Barbie - L'accademia per principesse

At first, I thought it was just another Barbie movie. The same old introduction opening with montage music which just screams: movie from the 2000s. A generic premise we have seen in so many Princess movies before: "The princess was in you the whole time." And the movie even commits to the trope in the end. But truly or just as a subversion?

Midway into the first act, the movie introduces concepts, such as slavery and Portia. It unravels into a rollercoaster of emotions and plot twists, which would just simply fly over the head of any underdeveloped toddler trying to watch a movie such profound as Barbie: Princess Charm School.

This movie is a philosophical masterpiece in disguise. And it will keep you thinking, even days after your initial viewing. What did Porta mean by "Floorcake"? Where did the other fairies disappear to in the third act, were they committing war crimes? And are things truly real, when you can not imagine them?

Anyway, I am returning into your walls.

Barbie: Princess Charm School is never going to be one of my favourite movies, but especially for its target audience it is very charming. It does have some moments of corny dialogue(though most of it has some nice humour that children and adults alike will appreciate), and I do miss Kelly Sheridan, who was always likable and was getting better every time. However, the animation is lovely, fluid and colourful with attention to detail that was most welcome. The music fits perfectly, and is memorable also, and the story is told very nicely with as always a good message and charming as it should be. The characters are on the clichéd side, but likable in alternative to annoying(it's when clichés are annoying when I mind). The voice acting I had little to no problem with. Overall, charming and well-done, not my favourite Barbie movie but despite Sheridan's absence is up there with the better ones. 8/10 Bethany Cox

This was my Favourite movie growing up and it still is!

Barbie stars as Blair Willows, a kind-hearted girl who is chosen to attend Princess Charm School: a magical, modern place that teaches dancing, how to have tea parties, and proper princess manners. Blair loves her classes - as well as the helpful magical sprites and her new friends, Princesses Hadley and Isla. But when royal teacher Dame Devin discovers that Blair looks a lot like the kingdom's missing princess, she turns Blair's world upside down to stop her from claiming the throne. Now Blair, Hadley and Delancy must find an enchanted crown to prove Blair s true identity in this charming and magical princess story!

"Every woman is a princess, only some have the most beautiful crown." Beautiful Barbie movie, plastered dolls, but the story is beautifully magical... A little futile, totally predictable, that evil queen vs kidnapped princess/commoner thing, but everything so cute, that it captivated me, and I watched with emotion and interest. ..

I'm going to give this a 9, not for its standing in the history of cinema, but for the simple fact that it made my three girls really, really happy - and it has good values without being prissy about it.

For girls under the age of 10 it really is entertaining.

The plot is appealing - a girl, Blair Willows, wins a lottery ticket to the Princess Charm School, and discovers her inner strength.

All I can say is we all watched this as a family movie night, and we adults normally phase out fast, but both my wife and I really enjoyed this thoroughly and the kids just loved it - it's fun, and funny, and exciting and even though you know the tie-ins are there it actually stands up as a good kids film in its own right.

Charming? You betcha.