Trying to be “special” is hard work

Foodie Love, is a story about two people who find each other through a dating app for singletons who love gastronomy. “He” and “She” like each other, but have a strange way of showing it.

Isabel’s Coixet’s characters feel forced. Their quirks are immediately introduced. They drink specialty espresso with orange slices. They enjoy “real” food.

The female character can’t afford rent, yet she’s dining in Michelin-star restaurants.

Both characters love classic, black-and-white films. She loves Japan, and he organizes colorful socks in his drawers. As viewers, we should perceive these characters as unique. Special. Their likes and dislikes aren’t common. “He” and “She” are a rarity. Hard to come by. They don’t like what everybody else likes.

You can’t like Barbie and be special

In an interview, film director Coixet said that Barbie, the film, was only made to sell dolls. I don’t think she even went to see the film. Perhaps, Greta Gerwig’s social commentary flew above her head.

It’s fine if you don’t like the film or the doll. But to say the film was a marketing campaign to sell Barbies? That might be an added benefit. Yet, the film is so much more.

Barbie, the doll, has always been under scrutiny. “She’s responsible for women being bimbos”, “She made women feel insecure”, and “She set impossible beauty standards”.

Let’s blame it all on the doll. Not the patriarchy.

I played with Barbie my entire childhood. I’m a UX researcher with two masters under my belt. I am no bimbo, thank you very much. Even if I was, is Barbie to blame? Also, what’s wrong with being a bimbo?

Boys who grew up playing with G.I. Joe and other action figures don’t face such scrutiny. Tons and tons of films showcase violence and the male hero, who do you see up in arms? Adult men collect Marvel and DC toys, no one says a word. But, “we” lose our minds because a film about a doll is made for women.

I digress. Why must a person have an unorthodox taste to be considered special? What’s so wrong with liking “mainstream” things?