The iconic toy, Barbie, has graced both television screens and countless animated films, captivating young audiences with her diverse roles. However, director Greta Gerwig brings Barbie to life for the first time in a live-action film, offering a fresh perspective on the beloved character.

Interestingly, the title of “best Barbie movie” might not belong to a film featuring Barbie herself. Disney’s 2000 TV movie “Life-Size,” with its themes of self-discovery and female empowerment, arguably captures the essence of Barbie in a unique and compelling way.

While not officially a Barbie film, “Life-Size” captures the essence of the iconic doll with remarkable accuracy. The story revolves around Eve (Tyra Banks), a doll magically brought to life by Casey (Lindsay Lohan). Despite initial resistance, Casey becomes Eve’s guide to navigating the complexities of the real world.

Beyond the lighthearted premise, “Life-Size” tackles surprisingly profound themes. Eve grapples with existential questions about identity and humanity, undergoing a journey of growth rarely seen for a toy character. This, combined with Tyra Banks’ captivating performance, elevates Eve to the status of the ultimate on-screen Barbie, even without the official branding.

‘Life-Size’s Eve Is the Best Barbie Even Though She’s a Knock-Off

Though lacking the official Barbie license, “Life-Size” cleverly channels the spirit of the iconic doll through Eve (Tyra Banks). Beyond the physical resemblance, Eve’s character embodies the core aspects of Barbie. Driven by a desire to inspire young girls, she embarks on a whirlwind journey, showcasing a diverse range of professions – from astronaut to lawyer – that playfully borders on exaggeration.

This career-hopping mirrors Barbie’s extensive and ever-expanding list of occupations. The similarities extend beyond ambition, however. Both Eve and Barbie share a passion for fashion, evident in their vibrant wardrobes and their ability to stay on-trend. They also radiate infectious enthusiasm and an unwavering optimism, further solidifying their connection.

While both Eve and Barbie draw inspiration from conventional portrayals of femininity, it’s crucial to recognize that these portrayals can be limiting and outdated. In “Life-Size,” Eve embodies certain stereotypical beauty standards and experiences constant unwanted male attention, mirroring similar aspects of Barbie.

However, unlike the commercially declining Eve doll, Barbie maintains significant popularity despite facing criticism for unrealistic body image and promoting superficiality. This enduring popularity suggests a complex cultural phenomenon beyond the immediate comparisons.

Despite their problematic elements, the undeniable similarities between Eve and Barbie effectively achieve the filmmakers’ goal of triggering instant audience recognition, drawing a clear connection to the iconic toy.

Feminism and Grief Are Explored In ‘Life-Size’

Life-Size may be based on an odd concept, but it works surprisingly well. The story addresses subjects like femininity and healing from loss, resulting in a deeper film than the plot may suggest. With the girly Eve and tom-boy Casey colliding, they must learn to see the similarities between the two of them.

Eve faces the constant pressure to be perfect throughout Life-Size. She seems to believe that it is required to inspire others, but as she spends time in the real world and fails, she changes her tune. Eve discovers the beauty of imperfections, learns about emotions, and becomes much more human before realizing it’s not the life she wants. Banks’ portrayal of Eve’s journey from a naive doll to a well-rounded and relatable woman is well done and adds the layer of complexity that the character needs.

But not only must Eve learn to be better herself, but she also helps those around her grow. Casey begins Life-Size with unresolved issues surrounding her mother’s death. (Why else would she be attempting to resurrect her?) Over the course of the story, Casey is forced to face her grief through Eve’s arrival.

Casey struggles with her father moving on, especially when he takes an interest in Eve, but the father and daughter are able to make up in the end. And when Eve decides to turn back into a doll, Casey finds the strength to say goodbye to her new friend, like she had to do with her mother. These deep themes explored in Life-Size make the film memorable for more than its outlandish plot.

‘Life-Size’ Allows Eve To Be Human

Life-Size received mixed reviews and, as a TV movie, has no box office numbers to point to either success or failure. But Life-Size did inspire a sequel, Life-Size 2: A Christmas Eve, which premiered in December 2018. Despite the 18 years since the original, the Life-Size sequel caught the attention of fans, who tuned in to help the CEO of her toy line during Christmastime. Since then, there have been rumors of a third Life-Size film, though no concrete news has been released.

Life-Size is unique among Barbie movies, as prior to Gerwig’s Barbie, it was the only one that allowed the doll to be human. When brought to life in the real world, Eve is forced to evolve, making her more dynamic and relatable than other representations of Barbie. The complexity added through her human struggles makes her grow and learn lessons that people can relate to. She’s not perfect, and she knows it. Banks’ performance in Life-Size is a huge part of that. Her portrayal shows the character’s growth from a ditzy doll to a thoughtful and caring woman.

It’s the same reason why we loved Barbie so much. That transition is what makes the character so memorable. When Eve decides to become a doll again, it isn’t to run away from the horrors of real life, but to better accomplish her purpose of helping girls. She uses her experiences to modernize her toy line, solidifying her relevance in both the film’s world and our own. And that’s the point. Life-Size acknowledges the problematic parts of Barbie and attempts to change them, in a way, long before Gerwig’s Barbie did.

Life-Size 2 is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime in the U.S. (Unfortunately, for now, the original Life-Size is not digitally available.)

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