Spoiler-Free Review of “Barbie” in Theaters: A Dazzling Delight that is “Kenough” for Me!

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“Women can be anything…”

Barbie released in theaters on July 21st 2023. The fantasy-comedy film (based on the toy by Mattel) stars Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Michael Cera, Will Ferrell, Kate McKinnon, and America Ferrera. It runs for approximately an hour and fifty-four minutes.

Barbie and Ken are enjoying their seemingly perfect lives in Barbie Land when Barbie begins to “malfunction,” causing them to travel to the real world to find out the source of the problem.

Here is the trailer:

Barbie is super fun, pulling us into a magical world filled with pizzazz and nostalgia. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Warner Bros.

Ryan Gosling steals the show!

I expected Margot Robbie to be flawless as Barbie and she was, but Ryan Gosling was the BEST part of this movie! He definitely understood the assignment and went all in with his portrayal of Ken. He was laugh-out-loud funny and completely charming.

The other supporting characters did a good job as well. Michael Cera was a lot of fun (I wish he got more screen time) and I thought that America Ferrera gave an honest and relatable performance.

Images courtesy of Warner Bros.

Nails the Barbie vibe and nostalgia.

I loved the vibrant colors, fashion, and music in this film. It was spot on and it really nailed the Barbie vibe with bubble gum pop perfection. It was hard not to smile during this film. It was a blast to watch and I appreciated how much effort it put into being authentic to the history of Barbie while still having a good time.

This movie also had some empowering messages about self-worth in it and a few life lessons as well, which I did not expect. I appreciate that it tried to transcend past an idea and actually created something heartwarming and imaginative in the process.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Warner Bros.

Takes itself too seriously at times…

Barbie excelled when it was having saucy fun with its content and narration. While I appreciated some of the heartwarming moments, I thought it lost some of its initial magic toward the end. I still enjoyed it, but it almost felt like I started watching a completely different movie…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Warner Bros.

I’m in!!!

Playful, offbeat, and so much fun!

There’s something in it for everyone.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Barbie in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

When former friends, Shay and Adriana team up to participate in a Halloween scavenger hunt with a cash prize, they temporarily put their differences aside to outsmart their opponents. However, they soon start to realize that a dangerous threat is playing their own version of the game, stalking them during each hunt.

Winning is now a necessity as their lives are at stake. As old wounds and memories re-surface, Shay and Adriana attempt to unmask the threat before the night is over, but soon learn that Scream Hunt is not done with them just yet…

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Gray Man” on Netflix: Flashy with Lots of Action

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“What’s the catch?”

The Gray Man premiered on July 22nd 2022 on Netflix. The action film stars Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, and Ana de Armas. It runs for a little over two hours.

A CIA Agent is hunted down by assassins after he uncovers agency secrets.

Here is the trailer:

The Gray Man is pretty much The Bourne Identity meets Mission Impossible in a lot of ways, but it does have a fantastic cast and plenty of flashy fight scenes to hold your attention. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Gray Man Spoiler Free 1

Images courtesy of Netflix

Dream cast!

Ryan Gosling was fantastic in this movie. He brought a cool modern day James Bond vibe to his character. I loved his sarcasm and I think he really elevated this film in a lot of ways. I’m always happy to see Ana de Armas in pretty much anything so that was a plus as well.

Chris Evans played a decent villain, although I was really distracted by his mustache. 

Either way, the cast was a lot of fun to watch.

Lots of action.

If you’re looking for flashy fight scenes and tons of explosions, you’re in the right place. Netflix certainly put a lot of money into this one with all of these special effects. A lot of it was over-the-top but I liked the fight scenes, which were really fun to watch.

The Cons:

The Gray Man Spoiler Free 2

Images courtesy of Netflix

Nothing extraordinary here…

We got a fantastic cast to watch, but the story was lacking and some of the dialogue was really awful. They would have been better off saying “insert attempt at witty comeback here.” 

The film was clearly inspired by the Jason Bourne films, but it never quite found its own identity in my opinion. There were glimmers here and there, but in a lot of ways, I think Netflix really phoned it in with this one. There was nothing truly inspiring or unique, which was disappointing.

Sure, it will fit your bill for a weekend watch, but it might become really forgettable after that.

So am I in or out?

The Gray Man Spoiler Free 3

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in about 75 percent…

This film was far from perfect, but it did highlight a fantastic cast with lots of flashy action and some entertaining moments. I would manage your expectations accordingly, however.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Gray Man in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now! I hope you enjoy!

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!