Part 7/11:

Michael Sera’s inclusion was highlighted as notable because he still uses a flip phone, symbolizing perhaps a more grounded figure amidst a sea of spectacle. Sera also shared a humorous anecdote about receiving a “no-strings-attached” disc of Instinct, providing some backstory to his character.

Criticisms of Over-Intellectualization

A recurrent theme in the discussion is frustration with Hollywood’s tendency to overanalyze or intellectualize entertainment.

Cody criticizes the effort to make the Barbie film into a “deeper” or “more feminist” narrative, arguing it misses the point of the character and the franchise’s roots. She writes: