Barbie was a phenomenon, but the story is strikingly similar to Amy Adam’s fantasy romcom movie, Enchanted. in EnchantedAmy Adams’ character, Giselle, finds herself taken from a fairy-tale world to the “Real world“, where there are no happy endings. Like Barbie’s journey in BarbieGiselle goes through an adventure of self-actualization that leaves Giselle unable to return to who she used to be. BarbieWhich felt so modern and fresh, had a lot in common with EnchantedWhich came out almost two decades ago.
Barbie And Enchanted are both meta-commentaries on feminismA fun gender-bent twist on the traditional hero’s journey. Enchanted was released in 2007 and explores many of the same themes as Greta Gerwig’s acclaimed BarbieBut didn’t receive the same praise because it was marketed as more of a children’s movie than an Oscar-worthy exploration of womanhood. Nevertheless, the similarities between the two projects are undeniable.
Enchanted and Barbie share very similar stories
Barbie and Giselle both go on physical and metaphorical journeys
Barbie starts in Barbieland, a matriarchal utopia, and is forced to enter the “Real world“And finally finds herself unwilling to put herself back in the box she used to be in.” Giselle’s Arcin Enchanted is very similar: Giselle begins her story in Andalusia, an animated kingdom where all she wants is true love’s kiss, but she is pushed into the real world. When the opportunity to return at the end, Giselle realizes that she is not interested in being that girl anymore.
The story beats are similar, as are the emotional arcs of Barbie and Giselle, who are both experiencing the full spectrum of human emotions for the first time. In Barbieland and Andalusia, they are flat characters – superficially fulfilled but without true happiness and choice. When Barbie taps into Gloria’s memories, happy and sad, Barbie says she feels “Painful but good“, wiping away a tear but present for the first time. Giselle similarly becomes enraged at someone’s constant negativity, but then Giselle is delighted by the full force of her feelings. These two scenes highlight the emotional themes that the two movies share.
Barbie’s version of a happy ending is more radical than enchanted
Barbie does not need to find love to find her happy ending
Barbie and Giselle both find self-actualization, however BarbieIt’s more modern, feminist ending is that Barbie does not know what will make her happy. Barbie can’t find an easy answer in love or a job, but she chooses to be a messy person instead of a static doll by staying in the real world. Barbie made the “Happy ending” Writing on his head, in that Barbie’s victory is not a wedding or even a kiss, but a visit to the gynecologist.
Enchanted‘s ending is much more of a conventional happy ending. Giselle is empowered as a modern woman running her own business in the closing montage, and she does much more thinking than singing until the end. however, Her happy ending still has her leaving one Prince Charming for another. At the climactic ball, Giselle is offered an apple that will take her memories of the real world, and although torn, Giselle takes a bite and can only be awakened by true love’s kiss. A more radical end for Enchanted It would be if Giselle wanted to bite the apple at all.
Why is Barbie so much bigger than Enchanted?
Barbie’s success was timing and synergy
Barbie was a huge success: the right star, the right director, and original songs for the Barbie Movie of the biggest singers all came together in a perfect blend. The director Greta Gerwig came away Little womenHer favorite Oscar-winning film. Barbie Hit a tonal sweet spot, being light enough to appeal to viewers looking for a breezy summer comedy yet deep enough to be nominated for multiple Oscars. “Barbenheimer“was a once-in-a-generation organic marketing campaign, and Warner Brothers did an exemplary job pushing that Barbie Was not just a film but an unmissable theater experience.
Enchanted is a movie likely to age well, but its themes are more in traditional Disney princess romance territory, making it less of a broad appeal, four-quadrant movie than Barbie was. Enchanted Is not put in a position to be as big as Barbie. According to writer Bill Kelly, earlier drafts of the script were more R-rated, but the movie was made more “Disney“As Disney-owned Touchstone Pictures bought the script. Disney hired director Kevin Lima, known for A goofy movie And Tarzanwho did not fully exalt the beautiful script.
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Barbie and the Enchanted Box Office Analysis and Critic Score |
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Barbie |
Enchanted |
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Box Office |
$1.4 b |
$340 million |
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Budget |
$145 million |
$85 |
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Rotten tomato score |
88% |
93% |
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Metacritic score |
80% |
75% |
Enchanted had a decent return at the box office, grossing nearly four times its healthy $85 million budget. Enchanted got a direct-to-streaming sequel, DisenchantedIn 2022, that has no impact. While the box office numbers for Enchanted are liberable, BarbieIts box office performance was a staggering achievement at nearly $1.5 billion. Even consider it has double the budget of EnchantedIt is difficult to compare anything to the audience hits for Barbie.