The noise in a movie doesn't reflect the gem (Barbie vs Elements)

First, I want to clarify what we mean when we say a film is underrated or overrated.

An underrated film is one that doesn't receive the attention or recognition it truly deserves.

Conversely, an overrated film is one that receives more fame and praise than it actually deserves.

That said, I want to discuss how Barbie doesn't deserve all the fame and praise it received, while Elements, released the same year (2023), deserved much more recognition.

Barbie attempts to address patriarchy and other social issues, but in my opinion, it ends up being a more empty film than it seems. The casting choices also didn't seem entirely successful to me: Margot Robbie is an incredibly talented actress, but I feel this role didn't allow her to showcase her full potential. The same goes for Ryan Gosling, who is a great actor, but in this story, his character feels more like a caricature than a genuine critique. In short, I find Barbie to be a visually beautiful film, but lacking in substance.

I think a large part of its success came from nostalgia and the doll's fans, more than from its cinematic quality. Those of us who didn't grow up with Barbie or don't have that emotional connection find it hard to find a profound message. The same thing happens with video game adaptations or cult series: if you're not part of the core audience, it's difficult to connect. That's why I think Barbie is somewhat overrated.

On the other hand, I found Elements to be a much more sensitive and heartfelt film. It touches on important themes like migration, acceptance, and the value of differences. Unfortunately, it wasn't released at the best time for Pixar: the studio had just come off missteps like Lightyear and Strangeworld, and it also had very little publicity. This meant that many people didn't even give it a chance.

Even so, Elements is a visually beautiful story with a sincere and universal message. If it had been released around the same time as Encanto, it would undoubtedly have been much more successful.

In short, I'm not saying Barbie is a bad movie, I simply think it doesn't manage to resonate with all audiences. And when a film doesn't achieve that, it doesn't deserve so much praise. Elements, on the other hand, achieved it without so much fanfare, but with much more heart.

Sometimes, the films that shine brightest aren't the ones that make the most noise, but the ones that know how to touch the heart.