‘Barbie in A Christmas Carol’ is Charles Dickens with a Blond Ponytail

The Barbie franchise was two steps ahead of pop culture in 2008 with its release of “Barbie in A Christmas Carol.” The film delivers both the historic, ethical contemplation and whimsical, blond glamor that July’s Barbenheimer phenomenon celebrated. 

While this 15-year-old CGI animated family movie doesn’t grapple with problems of nuclear magnitude, it successfully adapts Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella “A Christmas Carol” for a younger crowd and considers the true meaning of Christmas with signature doll-like flair.

Although it isn’t impressive by today’s standards, the CGI animation is integral to the film’s appeal. The somewhat unnatural movements and airbrushed looks of the figures are reminiscent of real Barbie dolls played with in childhood. The nostalgia evoked is an essential mark of a good Christmas movie.

In this 14th entry into the Barbie film franchise, Barbie (Kelly Sheridan) stars as herself, retelling the story of despicable Eden Starling (Morwenna Banks) to her younger sister Kelly (Amelia Henderson) to remind her of the importance of Christmas spirit.

Eden is a “beautiful, talented and incredibly full of herself” rendition of Ebenezer Scrooge. Victorian London’s premiere opera singer, Eden has a shrill voice and incredible disdain for everyone that’s not her cat, Chuzzlewit, that make her as wildly unlikable as the literary grump she’s based on. 

Musical performances of songs like “Joy to the World” and “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas” check off a major box on the Christmas movie must-have list — festive music, preferably including a performance with a choir of scrappy children. 

When the star condemns her showcase troupe, including childhood friend and costume designer Catherine (Kandyse McLure), to rehearsal on Christmas Day, she is confronted by festive powers. 

Eden is first visited on the night of Christmas Eve by her aunt Marie (Pam Hyatt), who appears bound by mirrors and chains she formed in life, tripping over physical manifestations of the selfishness she instilled in her niece. 

Aunt Marie sends, in true Dickensian fashion, the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future to guide Eden through time in attempts to make the singer right the wrongs that plague her.

Each Spirit is dressed up like a holiday evergreen, with music and magic in tow.

As colorful, swirling portals move Eden through a bleak childhood of repressed joy, a present day where she is detested and a future where she is left with nothing, viewers hear Aunt Marie’s mantra haunt the star: “In a selfish world, the selfish succeed.”

Eden’s journey reminds her of the girlhood love for Christmas that colored her dreary childhood in bold reds, golds and greens. When a cold and gray future sees Eden facing the repercussions of her self-centeredness, she is compelled to grow from her mistakes. 

Both Eden and Kelly find the Christmas Spirit in charity, their willingness to help others a sign of waning selfishness. 

As is the case with many family-oriented holiday movies, “Barbie in A Christmas Carol” spoon-feeds its audience with its thesis, promoting virtues like charity and altruism with obvious dialogue.

The voice actors play into sometimes-cheesy writing with polished, predictable performances. Their embellished inflections would border on being over-the-top if Barbie franchise standards didn’t require the melodrama.

There is no room for ambiguity — vibrant, warm color palettes accompany moments of love and raised spirits, while cool, gray tones are used to paint environments of hopelessness and egotism. The visual choice between selflessness and selfishness is made an easy one.

“Barbie in A Christmas Carol” is a textbook holiday story wrapped in a glittering gold bow. It’s Charles Dickens with a blonde ponytail. 

Those familiar with the Dickens novel will notice the inspiration taken in character names — the ghost of Marley versus the ghost of Marie, for example — and central messages of selflessness and charity. 

A neat 78-minute film packed with festive music, quotable lines and laughs for the whole family, “Barbie in A Christmas Carol” is a fitting movie to watch while baking gingerbread cookies or wrapping presents. Or, perhaps, before being visited by three time-bending Spirits in the night. 

“Barbie in A Christmas Carol” is available to buy through various streaming services.

Featured image courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment