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This article was originally published on July 22.
We are recirculating it now timed toBarbies streaming debut on Max.
By now youve probably heard or concluded for yourself that Ryan Gosling is incredible inBarbie.
But we are not here to talk about Gosling or any of the other Kens in this movie.
We are here to celebrate Allan.
Allan is a vibe, if having no vibe counts as a vibe.
He is the parentheses in the sentence of life.
If Allan were an emoji, he would definitely be this one: .
While Kens personality is beach, Allans personality is empty sandbox.
Helen Mirren, the narrator ofBarbie, notes there are no multiples of Allan.
There is just Allan.
Allans personality is Cerawalking with his head down after Ann dumps George-MichaelonArrested Development.
Allan-energy (Allanergy?)
can be found inevery absurdist PA announcementCera used to make onChildrens Hospital.
(Attention, staff: There has to be more to life than this.
God, thats so Allan.)
He is a non sequitur of a human being, and yet he possesses a certain dignity.
For different reasons, you could say the same thing about Barbie, actually.
Allan definitely does not mesh with the other Kens.
I dont know if theres a kickball league in Barbie Land.
But if there is, Allan is always picked dead last.
The farther they get from Barbie Land, the more Allans capabilities become clear.
But by the end ofBarbie, Allan seems a bit more comfortable with his own identity.
Hes not a poser; hes not pretending to be anyone hes not.
Hes just Allan and thats okay.
Actually, its great.
Allan becomes one of the best parts ofBarbiebecause he, and Cera, are not trying too hard.
They are effortlessly, hilariously unremarkable.
Hes more than Kens buddy.
Hes his own, perfectly milquetoast man.
