The title by no means suggests that this movie was predictable. Greta Gerwig does a wonderful job making the 1 hour and 54 minutes enjoyable for a wide range of audiences (which was originally a worry of mine, as a movie centered around the Barbie doll franchise seemed a narrow area of public interest). Rather, following countless pre-release trailers, interviews, promotions, and marketing schemes, I had a general idea of what the movie could be about. In other words, I was not left surprised or awed by new and unexpected artistic choices.

The movie I expected was a comedic, lighthearted adventure surrounding Barbie and her "universe" of Barbies and Kens (and Allan), a pink and perfect world of constant happiness and beauty, until something goes terribly wrong: Barbie starts becoming human. What would follow is a wacky adventure wherein Barbie would seek for a solution to her problem, and in doing so, finding what it means to be human; furthermore, what it means to be a woman in a "world of men."

And this is more or less the framework of Gerwig's film. Of course, there are many other creative aspects that were not anticipated, and the way it built off of a beloved franchise was admirable, to say the least, and clever. Though I was not a big Barbie fan as a child, there were all kinds of Easter eggs referencing Barbie lore throughout the movie. Many would say this film did Barbie and her fans justice.

Overall, I expected the film to be good. And that is what I thought of it: it was an enjoyable and entertaining movie, though would not be on a list of favorites.

It didn't move me in the way I believed it intended to. Some moments were emotional, but it did not leave me with profound thoughts on the state of modern-day patriarchy, or the hardened corporate heart of society. Perhaps this was because it was very well cushioned by comedic dialogue and colorful, fun design, successfully softening the blow of the movie's larger themes.

I also agree that it was quite preachy, and although there was power behind the speeches about the feminist struggle and the expectations of perfections in an imperfect world, it felt very heavy-handed (especially towards the end of the film).

Despite how I feel about Barbie not living up to its full potential, I encourage everyone to watch it. Not just because my opinion really doesn't mean anything among the experiences of others, but because it deserves a chance at changing another person's mind.

I fully support how Barbie encourages the breaking of gender norms and awareness and transparency about mental health. The arc Barbie follows is touching, brave, and familiar to all those experiencing the ups and downs of life's many paths. Ultimately, it is worth a watch, and certainly opens new doors for future filmmaking and marketing.