Parents' Guide to

Barbie: A Fashion Fairytale

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Product tie-ins overshadow this fashion travel adventure.

Movie NR 2010 83 minutes
Barbie: A Fashion Fairytale Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 8+

Based on 10 parent reviews

ashlinconn
ashlinconn Adult
February 28, 2021
age 2+

One of my favorites!

This movie was and still is one of my favorites to watch. Although many of these reviews claim it's only about materialism, it is so much more than that. In this movie Barbie is fighting to keep a family business open. I never got the whole "consumerism" lesson when watching it, all I got from the movie was that it was lighthearted and fun to watch.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
tash 29
tash 29 Adult
July 16, 2020
age 3+

Barbie in a Fashion Fairytale

Honestly, I love this movie! It inspires creativity and illustrates the importance of hard work. A lot of people have said it was too shallow, but in my opinion it appeals to a kids love of pretty pink things. It illustrates that forgiveness is incredibly important and that hard work at something that you are passionate about will lead to great results. They could have made things a little less pink and sparkly however. I love how it sets up a character back-story for Barbie in a Fairy Secret.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 10 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Barbie is starring in a movie about the Princess and the Pea, when she is fired from the set because she has expressed her opinions. Voices on the Internet slam her performances and she decides to quit her career as an actress. To top things off, Ken breaks up with her over the phone, so she decides to take drastic action and visit her Aunt Millicent in Paris. With a little help from three "flairies," she saves Aunt Millicent's fashion house by helping to design a new fashion line.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (10):
Kids say (10):

Barbie has gone from star of the Nutcracker, to Musketeer, to problem solver in her movie career, but this movie finds her dumbed down and shallow. She says things like "wickedly mindblowing," "mega huge," and "beyond ridonkulously" when expressing her excitement. The cutesy content is a bit over the top: the scene depicting Barbie flying on an airplane to Paris with her poodle, Sequin, sharing a laugh in the seat next to her is one thing. Watching Sequin the poodle sit at a sewing machine to create a fashion ensemble is another.

There could have been some moments of inspiration in this movie, but unfortunately, it depends a little too much on magic of selling Barbie products, and not enough on substance.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether this movie focuses more on material stuff than other Barbie movies. Which Barbie movies have more meaning? Which Barbie movies are about shopping?

  • Barbie and her friends are super skinny and have perfect hair and teeth. Do all teens look this way? Read more about how girls are affected by the images that they see in movies and on TV.

  • Why has Barbie given up on her acting career? Why has Millicent given up on her designing career? How can critics influence the way artists and performers value themselves?

Movie Details

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