I'm a big fan of Greta Gerwig and all the leading cast of Barbie, so I settled down to watch this with huge anticipation. Ten minutes in I realised I was going to be disappointed.

What a hot mess.

As an active lifelong feminist I truly understand and appreciate the howling rage that underpins this film, and there are glimpses of what it could have been - a few good jokes, the big 'beach off' scene, the juxtaposition between Barbie in her insane outfits and the lives of girls in the real world - but its message is delivered in a way that's just exhausting.

The production design, colours and styling all scream 'FUN!! ISN'T THIS FUNNY? AREN'T WE HAVING FUN?', but sadly the answer to those questions is, um ... no. The vast production budget and strenuous efforts of the cast can't begin to compensate for the truly dreadful script and confused narrative.

This is not satire used as a scalpel, with wit and a light touch; it's a big old sledgehammer with a flashing neon sign on it, and it bashes you over the head relentlessly with its back-to-back polemics and endless snark.

At the end of the day I just can't work out who this film is for.

Maybe as a remedial lesson in basic feminist theory and a lecture on how real the struggle is for women, it ticks some boxes.

But as an engaging entertainment experience it falls way short, which is so, so disappointing given the brains, talent and money that was thrown at it. I've given it 5 just for the effort involved.