As an adult who has no children who watches Barbie movies for the same reason my mother watches Hallmark movies (predictable, 'safe' stories, no surprise horror/gore/politics thrown in, I watch cartoons because I have facial blindness and can't recognize real people enough to follow anything) I was expecting the same old, same old in this title.
First and foremost, Barbie's home hairstyle is a neat take on the 'shaved side of her head' without actually doing that, just a tight side braid. The characters are interesting and easy to understand, although the one male in the team seems to just be there for comedic relief, which is sad.
This movie, compared to others in the line, offers more interesting ideas and theories, and more unique characters. The gravity twins whose faces glow when they're embarrassed, the translucent arms, the king who seems like he's going to be the antagonist but is more of a "trying in the wrong way" sort who has to learn his lesson, yet maintains his attitude until the end, even after admitting he was wrong, the champion hoverboarder who subtly learns she may be the best hoverboarder, but she isn't exactly the leader type, and Barbie herself trying to overcome her flaws on another planet, having to admit when she is wrong, and take the punishment it requires. It's a bit moot when she gets back onto the team and continues to follow her heart, but it's still more than I'm used to seeing from these sort of films.
Visually GORGEOUS. Great songs of course, well animated, only a couple stiff movements in distance shots. The character development for Barbie, the King, and Sal-Lee had to be done quickly and is handled surprisingly well. I especially like at the end when she is given the title of Princess, it isn't because she was secretly a princess and hidden away on her planet to keep her safe until she was needed, nor do her magical birth powers have some big amazing reason to be there or are tightly woven into the story's integral plot, they just are and are handy to have. Her unique abilities are noted but not made a big deal of, and this is by far one of the best entries I've seen in the series. The fact they have Lindsay Sterling doing one of the songs as well is pretty cool. Yes it's the best song in the soundtrack, of course it is.
I'm not sure how much kids would like this though, honestly, they may get a bit bored because it isn't zany adventures and big stupid villainous sidekicks doing slapstick, but if you're looking for a good Barbie flick and like outer space themes, this one is surprisingly good and diverges a bit from the norm, while still maintaining the idea of Barbie and making sure there are enough characters and outfits to sell toys, which is the main point.
First and foremost, Barbie's home hairstyle is a neat take on the 'shaved side of her head' without actually doing that, just a tight side braid. The characters are interesting and easy to understand, although the one male in the team seems to just be there for comedic relief, which is sad.
This movie, compared to others in the line, offers more interesting ideas and theories, and more unique characters. The gravity twins whose faces glow when they're embarrassed, the translucent arms, the king who seems like he's going to be the antagonist but is more of a "trying in the wrong way" sort who has to learn his lesson, yet maintains his attitude until the end, even after admitting he was wrong, the champion hoverboarder who subtly learns she may be the best hoverboarder, but she isn't exactly the leader type, and Barbie herself trying to overcome her flaws on another planet, having to admit when she is wrong, and take the punishment it requires. It's a bit moot when she gets back onto the team and continues to follow her heart, but it's still more than I'm used to seeing from these sort of films.
Visually GORGEOUS. Great songs of course, well animated, only a couple stiff movements in distance shots. The character development for Barbie, the King, and Sal-Lee had to be done quickly and is handled surprisingly well. I especially like at the end when she is given the title of Princess, it isn't because she was secretly a princess and hidden away on her planet to keep her safe until she was needed, nor do her magical birth powers have some big amazing reason to be there or are tightly woven into the story's integral plot, they just are and are handy to have. Her unique abilities are noted but not made a big deal of, and this is by far one of the best entries I've seen in the series. The fact they have Lindsay Sterling doing one of the songs as well is pretty cool. Yes it's the best song in the soundtrack, of course it is.
I'm not sure how much kids would like this though, honestly, they may get a bit bored because it isn't zany adventures and big stupid villainous sidekicks doing slapstick, but if you're looking for a good Barbie flick and like outer space themes, this one is surprisingly good and diverges a bit from the norm, while still maintaining the idea of Barbie and making sure there are enough characters and outfits to sell toys, which is the main point.