I love this. It’s a great point that underneath all of the fun and weirdness and never ending streak of all kinds of jokes, it’s all supported by a simple, clear structure.
Barbie works fantastically well because of the huge I.P. and built-in audience recognition. Structurally there is no main thru-line. There are lots of jokes that are all hanging aimlessly not really connected to anything. higher level comedy is structured so the jokes flow out of narrative rather than stopping the story to make a funny. In strongly structured comedy the jokes are connected to the story’s spine, that spine being the main thru-line or dramatic question which is absent in Barbie. when acr2 and act 3 are about different things, that’s an interesting and effective choice in this case but it’s not traditional three act structure which is fine. Barbie movie is a huge success and it doesn’t need to fit traditional three act structure to be considered a quality movie.
This is an interesting take, but I disagree. The movie does have a traditional three-act structure, as I describe above.
Barbie's decision to become real is born of learning about the human world. Acts 1,2,3 are not about "different things" at all.
And I don't know what "higher level comedy" means, but the jokes in this movie are not disconnected or "aimless." In fact, I'd say every joke is born of character, which is some pretty high level joke writing. The jokes in this movie are jokes that couldn't exist in any other movie because of their specificity to the characters and the world.
And finally, the movie doesn't work because it's based on "huge IP and built-in audience recognition." Those are contributors to its success, but those aspects are separate from whether or not the movie "works." Which it very much does, on its own merits.
Great piece and it completely chimes with me - it's the lesson I took from Barbie too: To swing for the fences, fully lean into and embrace your own tastes/ideas, don't be ashamed or shy of them. Just f-ing GO FOR IT. Because that's what it feels like Greta Gerwig (and Noah Baumbach) did. And it's totally inspiring :)
I love this. It’s a great point that underneath all of the fun and weirdness and never ending streak of all kinds of jokes, it’s all supported by a simple, clear structure.
Absolutely! That kind of sturdy structure can support any kinds of appendages and ornaments hung upon it.
Thanks for this Ben! A timely read
Barbie Pink is actually Pantone 219 C -- and they have a Pantone Barbie to prove it--2011 Barbie Collector Pink in Pantone
https://www.ifitshipitshere.com/an-official-pantone-barbie-thats-right-mattels-new-pink-in-pantone-barbie-doll/
Barbie works fantastically well because of the huge I.P. and built-in audience recognition. Structurally there is no main thru-line. There are lots of jokes that are all hanging aimlessly not really connected to anything. higher level comedy is structured so the jokes flow out of narrative rather than stopping the story to make a funny. In strongly structured comedy the jokes are connected to the story’s spine, that spine being the main thru-line or dramatic question which is absent in Barbie. when acr2 and act 3 are about different things, that’s an interesting and effective choice in this case but it’s not traditional three act structure which is fine. Barbie movie is a huge success and it doesn’t need to fit traditional three act structure to be considered a quality movie.
This is an interesting take, but I disagree. The movie does have a traditional three-act structure, as I describe above.
Barbie's decision to become real is born of learning about the human world. Acts 1,2,3 are not about "different things" at all.
And I don't know what "higher level comedy" means, but the jokes in this movie are not disconnected or "aimless." In fact, I'd say every joke is born of character, which is some pretty high level joke writing. The jokes in this movie are jokes that couldn't exist in any other movie because of their specificity to the characters and the world.
And finally, the movie doesn't work because it's based on "huge IP and built-in audience recognition." Those are contributors to its success, but those aspects are separate from whether or not the movie "works." Which it very much does, on its own merits.
Great piece and it completely chimes with me - it's the lesson I took from Barbie too: To swing for the fences, fully lean into and embrace your own tastes/ideas, don't be ashamed or shy of them. Just f-ing GO FOR IT. Because that's what it feels like Greta Gerwig (and Noah Baumbach) did. And it's totally inspiring :)