It’s hard to imagine a cinematic landscape where existing intellectual properties are not front and center of projects being greenlit. Since the inception of the MCU and Nolan-verse in 2008, studios’ desire to profit from these properties has been dramatically documented and has become a crutch for many studios.

While there have been many excellent entries since the IP boom, there have been some stinkers. I’m looking at you, Emoji Movie. One of the IPs that had avoided film adaption was Mattel’s crowning jewel – Barbie. But that’s not without a lack of trying.

As far back as 2009, Mattel has been attempting to get this project off the ground as they originally were in partnership with Universal. The irony of that partnership, huh? Shifting from studios and parties involved, the film looked like it was finally in motion in 2016, with Amy Schumer set to star in the titular role. As with previous attempts, this fell apart, and the dream to bring Barbie’s Dream House to the silver screen looked like it would remain just that, a dream.

By 2019, the rights were now owned by Warner Bros. At long last, Barbie was not just on the right track but immediately jumped into the conversation for cinephiles and casual filmgoers as not only would the film star Academy Award nominees Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, but it would be directed by Academy Award nominee Greta Gerwig and written by Gerwig and Academy Award nominee Noah Baumbach. A pop-culture phenomenon was in the making!

Nearly 15 years later and to the shock of no one, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is a dream house of cheers and tears. A whimsical and emotional journey of self-discovery and growth. No longer can we say she’s everything. He’s just Ken. They are everything.

Barbie enters the perfect world of Barbie Land, where all the Barbies hold a position of power and exude happiness, while the Kens are just Ken. After Barbie asks the existential question, “Do you ever think about dying?” Barbie Land is turned upside down as Barbie must leave for the real world as she looks to examine her imperfections and self-discoveries.

Despite the IP at her disposal, Barbie is a Greta Gerwig film through and through. Gerwig’s direction remains impeccable, while her and Noah Baumbach’s screenplay crafts a dissection of the evolving gender roles of both men and women. The duo effectively captures the insecurities that plague all genders and the superficial pressures of being “perfect.” Not only is it a meditative character study, but it’s also one of the funniest films of the year. A masterful blend of tones continues to cement Gerwig as one of our great modern filmmakers.

Barbie‘s celebration in the film is on full display. Fully homaging some of our finest, Gerwig shares her adoration of Jacque Tati, Jacques Demy, Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, Stanley Kubrick, Charlie Chaplain, and Pee-Wee Herman with astonishing visuals that are set to make any lover of cinema grin from ear to ear.

Our Barbie and Ken are some of the finest castings maybe ever. Margot Robbie is sensational as she weaves through a comedic and heartfelt performance. Robbie offers the 1-2 punch combo of pulling at your heartstrings while making audiences laugh. It’s a commanding performance that is one of Robbie’s career best.

Ryan Gosling, oh Ryan Gosling, how I’ve missed your comedic presence. Gosling’s Ken gets his excellent arc and welcomes that arc with scene-stealing charisma and pizazz, culminating with a musical number for the ages set to be one of 2023’s finest moments in the film.

The incredible ensemble all came to play! Every Barbie and Ken cinephiles meet along the way offers their unique personality and style, with Kate McKinnon and Simu Liu standing out. While I was hesitant to see the “real world” side of Barbie, America Ferrera is outstanding in a performance that leads to a 3rd act monologue that’s sure to be talked about for quite some time.

Rodrigo Prieto’s cinematography continues to impress as his lens fully captures the pink-soaked dreamscape of Barbie Land. It’s one of the most impressive cinematography jobs of the year, while the film’s production design and costume design are the year’s best by far. Oscar-worthy is an understatement.

While Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt’s score is delightful, the film’s needle drops really stand out. From Dua Lipa’s romp of a dance sequence to Billie Eilish’s heartwarming ballad to Ryan Gosling’s shining moment, Barbie offers an old-school movie soundtrack that can be left on repeat.

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is a moment in cinema history. A female-directed Blockbuster that should be embraced as one of the year’s best. Barbie is a film rich with heart, charm, laughs, and style. Simply put, In Gerwig, We Trust.