No film that’s released this year – or quite possibly in the last couple of years – has had a captivating arc leading up to its release like the Barbie movie. Frankly, it already had some noteworthy hype heading into production with the incredibly talented cast that was assembled – most notably Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as the film’s main Barbie and Ken, respectively – and rising director Greta Gerwig being attached. It was even more substantial that Gerwig and her partner Noah Baumbach – who is equally talented – were writing the film’s story and script. But then came the Barbenheimer campaign that turned a theatrical rivalry between Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer into a collaboration that raised awareness for both films – as well as the hype.

Now that Barbie has finally arrived, the big question is: Does it live up to its hype? Truthfully, Barbie completely exceeds expectations and Gerwig delivers a Barbie movie that no one could’ve expected to exist. Barbie subverts expectations in multiple ways and totally has audiences wrapped around its fingers from the moment they step into Barbieland.

Just as Barbie (Robbie) wakes up in her gigantic dream house and takes viewers on a tour of the fantastical world of Barbieland – where figures that represent and inspire the actual Barbie dolls reside – there’s this sense of wonder and amazement that washes over audiences – but especially longtime fans. It’s impossible to ignore how visually immaculate this world is and it’s literally like you’re walking into a life-size version of the Barbie toys. The dream houses that the Barbies live in are truly like giant doll houses and the outfits for the Barbies, Kens, and other characters look just like the ones on the dolls. The environment is coated in these bright colors that pop and completely dazzle the eyes – most notably shades of pink. It really feels like you’re walking into a fantasy world – which is exactly what this experience should be.

Even if you’re someone who didn’t grow up knowing or playing with Barbie dolls, there’s so much effort put into capturing the identity of this brand that even true novices will know they’re entering an authentic Barbie world. Yet, this film is definitely something that fans will enjoy on an elevated level and Gerwig makes a lot of bold choices that evoke the nostalgia and experience of playing with Barbie. The plasticky look and feel of the world is great and results in some hilarious visual gags – including Ken (Gosling) bouncing off plastic waves. It’s incredibly funny to see the Barbies drinking out of empty cups and reminding viewers of what “playing pretend” was really like. There are even some meta moments of the film acknowledging what happens when kids play with toys too hard and touching on some of the lesser-loved parts of Barbie’s history. Even the diversity of the film reflects how diverse Barbie has become over the years and it’s one of the many ways that Gerwig touches on the legacy and meaning of the Barbie dolls.

The concept that made Barbie so unique is also a pivotal aspect of the film’s opening and it does such a great job establishing roles in this world. As stated in the film, the intention behind Barbie was to show and inspire young girls that they were capable of being anything they wanted to be. With Barbieland, we see that dream realized as the Barbies essentially run a matriarchal society. They literally hold every position of power and have taken on jobs that range from construction workers to lawyers. It’s something that seems like just a simple nod to the concept of Barbie but plays a bigger role as the film’s story unfolds.

The film’s opening moments are a loving reminder of what Barbie is all about that everyone can enjoy, and its scale and grand ambition give it summer blockbuster vibes. But then there’s a sharp turn the film makes that’s whole-heartedly unexpected and totally works in taking the story in a fun direction. After Robbie’s Barbie suffers an existential crisis that has her questioning her own mortality, she goes on an adventure to the real world with Gosling’s Ken to find her connected child and figure out what’s gone wrong. In this adventure, both Barbie and Ken make shocking self-discoveries that alter their views and ultimately create new conflicts and changes within Barbieland.

Once Barbie makes its big turn, it adds these darkly comedic tones that are immensely hilarious. Seriously, the film brings a comedic style that’s incredibly fitting for the fans who have grown up a bit since playing with dolls and it’s fantastic. Barbie absolutely thrives in some of its self-deprecating humor and the way the film delivers a darker spin on its opening and a Barbie commercial is amazing. Robbie and Gosling lean perfectly into the darker humor too and this film constantly provides great laughs that’ll have audiences roaring. Plus, there are some hilarious meta moments with Barbie actually interacting with Mattel and very fun pop culture references that are perfect given Barbie’s own impact in pop culture. Barbie is every bit as incredibly comical and entertaining as audiences would want it to be and it leans into its bizarre yet highly enjoyable visuals excellently.

Both Baumbach and Gerwig’s writing totally shines and all the performances elevate the engaging and hilarious aspects of the film. Robbie brings some good charm as Barbie that’s kind of akin to her iconic performance as Harley Quinn yet stands apart through how committed and vulnerable she is in this role. She sells Barbie’s new mentality incredibly well and makes these more grounded perspectives on the harsh reality of the world very relatable and funny. Gosling’s performance as Ken is also a huge highlight of this film as he brings a loveably goofy attitude and mindset that gets explored in a surprisingly deep manner. Although there isn’t much to Ken at the start of the film, he actually has a very emotional and meaningful arc that’s elevated by Gosling’s performance and is capped off by a brilliant original song sequence in the final act. Honestly, the same can be said for Barbie as well and this film has some superb story moments that carry some great thematic weight.

Themes tied to gender roles and societal perception act as this great crux to how Barbie and Ken deal with what they experience in the real world. Both Barbie and Ken have these intriguing arcs that see them break down and challenge the roles and perceptions we see at the start of the film and that have guided their lives for their entire existence. Their stories touch on these very real issues that constantly plague and complicate our world and boast some effective messaging and perspectives that are elevated by amazing performances. America Ferrera – who plays a human named Gloria – delivers an especially captivating monologue that inspires this revelation within the Barbies and embodies the true staples of Gerwig’s direction and writing.

Gerwig has always excelled at capturing the raw emotions of her characters and utilizing them for these standout moments that stick with viewers. Barbie has quite a few of those moments and it’s deeply fulfilling to see both the Barbies and Kens come to their own realizations and conclusions. Barbie is a film about breaking the ties that bind and a reminder of the importance of independence and self-discovery – which is something that everyone needs from time to time.

Now, this isn’t to say that Barbie nails these themes perfectly as it can feel like it’s ignoring certain aspects of what it’s trying to say. There’s a certain group that is left out of the big realization that shouldn’t be and maybe it’s a result of the film not wanting to bite the hand that feeds it too deeply. It’s great that the characters arrive at a place of change within their dynamics of each other – even if they don’t want to fully commit to complete change by the end – but it doesn’t fully acknowledge the people who have actually been making the roles and script they’ve been forced to be a part of or point the finger directly at them, so it feels like it’s missing something within its big thematic discussions. Plus, the very abstract feel of the finale with Barbie is a little overwhelming and muddies things up a bit. Still though, Barbie’s personal arc is as empowering as it should be, and it genuinely feels like a turning point for the iconic doll brand in that it finally gets to be as relatable and impactful for women as it has wanted to for so long.

Barbie is an unexpected treat for both the incredible vision that Gerwig has for bringing the fantastical and colorful world of Barbie to life and delivering an experience that’s very comical and surprisingly thought-provoking. It’s highly entertaining from start to finish and elevates the legacy of Barbie in meaningful ways that fans and newcomers will love. For Gerwig, Barbie defines her as one of the most noteworthy directors currently working and it genuinely might be her best film to date.

Watch the Trailer Here: