A live action Barbie movie is finally in the works, and guess who’s starring? That’s right, folks. Amy Schumer.
Before you say, “Wait! Barbie is the antithesis of radical feminism!” understand that this is no regular Barbie movie. In fact, Schumer will play the role of the imperfect doll who is banished to the real world for not fitting in. After learning to embrace her flaws and celebrate her uniqueness, Schumer returns to Barbieland to communicate the message.
Entertainment media reacted to the news with glee.
“Considering Schumer is the epitome of the female role model right now, encouraging feminism and gender equality,” E!’s Kendall Fisher gushed, “she's definitely the perfect fit for this role.”
Vulture’s Halle Kiefer agreed, but wished that Schumer could bring a smidgeon of her characteristic raunchiness to the film. “Amy Schumer is, of course, the perfect casting choice to turn the rigid plastic world of Barbie on its hollow, beautiful head,” she enthused, “but oh, can't you just imagine an R-rated Barbie movie? A little something for the bad moms?”
Deadline’s Mike Fleming Jr. also cited Schumer’s “growing stature as a role model for female empowerment,” while The Hollywood Reporter’s Borys Kit noted her “brand of saucy comedy” might “clash with Mattel’s pristine image.”
That’s an understatement. In an April 2015 Inside Amy Schumer sketch, little girls were seen playing with “Amy,” a doll bearing resemblance to a Cabbage Patch Kid. During the 90 second video, the kids spiked the toy’s tea with liquor, woke her up from bed with a naked stranger, looked for condom wrappers on the floor by the doll’s bed, and emptied out her purse to find birth control.
The caption to the comedy central sketch read: “The official Amy Schumer doll comes equipped to make all the mistakes that Amy makes in real life.”
That’s right, ladies and gents, the “epitome of the female role model” coming to screens near you!
