Barbie Christmas Story – Barbie in a Christmas Carol (2008)

Directed by: William Lau | 75 minutes | animation, family | Original voice cast: Kelly Sheridan, Morwenna Banks, Melissa Lyons, Prudence Edwards, Leanne Araya, Kandyse McClure, Shauntia Fleming, Kathleen Barr, Pam Hyatt, Tabitha St Germain, Lisa Roth, Gwynyth Walsh, Kelly Bixby, Amelia Thripura Henderson, Michael Ann Angone Fabrice Grover, Tim Fett, Shannon Chan-Kent, Luke Smith, Anthony Fett, Melissa Lloyd, Morgan Roff, Terry Klassen

A story that has served as a source of inspiration for film adaptations (as well as theatre, opera, radio and television productions) since 1910 is Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. The book, which came out at a time when Christmas traditions were no longer taken seriously, became an instant hit and helped to bring back the Christmas spirit: people were touched by the story and the popular Victorian writer also succeeded this time successfully showcased in his social critique. Thanks to the enormous popularity of the story, there have been countless film adaptations: one of the best-loved versions is the one from 1951, with Alastair Sim as Ebeneezer Scrooge.

However, because the story lends itself perfectly to a free adaptation, there are also variations by, for example, The Muppets, Rowan Atkinson “Blackadder” and Mickey Mouse. It goes without saying that not every version is equally successful. In 2008 Universal Studios Home Entertainment released a CGI version with none other than Barbie as Scrooge. It may sound strange, but screenwriter Kevin VanHook has done an amazing job of building a good story around it that will appeal to little Barbie fans and that they can identify with. Like previous Barbie films, ‘Barbie Christmas Story’ (‘Barbie in a Christmas Carol’) is structured as a frame story.

It’s Christmas Eve. Barbie is about to leave for a Christmas bauble held to raise money for a hospital, but her little sister Shelly doesn’t want to come. Shelly prefers to stay at home to celebrate Christmas Eve in the traditional way: baking cookies, drinking chocolate milk and receiving special presents. Barbie decides her sister needs a life lesson and tells her the story of spoiled selfish Victorian opera singer Eden Starlet. Eden is a diva with quite a few notes to her singing, although the beautiful star is very popular with her audience, she is not grateful for her success and she treats her employees outrageously. She demands that they keep working – even during the Christmas season – to practice her new show. One of these employees is Catherine, who was Eden’s girlfriend when they were little girls. When Eden and her fat cat Chuzzlewit (Dickens connoisseurs recognize this nod to the English writer’s work) have fallen asleep at home, Eden is suddenly visited by her aunt’s chain-wrapped ghost, who warns her that she will be visited by her aunt. three other ghosts.

Connoisseurs of the story will no doubt know what follows and the story offers no real surprises for most adults and even children who have seen one of the other youth-oriented ‘Christmas Carol’ films. ‘Barbie Christmas Story’ is a very nice movie in the series of ‘Barbie’ movies. The CGI again looks reasonably neat and the colors have been adapted to the story (not candy pink and purple for once). The story has plenty of momentum and humor. In addition, there are a number of nice Christmas songs that will get you in the mood. Of course, the various ‘eerie’ plot elements have been adapted for the young viewers, for example the Ghost of Christmas Future Eden “only” offers a glimpse into a life of poverty, but perhaps that is enough to frighten little ones and realize that Eden really needs to change. Nice movie to watch with the kids around Christmas!