccable comedic timing. The line delivery is somehow both dry and full of energy.

The world that the story presents is gleefully ridiculous and when it fully leans into this tone, it's wonderful.

The problems arise when the script fluctuates wildly (and frequently) between goofy dumb comedy and heavy-handed social messaging. It's jarring and often seems to be treating us, the audience, like we're stupid.

The script is so heavy-handed in presenting a shallow view of the world and reductionist view of both men and women, yet is seemingly so convinced of its intelligence and wit.

A caricatured world is all good and fun, but it's not exactly conducive to making a commentary on incredibly nuanced issues.

Thankfully, the film sort of figures out how to balance all of this by its final minutes, and it really does have a knockout ending.

There's a lot to love here. It's just kinda messy in delivering the good stuff.