Barbie: Epic Road Trip
Barbie: Epic Road Trip
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that the animated interactive movie Barbie: Epic Road Trip sees Barbie and Ken taking their relationship to the next level, with one iteration ending in a kiss and others featuring hugs and hand-holding. Barbie and her best friend Barbie are considering moving across the country to pursue a career, and the film has messages about women pursuing careers versus relationships, destiny versus dreams, and enjoying the journey as much as the destination. On their road trip, the gang has a few incidents, including falls and near-crashes, with no injuries. A scene where two characters lose control of their hang-glider could be a little scary for young or sensitive kids, as could a scene where a character tells a ghost story. A vampire seems to appear from nowhere outside a creepy mansion.
What's the Story?
In BARBIE: EPIC ROAD TRIP, Barbie (voiced by America Young) and her best friend Barbie (Tatiana Varria) pack up the pink van and head east from Malibu to Brooklyn. The two have been invited to audition as back-up singers for a well-known musician. Along the way, they will drop foster dogs off at forever homes found through sister Skipper's (Kirsten Day) new app. Along for the ride, Ken (Ritesh Rajan) will attempt to tell Barbie how he really feels about her.
Is It Any Good?
Considering the likely anticipated audience of younger kids, the portrayal of responsible, generous, and entrepreneurial young adults here is welcome. The interactivity of Barbie: Epic Road Trip also offers viewers an active and fun role in selecting outcomes for the characters. The narrative is woven together quite smoothly despite a range of alternative options to choose from. In each, Barbie and the gang behave responsibly and kindly, though she does appear to have to choose between love and career in most iterations. One other complaint: the writers could really drop the attempts at slang. Making "Brooklyn" Barbie say things like "cray," "tagging," and "swag" is forced and cringey. The dogs and their foster storyline add some sweetness to the tale.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the main messages for young women that they take away from Barbie: Epic Road Trip.
How do you think an interactive movie works? Did you try multiple options for the characters?
Were there some outcomes you preferred over others? Did you expect the ending to change so much with different choices? Was there one ending or path you liked more than others, and why?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: October 25, 2022
- Cast: America Young, Ritesh Rajan, Tatiana Varria
- Director: Conrad Helten
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Adventures, Brothers and Sisters, Cats, Dogs, and Mice, Friendship
- Run time: 36 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: October 24, 2022
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