To call the Barbie movie a blockbuster seems so…inadequate. With a box office now totalling over $575 million in North America alone, the pink juggernaut is not slowing down any time soon.
The fantasy comedy, in which Aussie actress Margot Robbie plays Barbie and Canadian Ryan Gosling is her gorgeous-but-dim boyfriend Ken, manages to be funny and controversial at the same time. It’s about empowering women, challenging corporate America, and how to drive an adorable pink convertible even if doesn’t actually have an engine.
It’s also about eye-popping colour. Every scene is drenched in ice cream pastels and absolute swathes of hot pink (which I like to think of it as “Open Jaw pink”).
And a group of some 40 travel industry types got to experience Barbie for themselves at a screening hosted THU 24AUG in downtown YYZ. Our host? The town of Santa Monica, Calif.
It’s no surprise that Santa Monica is happy to jump on that big pink Barbie bandwagon. Billing itself as Los Angeles’ beach city, it’s located just 13 km north of Los Angeles Airport (LAX) which is served by AC, WS and TS. Not only were four scenes from the movie filmed in Santa Monica, it’s currently home to the immersive World of Barbie Experience.
And when clients are pinked out, there’s lots to do in Santa Monica. As well as miles of coastline and beach there’s shopping from the elegant to the funky; over 400 restos; and 41 hotels. And’s it’s easy to go car-free with bike rentals, extensive bike paths and 3 stops of the Metro Expo Line (which even accommodates bikes).
More information about Santa Monica is available at their site just for the travel trade here.
