Never did I think that at the age of 23, I’d have a newfound, kid-like obsession with Barbie, but here we are. And, in Baton Rouge, I don’t think I’m the only one.
The doll-themed film, Barbie, is still bringing in tons of traction at movie theaters around the world. Vintage Mattel dolls that were once collecting dust in an eBay seller’s basement are now going for hundreds more than originally listed for. All around, fans and excited moviegoers are donning all the pink they could find and heading to their local theaters to see the high-anticipated film.
And from the pink billboards displaying Gordon McKernan as Ken, glittery menu specials like Barbie-themed pancakes from Leola’s Cafe and Coffee House and the seemingly constant sprinkling of moviegoers that can be seen filtering in and out of local movie theaters, it seems plenty of us in Baton Rouge have been bitten by the hot pink Barbie bug, too.
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Though I’m not entirely sure when the Barbie buzz will end, or if I even want it to, I appreciate the way it has taken pop culture by storm, made businesses temporarily go pink and given me a reason to go back to a movie theater again.
In true 20-something girl fashion, my friends and I talked a lot about seeing this movie but didn’t actually buy tickets until the day before the film’s big release on Friday, July 21. Our usual theater choice, the Cinemark in Perkins Rowe, was fresh out of seats for the time slot we wanted. The Perkins Rowe theater now seems to have a showing of Barbie almost every hour every day.
“Since opening weekend Cinemark has been adding showtimes at theaters nationwide in order to keep up with the consumer demand,” Cinemark’s Senior Public Relations Specialist Julia McCartha confirms.
Still on the hunt for spots, we settled on the AMC by the Mall of Louisiana. Not our go-to spot, but once I saw the Barbie posters plastered outside and a pink doll box photo op inside, I knew I was in the right place.
Outside people were taking pics with the film’s brightly colored posters and showing off their themed outfits that ranged from heels and dresses to personalized shirts and hair bows. It was comforting to see I wasn’t alone in my craze, although I only wore my comfortable theater fit with a pink hair clip and a pair of pink biker shorts.
Walking into this theater felt like one big nostalgic rush. I can’t really remember the last time I was truly excited to go to the movies. It made the almost $30 for a ticket, gummy candies and a large Diet Coke seem less outrageous. And, judging by the concession lines and sea of pink, I wasn’t alone in that sentiment. It felt like most of Baton Rouge was there that night to catch a glimpse of Margot Robbie’s pink persona.
We took our seats about 15 minutes before the pre-show entertainment and previews rolled and groups filtered in right up until the lifestyle doll appeared on screen. When the lights came on at the end of the showing, we realized hundreds of people had been packed into the seats.
It’s hard for me to not give up spoilers. In fact, I’ve been eagerly waiting for my co-workers to see the movie, so I can talk about it more. I won’t give too much of the storyline away because I think everyone who wants to see it should go.
Overall, I laughed through most of the film, and I had a good cry at the end, which is all I could ever want from a movie. Margot Robbie is fabulous (duh) and Ryan Gosling is hilarious (and a good singer??). The rest of the film’s star-studded cast also shines, giving each character a moment that will make audiences either laugh out loud or get into their feelings. Yes, you might not think it, but Barbie will have you feeling all the feels.
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I wouldn’t really call it a kid’s movie, which might be pretty obvious given the film’s PG-13 rating. I think it’s more for those grown-up kids who remember playing with the iconic doll. Being in my 20s, I loved this film as it touched on topics like growing up and finding your own way. And of course, I loved all the nostalgic references.
I watched this whole film with kid-like amazement even though I don’t really remember being overly obsessed with Barbie as a child. I want to go see it again and again. It was such a nice, feel-good film that I found entertaining all the way through.
Now, if you need me, I’ll probably be somewhere listening to Ryan Gosling’s “I’m Just Ken,” trying to hunt down an Allan doll for a reasonable price or maybe seeing Barbie for a second (or a third) time.