Barbie (2023)

[FilmKoala]

Originally Posted by Shingster

2: Amy Schumer, how dare she be overweight and attempt comedy, I mean HOW DARE SHE. Yes she does steal jokes from other, perhaps funnier, comedians, but guess what: So has just about every other stand up artist who got over big in hollywood. Eddie Murphy anyone? Dennis Leary? We could take this post to 100 pages on this topic alone! I'm not sure what bearing a standup career has on performance in a film to begin with.

I'm not a standup expert but I feel like this just isn't true.

And why I think it's relevant is that she became famous in part off of the jokes of other people. So she has these career opportunities that the people she stole from don't, and it leaves a sour taste in peoples mouths.

[Shingster]

Originally Posted by FilmKoala

And why I think it's relevant is that she became famous in part off of the jokes of other people. So she has these career opportunities that the people she stole from don't, and it leaves a sour taste in peoples mouths.

What a monumental overstatement. How many recycled jokes/sketches have people actually discovered? A hundred, three hundred? An entire tour or season's worth of material? No it's basically a bunch (certainly less than 50), not an amount that defines her career at all, and certainly not an amount that has any bearing on her ability to act in a children's film.

I'm not a standup expert but I feel like this just isn't true.

Well, it's obviously true that you're no expert. It's probably safe to assume that most comedians who came up on the circuit supporting more famous comedians have taken inspiration from material heard from other comedians on the job. The better ones just know how to polish them up so they sound fresh. Schumer's just too lazy to alter what she's stealing enough to make it sound like hers, and she's in denial if she geniunely thinks she's never stolen a joke in her life.

[Creed]

Originally Posted by thewerepuppygrr

Bulls#!t. Internet trolls do not equate to 'most people'. She's extremely popular.

Popular? Yes. Loved by most? Eh..

There are people (not trolls) that just don't find her funny. Some find her overrated.

[Wernski]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

You apparently didn't read the article close enough, unless you don't understand what playing the "title role" means.

Originally Posted by filmbuffTX

She's the star of the movie, yes, but she's not playing the traditional Barbie role. Barbie is a universe with different characters in it.

"Schumer will play a character who lives in Barbieland, among all of the various Barbie characters beloved by doll collectors (there are dolls covering over 180 careers). In a fish-out-of-water story reminiscent of films like Splash and Big, Schumer’s Barbie gets kicked out, basically because she’s not perfect enough, is a bit eccentric and doesn’t quite fit the mold."

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

I know what it says, I can read. And she's playing "Barbie," period, just like every trade is reporting and this article starts out by saying. Whether it's a different Barbie, or there's hundreds of them, whatever. But she's still cast as Barbie, whether you want to make semantics out of it or not. Still a horrible casting decision of one of the most unappealing people in show business.

I think you're both right. My guess from the description is that there aren't just multiple characters in Barbieland (i.e. Ken), but multiple Barbies, just like the dolls are mass-produced. So there will be a Dr. Barbie and Malibu Barbie and whatever else the toy-line has, and they'll all be perfect, model-y looking women. And Amy will be another Barbie, but one who doesn't fit in because of her looks and personality. So yes, she will be the titular Barbie, but not the traditional Barbie, who we'll also see in the film (again, just my guess).

Originally Posted by Strapped4Cash

So you believe that those people are worse than the real-world versions of the antagonists in films like Schindler's List or Room?

Yeah, I totally can't believe Lisa cheated on Johnny with Mark. How can people like that exist?

[FilmKoala]

Originally Posted by Shingster

What a monumental overstatement. How many recycled jokes/sketches have people actually discovered? A hundred, three hundred? An entire tour or season's worth of material? No it's basically a bunch (certainly less than 50), not an amount that defines her career at all, and certainly not an amount that has any bearing on her ability to act in a children's film.

Well, it's obviously true that you're no expert. It's probably safe to assume that most comedians who came up on the circuit supporting more famous comedians have taken inspiration from material heard from other comedians on the job. The better ones just know how to polish them up so they sound fresh. Schumer's just too lazy to alter what she's stealing enough to make it sound like hers, and she's in denial if she geniunely thinks she's never stolen a joke in her life.

It wasn't an overstatement at all as you clearly missed "in part" in my sentence. And taking inspiration from is not the same thing as stealing, my dude. Comics are fiercely protective of their material and if someone within the community is caught stealing they'll be the first ones to call it out. Amy did it, she got called out for it, she denied it, and instead of getting the Carlos Mencia treatment where she's shunned by the industry she's given a bunch of movie roles. That's why some people would take issue with her.

[slimdude]

I've told you all that Hollywood has gone to the dogs!

[C. Anton]

Originally Posted by Shingster

What a shocker to see all the usual usernames in this thread! (And I say that as one of the detractors in the Ghostbusters thread)! Two points:

1: Is this film going to be aimed at adults? What exactly is the issue with exploring female empowerment and body issues if the film is aimed at young girls/teens? It's a PG rated film made to sell mattel toys ffs, people are treating it like Ghostbusters when the problem Ghostbusters had was that they took a project that appeal to a certain demographic (boys and geeks) and purposefully aimed it at a completely new demographic whilst simultaneously insulting the old. This film appears to be aimed at the original, existing demographic.

Being fat is unhealthy, it's no more a girl power! issue than a eww gross, she's fat, one. Adults imo won't be interested in this film, like you said the youth will, especially females. Just out of curiosity, how many little fat girls do you think have or had Barbie growing up, who in their teens developed an issue with their physical appearance, and will see the plot of this film as confirmation bias to not lose weight, start exercising and eat healthier foods? Let's be honest here, the writers had to invent an entire world in the Barbie universe that exists nowhere else, but in their head, for this story to make sense. As to your merchandise argument:



Right.

[thewerepuppygrr]

Originally Posted by creed123

Popular? Yes. Loved by most? Eh..

There are people (not trolls) that just don't find her funny. Some find her overrated.

I still wouldn't say that "most people" hate her.

[Zillamon51]

Worst. Casting. Ever.

I don't have a daughter, so I don't really have a horse in this race. But if I did, we would not be going to see the Barbie movie. Amy Schumer is a blue comedian whose whole shtick is vulgar sex jokes and how slutty she is. I would not want my kid Googling the star of the movie based on her favorite toys, and getting lessons on performing fellatio.

As for the larger "body image" controversy, I think bowing to the SJWs endangers the brand. Barbie is not a real person, she's an ideal to strive towards (like Superman). If they turn her into a chubby wine mom, what kid wants to play with that (as they probably already have one!)? But again, I don't have kids. Maybe in a decade or so it will turn out that all today's little boys grow up with "body issues" because they aren't ripped like Captain America.

[Batmon77]

Originally Posted by C. Anton

Being fat is unhealthy, it's no more a girl power! issue than a eww gross, she's fat, one. Adults imo won't be interested in this film, like you said the youth will, especially females. Just out of curiosity, how many little fat girls do you think have or had Barbie growing up, who in their teens developed an issue with their physical appearance, and will see the plot of this film as confirmation bias to not lose weight, start exercising and eat healthier foods? Let's be honest here, the writers had to invent an entire world in the Barbie universe that exists nowhere else, but in their head, for this story to make sense. As to your merchandise argument:



Right.

Do u realize a Curvy Barbie already exists?

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by Batmon77

Do u realize a Curvy Barbie already exists?

There's a difference between Curvy Barbie and Morbidly Obese Barbie.

[Batmon77]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

There's a difference between Curvy Barbie and Morbidly Obese Barbie.

Schumer isnt Obese or Morbidly Obese.

Whats with the exageration?

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by Batmon77

Schumer isnt Obese or Morbidly Obese.

Whats with the exageration?

I was referring to the photo C. Anton posted. Unattractive though I think she is, I wouldn't even call Amy Schumer chubby, let alone fat.

[ThatOneGuy]

People who think Schumer is fat need to adjust their eyes. She isn't skinny but she is in no way in unhealthy shape.

[tylerdurden10]

I've read this entire thread, and I have to say how dumbfounded I am at some of the responses in here!

First off, the sole reason Schumer was cast even to begin with is BECAUSE she doesn't fit the traditional Barbie mold.

Also, pretty sure the demo for this film isn't ANY of the people who have posted already. This is/should be strictly a kids movie. Now if it turns out to be something silly & smartly written like Elf, than I'm sure it will attract adults as well.

I personally don't like what Amy Schumer has become in the last few years, but I've always found her to be extremely funny. I have 2 young girls, so if this turns out decent, I'll give it a chance.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by C. Anton

Let's be honest here, the writers had to invent an entire world in the Barbie universe that exists nowhere else, but in their head,...

You do know that all the Barbie stuff is make-believe, right?

They're freaking dolls.

[Truewitt]

Originally Posted by Groot

This movie sounds like it is furthering the idea of needing to conform to everyone's standards. It's also why Mattel is losing sells hand over fist to stuff like Monster High and recently lost their Disney contracts.

Well, they can't really lose sales to Monster High since they own that too.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by Truewitt

Well, they can't really lose sales to Monster High since they own that too.

They are selling the line off, or were, due to continued revenue loss. Hasbro has expressed interest in buying them. Barbie was killed by its own maker and the same maker lost all of its other lines to Hasbro.

[C. Anton]

Originally Posted by octagon

You do know that all the Barbie stuff is make-believe, right?

They're freaking dolls.

What kind of argument is that? Almost every great film ever made is make believe. What if the Fast & Furious franchise started writing in neck beards peeling out in Vespas on their way to solve some great fedora caper? You may not like F&F but the point remains.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by C. Anton

What kind of argument is that? Almost every great film ever made is make believe. What if the Fast & Furious franchise started writing in neck beards peeling out in Vespas on their way to solve some great fedora caper? You may not like F&F but the point remains.

And what was that point? That the makers of this film are departing from or expanding 'Barbie canon' and that this is somehow objectionable?

It's. A. Doll.