Barbie was a constant presence and friend during my childhood. I had a bunch of Barbies and a handful of Ken dolls along with her townhouse, a car, an RV and a decent selection of clothes.

Taking care of my dolls was important to me so I never abused them, cut their hair or even permanently separated them from the clothes they came in. Each doll was put away wearing her shoes too.

I liked Barbie because she had so many different careers, talents and adventures. She could be a business woman, a scientist and even President. She could be a teacher or a NASCAR driver. How exciting to think that any girl could grow up to be anything she wanted!

Yet, a lot of people criticize this doll for setting unrealistic expectations for physical beauty and life accomplishments. I have never agreed with the complaints. After all, who wants to play with a frumpy doll? What’s wrong with a pretty doll? What’s wrong with girls being told they can be anything they want to be?

Of course, then I grew up and realized the world doesn’t really work that way and that few women are able to achieve positions of leadership and power. Still, Barbie holds such a special place in my heart that I continued collecting them for several years as a teenager and college student. The dolls are still in their boxes on shelves in my craft room.

I was thrilled last year to hear there was a movie coming, one geared toward grown ups.

This week, a friend and I checked it out at the theater, happily becoming absorbed in the bright, happy shades of pink and all kinds of flamboyant costumes. It’s eye candy with a kick because there’s some truly smart dialog and slightly exaggerated but all too realistic scenarios.

In Barbie Land, the Barbies are in charge and the Kens are more or less accessories. In other words, they don’t do much or get a lot of respect. But Barbie has to leave this idyllic land to visit reality. Here she learns that all her accomplishments in Barbie Land are not a reflection of what’s happening in the real world.

There’s a lot more to the story but I don’t want to ruin it for you. If you like Barbie, this is a great movie for you. If you hate Barbie, I think you’ll still like it because there’s some degree of poking fun at Mattel’s missteps and at the doll in general.

I suspect a lot of men will feel uncomfortable or may even hate it. Most women I know who have seen the movie have found it both reassuring and empowering. Some people I know, who haven’t seen it, are complaining because it’s about a toy but isn’t a kids movie. Interestingly, it seems no worse than a lot of stuff you see on tv and the internet these days and things that go on in American households.

Sadly, they are missing the point.

Barbie isn’t just for little girls. Sometimes the big girls need her too and she certainly made me feel better. Everything in this world doesn’t need to be accessible to kids. It’s ok to stretch the boundaries of the toy we all played with decades ago and to catch up with her as adults.

This isn’t the best movie I have ever seen. However, it is a great movie because it’s fun and sad, thought provoking and empowering. I like a fresh perspective and a reason to think. You’ll be thinking about this movie long after you leave the theater.