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Its the kind of montage that captures the breezy pleasures of summer itself.
Ken tags along because Barbie is his sun, moon, and emotional center.
(For the record, that the Academy looks atBarbieand only rewards Ken isnt irony.
Its also not true;America Ferrerais nominated for her supporting performance in the film as well.
There is a well of understanding behind Goslings portrayal of himboism.
Physical stillness was key to his character, whose anger was always roiling beneath his surface.
She makes for a genius straight man, matching Goslings zany preening with wide-eyed innocence and sweetness.
Barbie is now tasked with undoing what hes wrought.
She says she now wants to be his long-term, long-distance, low-commitment, casual girlfriend.
He rebuffs her at first, despite clearly still eager for her approval.
He rests his considerable bicep atop some saloon-style doors, flexing to double-check Barbie catches his best angles.
She steps closer: kindly.
We dont see Goslings face when he makes the exclamation, but joy glimmers in his voice.
Ken may be living a life of plastic, but for Gosling the emotionality is all real.
If Robbies face always brims with sincerity, Gosling lets us in on the joke.
But for all the actors silliness, there is an undercurrent of ache to his character.
What is a man without the harmful, corrosive effects of the patriarchy that imprisons us all?
The last scene Barbie and Ken share distills what makes their interlocking performances such a pleasure to behold.
In Barbies Dreamhouse now restored alongside the matriarchy Ken still struggles with his identity.
I only exist in the warmth of your gaze, he tells Barbie, ripe with need.
Maybe its time to discover who Ken is, Barbie advises.
Maybe its Barbieandits Ken.
Ken, still down bad, cant help but make a move.
In one fluid motion, Gosling cradles and dips Robbie.
It works because Gosling commits to every syllable of the revelation that follows: Ken is me.
