This article contains some mildBarbieandOppenheimerspoilers.
The Barbenheimer has landed!
And it has been fun, hasnt it?
Going to the cinema and seeing people walking the streets in neon pink outfits!
Scrolling through the memes!
Arguing over the merits of different viewing orders (we actuallygot a Wikipedia mentionover our contribution tothat debate).
And yet, it has to be said, going intoOppenheimerthis writer felt a bit uneasy.
It turns out its fine.
But this is not a serious film.
But what if we do take it seriously?
Not justOppenheimer, orBarbiefor that matter, but the wholeBarbenheimeridea?
What it is about is American global power.
InBarbie, the scene ends with a child dashing its baby doll against the rocks.
Because both real histories ultimately begin with something important: an idea from Germany.
For Oppenheimer, that idea was quantum physics.
Originally, the fashion doll was released to tie in with it.
ForOppenheimer, it was nuclear weapons.
Its not hard to see how they equate to global influence.
For Barbie, however, the influence might be subtler but its no less meaningful.
With that awareness, comes awareness of the ideas Barbie represents.
Capitalism-enheimer
It is not hard to see how nuclear bombs or Barbie dolls relate to capitalism.
Is there anyone who better represents the promise of American capitalism than Barbie?
But Will Ferrells CEO character isnt here to rehash his Lord Business character fromThe Lego Movie.
Because ultimately, neither half ofBarbenheimerhas come to bury America; theyve come to praise it.
Warts and All Just Not Too Many
InOppenheimerwe never see the bombs fall on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Our viewpoint is firmly fixed to characters in the United States.
Both are subjective perspectives, neither leave the cast of American characters.
It is certainly weak tea compared to works such as Rod SerlingsCarol for Another Christmas.
But unlikeOppenheimer,Barbiehas put a lot more thought into what its audiences are thinking.
It takes the time to answer actual criticisms its audience may have, rather than shadowboxing straw men.
Are there places where it could have been more radical?
Made its criticism sharper?
One thing that feeds capitalism, war, and the American ideal.
And this occurred because, on a couple of occasions, Oppenheimer bruised his ego.
Oppenheimers own ego is also front and center throughout this entire film.
People are constantly telling him how important he is, how special his vision is.
After the bombs drop, the questions we are asked are, How is Oppenheimer affected by this?
How does he feel about it?
How will people perceive him?
Can he be forgiven?
Barbies plot also hinges on the fragility of the male ego.
Note: This isnt the old take about how if women ran everything, there would be no war.
