Barbie is the perfect doll in the perfect world of Barbie Land. However, she suffers a crisis of faith, which gets her ejected from her utopian world when she starts asking questions. While in the real world, Barbie and Ken go on a surprising journey of self-discovery to find their place in the world and how society sees them.
The powerhouse Barbie cast is led by Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, Will Ferrell, Michael Cera, Simu Liu, and Helen Mirren. Greta Gerwig directed Barbie and co-wrote the movie with Noah Baumbach, while Robbie serves as a producer.
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Screen Rant spoke with Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, and Michael Cera about Barbie. McKinnon explained why the Barbie she plays is a dream role and shared how her perception of the iconic doll changed after working on this movie. Rae discussed how Gerwig incorporated different generational views of Barbie, and Cera broke down his approach to Allan.
Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon & Michael Cera on Barbie
Screen Rant: First of all, guys, this film is incredible. It is so good, funny, has a lot of heart, and really smart. Issa, you're amazing as President Barbie. Can you talk to me about the meta aspect that we see in Barbie and incorporating the different generational views of Barbie in this film?
Issa Rae: Yeah, I think that was obviously something that Greta was keen to touch on, because so much of our perception of Barbie is a projection of our own insecurities over the years. We've created this doll — or Ruth created this doll — but then we kind of adopted all of what was wrong with Barbie and projected it on to her.
The generations of loving her, and then hating her, and then embracing her was all covered in this film so well. It kind of makes us look at her as a human.
Kate, I have an eight-year-old girl, so there are a ton of weird Barbies around my house. Can you talk to me a little bit about what you wanted to bring to the role, not just in appearance, but also her personality?
Kate McKinnon: Sure, yeah, I can talk about that. The character was designed as this almost shaman figure, who has stepped outside of society and can see a bird's eye view of all of its pitfalls and all of its joys. I just love characters like that. I have always wanted to play a character like that, so it was just perfect. You couldn't have picked a better character for me to ever play in my lifetime than Weird Barbie. This is it, I'm done! [Laughs]
Michael, I identify way more with Allan now than I do as a kid. Talk to me about Allan, his relationship with Ken, and what you wanted to bring to that role?
Michael Cera: Well, the way I read it in the script was that Allan is sort of obsessed with Ken, if not in love with him. I love that he just wants the best for Ken, even if that means Ken not being near him. He wants Ken's happiness. I thought that was sort of a life of servitude in a way. Distant yearning. [Chuckles]
What did Barbie mean to you growing up, and what does Barbie mean to you after making this film?
Issa Rae: Growing up, Barbie was a delightful toy until she wasn't. It was not cool to play with her. Then growing up, I learned to appreciate her. So much of what I do now, just creatively, is because Barbie existed; getting to roleplay with her and create scenes. I realized early on that was my way of storytelling, so I owe a lot to Barbie.
Kate McKinnon: If I'm being honest, growing up, I think Barbie sort of meant, "You're not the way you're supposed to be." And now, after making this movie, I'm like, "Wow, there's room for everybody within this. [If] there's room for me in this universe, then there's room for everybody." And it's just a celebration of the diversity of life on this Earth, and how there's room for everybody, and everyone can fit in within this celebration of color and joy.
Michael Cera: I had a totally different kind of relationship to Barbie, where it was just sort of a peripheral figure. But I will say sort of what Issa was describing, too, where it's a window into a make believe and creative realm. I think it's like that for all. For me, everything was kind of in the basem*nt all piled together, my sister's toys and mine, and everything would just kind of go into the soup. Barbie was in there.
About Barbie
Barbie lives in the perfect utopia of Barbie Land. However, after suffering a crisis where she begins to question her very existence, Barbie is expelled from Barbie Land for not being the perfect doll. Following this, Barbie and Ken set out on a journey of self-discovery through the real world.
Check out our other Barbie interviews here:
- Simu Liu
- America Ferrera
- Greta Gerwig
- Ana Cruz Kanye
Source: Screen Rant Plus
Key Release Date
- BarbieRelease Date:2023-07-21
