Conservatives are protesting Greta Gerwig's feminist blockbuster 'Barbie' by setting dolls on fire and calling for boycotts

• Some conservatives aren't happy about Greta Gerwig's new blockbuster, "Barbie."
• Several have described the Mattel-backed film as "woke" or "anti-man."

Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" blockbuster has sparked a fiery reaction from some conservative commentators. Some have gone as far as targeting the dolls themselves.

This was the case for Ben Shapiro, who was so irate that he set alight Barbie dolls worth an estimated $69. The stunt was followed by a 43-minute review in which he criticized the film as one of "the most woke movies" he'd ever seen.

"Barbie" has been smashing records and had an impressive $155 million US opening.

The reception, however, has been dramatically mixed after the film's portrayal of gender themes rubbed some commentators the wrong way. Several conservatives have damned the Mattel-backed film as "woke" and "anti-man."

Shapiro's review was loaded with other furious lines, including: "It's as though you were going to make "Toy Story" except the toys are all evil, they're all bad, and you're supposed to hate them and you're supposed to burn them."

Republican Florida congressman Matt Gaetz and his wife Ginger have also criticized the film, despite attending a launch party in Washington DC decked out in pink Barbie-themed outfits.

Ginger Gaetz took to Twitter to express her disappointment about the film's message and called for other viewers to boycott it. "I really wanted to enjoy it, but ended up feeling let down," she said.

"The 2023 Barbie movie, unfortunately, neglects to address any notion of faith or family, and tries to normalize the idea that men and women can't collaborate positively (yuck)," she continued.

Ryan Gosling's portrayal of Barbie's boyfriend, Ken, has also been the subject of ire.

Right-wing media figure Jack Posobiec tweeted a clip of Gosling's song for the film, "I'm Just Ken," calling it "possibly the most anti-male film ever made." Gaetz struck a similar tone, criticizing Gosling's"major beta energy" in the film.

Posobiec declared the film a "man-hating Woke propaganda fest."

TV host Piers Morgan also joined the chorus damning Gerwig's pink-obsessed feature. In an op-ed for the New York Post, Morgan wrote: "If I made a movie mocking women as useless dunderheads, constantly attacking 'the matriarchy,' and depicting all things feminist as toxic bulls–t, I wouldn't just be canceled, I'd be executed."

Tesla boss and self-proclaimed free speech absolutist, Elon Musk, also directed a sneering comment at the film's critique of the patriarchy.

"It you take a shot every time Barbie says the word "patriarchy", you will pass out before the movie ends," Musk said on Twitter, in response to a user's meme.