The latest Barbie movie trailer reveals more plot points and shows Barbie (Margot Robbie) experiencing an existential crisis. New clips see Barbie losing her mojo with cold showers, flat feet and an inability to gracefully float down to the ground from atop her dream house. Even a Matrix-like scene between Robbie's Barbie and Kate McKinnon's Barbie is included. Barbie must decide between staying in her pink utopia or learning more in the great beyond. Viewers also see more footage of Will Ferrell as Mattel's CEO freaking out over the ramifications of Barbie's arrival in the real world. But, most importantly, Barbie and Ken (Ryan Gosling) are having trouble fitting into their new surroundings.
Meanwhile, back in Barbieland, things seem to have changed significantly. In their breakdown of the trailer on their YouTube Channel, New Rockstars points out that a major conflict might have arisen in paradise since Barbie and Ken's departure. Their picture-perfect society "back home" might not have changed for the better, and it may have to do with the Kens. There's even a suggestion that Michael Cera's Alan will be the key to saving Barbieland.
Without Barbie, the Kens May Pose a Major Threat to Barbieland
The Barbie trailer has a couple of scenes that reveal the Kens may not have the best intent for Barbieland. One shows a beach where a battle royal is in full swing. Both sides of the fight are composed entirely of Kens rushing at each other. The second scene shows two Barbies and Alan driving toward Barbieland, but the name over the entrance has been replaced with "Kendom." It looks like Barbie's existential crisis could expose some cracks in Barbieland's perfect reality. And the consequences lead to a mass takeover from the male majority of Barbieland.
Even though viewers aren't given much more than that, it might be safe to assume that Alan could play a major role in saving Barbieland. In another clip, all the Kens are seen dancing in monogrammed, white jumpsuits at Barbie's house party. Excluded from wearing the matching outfits is Alan. It's possible director/writer Greta Gerwig is planning on using Alan as a counterpoint to the Kens and a way to show how conformity might not always be the best thing for society.
The Barbie Movie Might Use the Kens To Provide Commentary on Toxic Masculinity
It's not clear yet what this conflict means for the overall message of Barbie. However, another scene in the trailer hints that Gerwig could be angling toward a commentary on toxic masculinity. In their breakdown, New Rockstars also latches onto some visual cues in the latest trailer that hints at Gosling's Ken being a "Doctor Ken" (such as Gosling wearing pink scrubs while talking to Robbie). There's even a scene in the real world where Ken dismissively asks a female medical professional to find him a doctor, even though she is one herself. After that, he walks off to perform "just one" appendectomy because he's "a man."
With so much more revealed about the premise of Barbie, a great deal of the main plot still seems shrouded in mystery. But no doubt, it will include commentary on individualism, conformity, inclusivity and a feminist angle. But this latest trailer shows audiences a bit of the darker underbelly of how Gerwig and cowriter Noah Baumbach may approach getting their message across. Still, the movie's style gives the impression that it will (very intentionally) mix a healthy dose of fun with its more serious social commentary.
Barbie premieres in theaters July 21.