Entertainment- Warning: Minor spoilers ahead for the "Barbie" movie, in theaters now.
- The Motion Picture Association has given "Barbie" a PG-13 rating.
"Barbie" may be a hit with critics, but it may not be entirely suited for children, depending on their age and maturity level.
Greta Gerwig's new movie, in theaters now, is based on the famous doll and its idiosyncratic history. In the movie, a Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) living in Barbie Land begins malfunctioning. So she heads to the real world with her companion Ken (Ryan Gosling) to figure out how to fix herself.
Despite the fact that the doll is marketed to children, the movie seems to be trying to appeal to older audiences who have memories of growing up with Barbie. Plus, The Motion Picture Association has given "Barbie" a rating of PG-13 for suggestive references and brief language, meaning that it's not entirely kid-friendly.
Here's everything we know about the film, so you can decide if your child should see "Barbie."
There are three swear words used in the movie, but one is bleeped out.
The MPA's rating is mainly focused on the brief strong language and suggestive references in the movie. Throughout the movie, there are a few sexual innuendos.
In one scene that can be seen in the trailer, Ken asks to stay over at Barbie's house. "To do what?" she asks, to which he says, "I'm really not sure."
In another scene, Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon) makes a joke about the "smooth blob" Ken is "packing in those shorts."
Most of these jokes will likely go over children's heads.
There are also a few scenes where mild adult language — words like "bitch" and "crap" — is used. In a major scene, the word "motherfucker" is also bleeped out for laughs.
There is mild violence, but it's often used for laughs.
There are also a few scenes with mildly violent fights. In the trailer, we see Barbie punch a human for touching her body without permission. In another scene, seen in the trailer, we see all the Kens fighting each other.
However, the Kens in the battle scene specifically do not use real weapons and the battle comes off more as a joke than as a show of violence.
The movie features heavy themes about gender inequality and death, which parents may want to discuss with their children.
The movie raises many questions about death and the purpose of life, which may be subjects that parents want to discuss with their children before or after they see the movie.
As seen in the trailer, Barbie asks her fellow dolls if they've ever thought about dying. This is a catalyst for Barbie's journey and a key theme as she learns about the real world and mortality.
Gender inequality and the impact of the patriarchy are other key themes within "Barbie," especially when the dolls journey into the real world. This may also prompt questions from younger children.
While children's films actually do sometimes address death (see: last year's hit movie, "Puss In Boots: The Last Wish,") "Barbie" presents this theme more philosophically and existentially, where it's more likely to prompt questions from your child.
"Barbie" is in theaters now.