Reactions For Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ Are VERY GOOD, Ryan Gosling Steals the Show

Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” had a test-screening last night in New Jersey. Overall reaction is said to be very good. The audience was really into it, clapping and cheering throughout.

Here are a few sampled reactions:

I saw Barbie. Loved it. Gonna be a massive movie. Fiercely feminist and volcanically hysterical. So flashy and bright. Will win Oscars for Costume and Design, they’re delicious. It deconstructs the feminist iconography of Barbie and recontextualizes her for a new generation. Creates strong commentary and juxtaposition. Since this is Gerwig, there’s a big heart at the center. Margot plays Barbie with a Valley accent, interest and agency, as she questions her position in Barbieland and clashes with Ken about patriarchy. Gosling is outstanding as Ken, perhaps his best performance. He’s a huge scene stealer and gets to sing and dance. He will probably get Oscar nominated. Will Ferrell hasn’t been this funny in years, he plays a shallow and performative CEO of Mattel. Other standouts include Rhea Pearlman and Michael Cera.

Another one again highlights Gosling’s Ken:

I went and attended. Don’t use my name, please. I liked it a lot. It’s one of the best studio films in years and easily best studio comedy in even longer. An absolute delight that will be an obsessive favorite. Greta elevated her game. Visually, it’s iconic. The costumes pop off the screen and the sets appropriately feel toy-esque and animated. Every performance is on the same wavelength and delivers on the camp. Gosling is MVP and has never been better. His performance will be memed to death. Despite the overall spiky and over the top comedy (there’s even a chase scene!), it remains surprisingly emotional and playfully and blissfully political without being heavy-handed. It moves quickly but nails it’s narrative beats. America Ferrara’s monologue about double standards women face earned applause. It’ll be PG-13, there’s sexual jokes and swearing.

I received a few more reactions that I’m not allowed to publish, but were just as enthusiastic, if not more so than the ones above.

As for the plot, it’s said to be a little too spoiler-ish to write about, filled with surprises that shouldn’t be revealed. Briefly, the film has Barbie beginning to question her place in Barbieland and society after having thoughts of death. Barbieland is a magical place where women rule the world so such insecurities are said to be impure. Meanwhile, Ken also questions his place in Barbieland. He is made to worship Barbie, but she is not receptive.

The film has loads of cameos and twists, but it’s not at all a fish out of water story.

“Barbie” has an all-star tech team behind it including cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto and composer Alexandre Desplat. Not to mention none other than Noah Baumbach co-writing the screenplay with Gerwig.

“Barbie” is a $100 million risk. I mean, Amy Schumer, of all people, dropped out because of her “busy schedule.” Gerwig took over, penned the screenplay with partner Baumbach, and cast Margot Robbie/Ryan Gosling in the lead roles.

The fact that they are testing this movie so early — it has a summer release date — means Warner Bros probably wants to know what the hell they have here. It seems like they have a winner. Critics will probably be positive on it.

David Sazlav must be biting his nails when it comes to this one. It’s going head to head against “Oppenheimer” this summer. Who wins?