Genre: Childrens/Christmas/Animated
Age Recommendation: 4-8 years
Runtime: Approx. 76 minutes
Barbie in a Christmas Carol - Summary
Barbie stars in her first ever holiday movie in this remake of the classic Dickens tale. Eden Starling (played by Barbie) is a glamorous singer in Victorian England. Eden is surrounded by friends who work for her, including Katherine, her best friend and talented costume designer. Eden, however, is anything but friendly, and she selfishly forces everyone to work on Christmas day. Eden seems to have proven true the old adage her Aunt Marie had taught her: "In a selfish world, the selfish succeed."
Eden's success had definitely gone to her head, but on Christmas Eve night she comes home to a surprise visitor -- the Ghost of Aunt Marie. The same Aunt who raised her and helped her become the adored singer that she is, tells Eden that she must change her life, and that she will be visited by three spirits that very night. The Spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future come to Eden and take her on an incredible journey, but her cold heart may be too frozen to warm...even for them.
Barbie in a Christmas Carol - Guide Review
Children's versions of the timeless story A Christmas Carol are some of my favorite holiday movies. I love the idea of a selfish soul learning the true meaning of Christmas and discovering the joy that comes from giving. My favorite part, though, is seeing the thrill that comes as the "Scrooge" wakes up on Christmas morning and becomes giddy with excitement at the thought that there is still time to do good and help others.
I never thought that I would see Barbie play a Scrooge! But the writers did a good job coming up with a story that is Barbie-centered and fun for little girls. Even the "Tiny Tim" character is a female in this version. Kids will be enchanted by the story of Eden, and by all of the gorgeous gowns and fancy hairdos in the movie. Barbie in a Christmas Carol also has all of the charming elements that make the story sweet, and Barbie also applies the lesson for kids as she explains the story to her little sister, Kelly.
The dress that Barbie wears is a little bit sexier than the fairly modest attire usually shown in Barbie movies. A large slit down the front of the dress covered only by shear material is overboard for a movie aimed at young girls. This holiday movie does continue the tradition of Barbie movies that provide kids with magical entertainment and a strong moral lesson, however. In Barbie in a Christmas Carol, the lesson is about the importance of selflessness, and the wonderful feelings that come from true charity will come through to viewing children and have them excited about helping others.
Barbie in a Christmas Carol - Topics to Talk About
- Older kids who have seen other versions of A Christmas Carol can compare and contrast this version of the tale with others. Does the movie contain the same moral as the original? Who were the parallel characters to Scrooge, Cratchit, Tiny Tim, and others? Did Eden learn the same lesson as Scrooge? Which version did you like better and why?
- How do some people, or even ourselves, in modern day time adopt some "Scrooge-like" attitudes during the holidays? How can we maintain a spirit of giving? Why is this charitable spirit important?
- Why did Katherine stick by Barbie even during the times when she was acting rude and selfish? How did Katherine help Barbie? How powerful is the impact of setting a good example in life?
Barbie in a Christmas Carol - DVD Bonus Features
- Barbie & the Diamond Castle Secret Scene
- Christmas Carol-oke Party
- "Jingle Bells" Music Video
- Collecting Dreams: The Making of the 2008 Barbie Collector Holiday Doll
