Despite Barbie breaking records at the box office, Greta Gerwig’s highly-anticipated movie is facing criticism from different corners. Recently, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and Indian TV actor Juhi Parmar voiced their opinions on the film, each highlighting separate issues.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the film, poking fun at its alleged focus on feminist themes. In response to a Barbenheimer meme comparing Twitter to Barbie and Musk’s new social network’s name to Oppenheimer, he quipped, “If you take a shot every time Barbie says the word ‘patriarchy’, you will pass out before the movie ends.” The tweet garnered mixed reactions from netizens, some finding it amusing while others saw it as downplaying the importance of the movie’s underlying message.
Meanwhile, Indian TV actor Juhi Parmar, known for her role in the popular show “Kumkum,” expressed her disappointment with the Barbie movie in an Instagram post. Parmar revealed that she was shocked by what she perceived as “inappropriate language and sexual connotations” in the film, prompting her to leave the theater after just 10-15 minutes. The actor claimed that several parents followed suit, accusing the filmmakers of misleading the audience. She questioned why a movie meant to be an essential part of a child’s life would contain content deemed inappropriate even for children aged 13 and above. Parmar lamented the shattering of the “perfect illusions of Barbie” and expressed her wish to preserve a picture-perfect image of the beloved character for her child, who admires and cherishes Barbie.
The Greta Gerwig-directed film stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the lead roles, portraying Barbie and Ken, respectively. Despite its star-studded cast and massive popularity among some audiences, the movie’s reception has been mixed, with both praise for its feminist undertones and criticism regarding its language and appropriateness for younger viewers.
As the discussions surrounding the Barbie movie continue, it remains to be seen how the film’s creators and supporters will respond to the various critiques it has received. While some appreciate its empowering messages, others are calling for more consideration of its content’s suitability for its target audience.
