Breaking Barbie’s Mold”
In July 2023, Greta Gerwig’s film “Barbie” Barbie’s Mold achieved global success, dominating the box office. However, this triumph doesn’t imply the movie is without flaws, with one specific storyline demanding resolution through a potential Barbie spinoff. “Barbie,” a comedy fantasy, follows the protagonist, Stereotypical Barbie, as she discovers that her life in Barbieland and beyond may not be as seamless as she once believed. While there’s no official confirmation of a sequel, the expansive world created in “Barbie” offers room for numerous potential stories.
Barbie’s Mold
Certain storylines introduced in “Barbie” remain in need of further exploration. Despite Stereotypical Barbie’s success in restoring order to Barbieland and reconciling relationships, one plot point remains unresolved. From the film’s outset, it’s established that the company, Mattel, is led by men who seemingly lack understanding of what girls want or what Barbie symbolizes. While Barbie and Gloria assert themselves against these men in the movie’s conclusion, there’s a lack of a satisfying follow-up.
The Mattel storyline in “Barbie” concludes in an unsatisfactory manner. Although the group of men, comically led by Will Ferrell’s character simply referred to as CEO of Mattel, amusingly find their way into Barbieland, the confrontation with Barbie yields minimal change. Despite a lecture on treating women and themselves with respect, there’s no indication of genuine transformation within Mattel’s management. This absence of resolution presents a significant issue for the overall narrative of “Barbie.”
Addressing this narrative gap, a potential Barbie spinoff set in the real world could explore and rectify Mattel’s failings. Leveraging the captivating world established within Mattel headquarters, the spinoff could delve into the all-male leadership team’s shortcomings. By shifting the focus to the real world, the spinoff could portray substantial change within Mattel, going beyond Barbie’s brief confrontation and offering a more thorough exploration of the company’s management issues. This approach could not only fill the plot hole left by “Barbie” but also contribute to a more comprehensive and impactful storyline.
