Bottom line:: Barbie : A Fashion Fairytale tells a story that little fashionistas will love with an overall positive message about standing up for oneself and not giving up. However, this Barbie movie has elements that are more mature than some Barbie movies, a breakup with Ken due to a misunderstanding, for example.
MPAA Rating: NRGenre: Animated
Guide Age Recommendation: 7+
Runtime: Approx. 83 minutes
Barbie : A Fashion Fairytale - Overview
Barbie, an actress, is know for choosing high quality movies to star in. She has high standards for herself and her projects, but when she voices her concerns over the direction her current project is taking, the director fires Barbie on the spot. What a bad day!
But that's not even the worst of it, Barbie receives a cold phone call from her boyfriend, Ken, who breaks up with her without explanation. Confused and sad, Barbie decides to make a surprise visit to her aunt Millicent at her design house in Paris.
When she gets to Paris, Barbie is shocked to find that Millicent's design house is about to be sold, and her aunt's business is to be shut down. Barbie knows that Millicent is still a great designer, and with the help of three flairies (fairies with a flare for fashion), Barbie comes up with a plan to help not only her aunt, but a few others as well along the way.
Barbie : A Fashion Fairytale - Guide Review for Parents
I remember the first time I reviewed a Barbie movie; it was totally different than I had expected. I heard "Barbie" and immediately thought the movie would be shallow and focused on immodest fashion that would encourage little girls to grow up faster than they should. Although the animation wasn't stellar, I was pleasantly surprised at Barbie's modest dresses and the very positive message, and I continued to be impressed by subsequent titles, but not this one.
Wow. A breakup with Ken. These movies are animated on a level for 4-7 year-olds, who do not need to be thinking about breaking up with boyfriends. The film is way above the level of the target age group on several counts, and if the producers are trying to appeal to an older age group, it's not going to happen with mediocre animation and a name like "Fashion Fairytale."
That all being said, little girls will still love the movie. It isn't hard to suck little girls in with a Barbie movie that includes funky, fashionista flairies and slew of sparkly dresses. If you ask my little girls, they will tell you that Barbie : A Fashion Fairytale deserves four glamorous stars, but as a parent, I give it two, begrudgingly.
Barbie : A Fashion Fairytale - Bonus Features Include:
- Outtakes
- I Can Be...A Fashion Designer
- "Life Is a Fairytale" Music Video
- The Ultimate Barbie Party
- Trailer Gallery
