Barbie in the Pink Shoes (2013)
On November 10, 2023 by CrescentBarbie in the Pink Shoes is a return to form with a dance movie after a long departure from the genre. Barbie remains just as strong even after the hiatus though, and Pink Shoes proudly stands with the greats of Barbie’s dancing history. It might be strange, but it loves that uniqueness more than anything and takes it to wonderful places.
Story
Pink Shoes follows Kristen, a ballet dancer struggling to match up to her competitor, Tara. After disobeying her instructor and breaking her shoes as a result, Kristen goes to find a new pair with her best friend, Hailey. They uncover a pair of magical shoes that transport them into the world of ballet. As she tries to find her way back home, Kristen fights against the Ice Queen and discovers who she wants to be as a dancer.
I’ll be the first to admit that Pink Shoes has a very strange story. The ballets it chooses to adapt are Giselle and Swan Lake. Unlike the Barbie movie that covers Swan Lake though, Pink Shoes doesn’t shy away from the tragedy of the story. In fact, the bad endings of both ballets are discussed frankly. In a movie for children, that’s surprisingly dark. Pink Shoes counters it with a striking and strong sense of humor that keeps things interesting from beginning to end.
Pink Shoes also touts great pacing, and its character writing is sublime. The banter between Kristen and Hailey is very well written and really convinces you that they’re best friends. The humor is top notch, helping to make the darker source material feel threatening but still tame enough to work as a children’s film. The story might be wild and bizarre, but Pink Shoes leans into it and has a fun time doing so.
The movie’s story is strange but very enjoyable, and the humor is a large part of that.
Story: 8.5/10
Characters
Kristen is a very fun leading character, and her reckless passion is the primary reason for it. She’s caught up in having fun and enjoying herself, and it’s certainly infectious. Kristen learns to focus after realizing her friend is in danger though, and it helps to center her growth as a character too. She finds a way to be shamelessly herself by the end of the story, and it only makes you root for her more.
Hailey is great to have around too. She’s not only the perfect foil to Kristen but also very funny in the darker moments of these tragic ballets. I love Hailey and Kristen’s dynamic, and I don’t think this movie would be nearly as fun as it is without their interactions.
The other characters are all adaptations of their real world selves when in the ballet world. The talent scouts appear as Albrecht and Hilarion, and the two are an amazing comedic pair. Adapting Tara, her father, and Dillon into Swan Lake is perfect too, and while they’re more serious than Albrecht and Hilarion, they’re still whimsical enough to feel right at home. The Ice Queen is a perfect match for Natasha, and she brings the best out in Kristen as an antagonist. I love just about everything here. The characters may not be particularly deep, but they’re still loads of fun to watch.
The only complaint I have is from Tara. I don’t understand why she changed her tune so significantly. It feels out of place for a wide variety of reasons. I know we’re supposed to just suspend our belief and go with it, but I still think it needs mentioning.
As a whole though, Pink Shoes has a very strong and incredibly comedic cast.
Characters: 8/10
World Building
Pink Shoes has a very strange world to match its strange story. Every ballet coexists in the same world within the alternate universe. I love seeing them interact with each other through the Ice Queen, and her actions both establish stakes and a sense of unity between the different ballets. I do wish we got to see more of other ballets such as Nutcracker though, especially since it is teased in one scene with the Ice Queen. The pink shoes themselves are explained just enough to make sense while still feeling vague enough to leave a few details up to audience interpretation, especially with the ending.
The only real question I have here comes from Tara’s sudden change of heart. I don’t know what happened to her for her attitude to change so drastically between the opening and ending of the movie. It’s welcome, of course, but it does leave a few questions open for the final few sequences.
Aside from a few nitpicks, the world of Pink Shoes is as wild as it is enjoyable in all its crossover glory.
World Building: 8/10
Themes
The theme of Pink Shoes is to listen to the beat of your heart and keep on dancing. In other words, don’t let anyone stop you from being yourself. Both phrasings of this theme work perfectly for Kristen’s story. I have to dock this theme a few points though for just being song lyrics. It works better here than in any other film that does it, but it still needs to be mentioned. The theme is strong aside from that though.
Themes: 7.5/10
Production
Many Barbie movies that revolve around dancing use motion capture to get the moves just right. Pink Shoes continues this tradition but with all the new technology that has developed in the decade of these movies being made. The film looks amazing, and the dancing animations in particular are something to admire. It goes a long way to bringing the dance sequences to life.
I absolutely adore the music here too. The orchestral arrangements back up the dance sequences expertly. I especially love the soundtrack to Kristen’s final face-off against the Ice Queen. The voice acting is incredible too, and it feels like everything here just works together.
My only real critique here is that the central song, “Keep On Dancing,” is a little bit on the nose. The lyrics don’t feel as interesting as some past Barbie songs have. It’s still a good song, of course, but I wish there was a bit more to it.
The production of Pink Shoes is widely amazing, and the music in particular is special in a way few other Barbie soundtracks are.
Production: 9/10
Overall
Barbie in the Pink Shoes is a bizarre but very fun movie. It’s unlike anything Barbie has done before or since, and it’s very enjoyable from beginning to end. This is the kind of movie I would suggest you watch with friends. The hilarity only increases with others around. Either way though, I definitely recommend Pink Shoes.
Overall: 8.4/10
Silly Superlative: Barbie movie with the most transformation sequences
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