Firstly, I'd like to start sejak saying that I Cinta the return to the original Barbie movie format. I always adored Barbie telling stories to a younger girl to boast her confidence, and it always ensured the movie was full of brilliant messages and morals.
The Barbie narrator in this is exceedingly likeable and I is the closest thing to what I imagine Barbie would be like if she was a real person. She's kind, caring and intelligent, while also being a little sarcastic and having a sense of fun. She's flawed - but she's clearly an awesome older sister who has a very good heart.
Having Eden as the main character is really refreshing. Focusing on a somewhat unpleasant character that learns to be kind gives a powerful message about redemption and learning to be better. As Barbie herself says "Eden's someone who's making a lot of mistakes, but sometimes we can learn from people who make mistakes" <3
I also find Eden a very understandable character. The audience sympathises with her. Yes, she does bad things, but it is easy to understand why. Her childhood was miserable and selfishness was forced onto her from a very young age. Of course she comes to hate Christmas. It was the one time she was happy, and her aunt takes it away from her. To make matters worse, the same aunt who Eden eventually looked up to her called her a "selfish ninny". That is where her journey of self-transformation starts. It is the fact that Eden recognises her flaws and learns from her that makes her so likeable.
Catherine is super sweet as well. She's so pure and kind and it is great to see a major POC character in a Barbie movie (I'm thinking she may be the first, but that depends on your viewpoint). Her family are affectionate and really welcoming to Eden. I genuinely believe they were the only example of unconditional Cinta she witnessed as a child.
Catherine's kindness makes the vision about Eden's future (where Catherine is as cold and ruthless as Eden) even lebih jarring. It leaves a major impact on both the protagonist and the audience. The orphanage scene made me tearful, even though I knew it all worked out in the end.
The spirits themselves (notice how the movie ever uses the term "ghost") are interesting enough, but I find them a little 2D. The spirits of the past and the future are probably my favourite. The first spirit's playfulness and naivety artistically contrasts Eden's own inner turmoil, and the last spirit seems wise and whimsical. The spirit of Krismas past reminds me of Dandelion, but that may just be because the same character model was used for both girls.
If I have one criticism, I'm not a massive peminat of Catherine and Freddy. They're very cute, but I feel his presence in the movie was almost unnecessary. The romantic subplot is a little pointless and I have a weird feeling that he was added so that nobody would view Eden's and Catherine's relationship as anything other than platonic. The same thing happens in the Princess and the Popstar. Keira's Cinta interest has less than ten lines and has no clear role other than to be a Cinta interest.
Couldn't Freddy have just been a kind-hearted friend? Friendships between boys and girls should be encouraged. It is not always romantic.
Overall, the moral and message of the film is incredible. I Cinta all the characters, and I think the Victorian setting is really unique and the animasi is lovely. This movie is heart-warming and a perfect Krismas movie. I hope "A Perfect Christmas" can live up to Barbie's amazing track record of festive films.
