Recently, actor Nadia Jamil took to Twitter to share her disdain upon experiencing Barbie. Jamil spoke about the “cringe moments” she noticed throughout the film, tweeting a review of sorts of Greta Gerwig’s new offering. Listing everything she found wrong with the film, Jamil concluded, “Loudly stereotyping the worst of shallow elitism and the worst aspects of Americanism. Don’t bother.”
However, the actor seems to have irked many fans of the film, who were quick to point out that she missed the satirical addressing of the very issues she highlighted. Twitter users took to the actor’s post to highlight how her viewing experience differed greatly from their own.
I’d like 2 share a few of my cringe moments while watching #Barbie. I’d also like 2 say the ONLY reason I wasted my money on it was because @govtofpunjabpk banned it😂
1/ “Pregnant doll is just too weird” This doll is shown twice & mocked both times.
Being pregnant is the most… pic.twitter.com/8wjMP4VRFz— Nadia Jamil (@NJLahori) July 25, 2023
“Nadia Jamil missed the whole point of the movie,” bemoaned one user of the microblogging site. “[She] has interpreted it like incel men.” Another user wrote, “You missed the entire point. It’s a satirical take on beauty standards perpetuated by ‘Stereotypical Barbie,’ which is Robbie’s character’s name. The [over-the-top] manner in which this is conveyed is to highlight the absurdity of these notions. Her entire journey is one of unlearning.”
@NJLahori missed the whole point of the movie😭. Has interpreted it like incel men 🙄 Tsk, tsk.
— Brown Paki Rainbow 🌈 (@Diaspora_Les) July 25, 2023
You missed the entire point. It’s a satirical take on beauty standards perpetuated by ‘Stereotypical Barbie,’ which is the Robbie’s character’s name. The OTT manner in which this is conveyed is to highlight the absurdity of these notions. Her entire journey is one of unlearning
— Sajeer Shaikh (@sajeershaikh) July 25, 2023
Yet another Twitter user highlighted their respect for the star before stating, “I love you but seems to me you missed the whole point of the movie. This movie was a dream and I loved every bit of it. Having grown up playing with Barbie, having her as my favourite toy, this movie was relatable in more ways than just a few. Each to her own I guess.”
Omg no, I love you but seems to me you missed the whole point of the movie. This movie was a dream and I loved every bit of it. Having grown up playing w/ #Barbie, having her as my favorite toy, this movie was relatable in more ways than just a few.
Each to her own I guess 🙏🏼💕
— Humeira♦️حمیراء (@humeiraajaz) July 25, 2023
One more user took to Twitter to air their concerns with Jamil’s take on the film. “This is one of the worst reviews I’ve read on the film. You clearly missed out on how some of the monologues went or how one woman gave strength to another one, or the fact that despite the cellulite, Barbie felt strong to make a choice on what future she wanted.” Another wrote, “Nadia ma’am, it sounds like you stopped watching the movie after the first five minutes and started typing your essay.”
this is one of the worst reviews i’ve read on the film, you clearly missed out on how some of the monologues went or how one woman gave strength to another one, or the fact that despite the cellulite ‘barbie’ felt strong to make a choice on what future she wanted….
— Sarwat Ayub (@sashayub) July 25, 2023
Nadia ma’am, it sounds like you stopped watching the movie after the first five mins and started typing your essay
— Musirah (@mfarr0) July 25, 2023
However, there were those that agreed with Jamil as well, or gained some form of insight from her tweet. “Thank you for this, needed to be said!” penned one user. “You are so right. These are wrong messages to kids!” said another.
Thank you for this…needed to be said!
— Sal (@Salma_T) July 25, 2023
You are so right. These are wrong message to kids!
— Mona (@Maimoona72) July 25, 2023
To put an end to the whole debacle, Jamil wrote in another tweet, “To all [lovely children] mocking, abusing and insulting me, because I didn’t like some commercial cult offering from [America[, I send love, prayers, and hope, that they learn to listen to different opinions with tolerance and a little more respect. And, for your information, even if I am the personification of stupidity, and the joke is lost on me, in my humble opinion, it’s still a really boring film.”
😂
To all Pyaara Putars mocking, abusing and insulting me, because I didn’t like some commercial cult offering from Amreekaa, I send sooooo much love, duas, and hope, that they learn to listen to different opinions with tolerance and a little more respect.
And fyi even if I…
— Nadia Jamil (@NJLahori) July 25, 2023
Interestingly, Barbie is being lauded globally as a vital feminist offering. However, there is truth in the fact that different individuals engage with media offerings according to their own worldview, context, and perspective. This entire ordeal highlights the importance of agreeing to disagree with respect.
Have something to add? Share it in the comments