“She was a perfect doll. Now she’s the real thing.” Before the emergence of Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated “Barbie” movie, there existed Disney’s “Life-Size.” In this whimsical tale, supermodel Tyra Banks undergoes a transformation into Eve, a “high-fashion doll” who turns into an unexpected problem. Eve’s exclamation of “I’m Eve, and you’re my special friend!” startles the mortified seventh-grader Casey Stuart, played by a young Lindsay Lohan.
Set two years after Casey’s mother’s sudden passing, “Life-Size” follows Casey, a tomboy and star quarterback, as she embarks on a mission to bring her mother back to life using spells from “Holcroft’s Book of the Dead.” However, an accidental incantation animates a gifted doll, causing Casey to search for the second volume, “The Book of Awakenings,” to reverse the spell before sunset four days later. Unfortunately, the rare book is unavailable at the local bookstore, raising the stakes for Casey to save Eve from remaining human forever.
At first glance, Eve appears to be an ordinary doll, a constant annoyance for Casey. Yet, she holds the potential to revive the fading doll industry in the midst of hi-tech advancements. Set in the year 2000, when the internet became publicly accessible, and technology like the PlayStation 2 and Apple iPod gained prominence, dolls faced a decline in relevance. The film portrays a girl in the toy store expressing a preference for microchipped gadgets over dolls, reflecting the changing tide. This narrative foreshadows the current sentiment among young girls, as evidenced by the “Barbie” trailer, where a group of tweens admits they haven’t played with Barbie since they were very young.
While drawing inspiration from Mattel’s Barbie, “Life-Size” stands as the first attempt to merge the fantasy of a plastic world with reality. It offers a nostalgic journey filled with self-discovery and introspection. Eve, the embodiment of many young girls’ dreams, captivates viewers with her ability to effortlessly wear stylish outfits and the desire to embark on shopping sprees with her human counterparts. Additionally, the film takes significance in presenting a Black doll as a cultural icon, brought to life through a supermodel’s portrayal and showcased on the widely viewed ABC network.
Amidst the escapism and whimsy, “Life-Size” embraces the beauty of imperfection, emphasizing that loss, grief, and mistakes are intrinsic to the human experience. Similarly, Gerwig’s “Barbie” film confronts the timeless debate surrounding Barbie’s depiction of girlhood, exploring both the positive and negative attributes associated with the doll. In “Life-Size,” Eve’s journey challenges the notion of achieving perfection as she grapples with the complex meaning of being “the perfect doll.”
Upon breathing life into Eve, Casey’s doll becomes a cherished member of her family, residing in the guest house previously occupied by Casey’s late mother’s art studio. As Eve navigates the real world, her childlike naivety and incompetence become apparent, highlighting the stark contrast between her former existence and her newfound humanity. While Eve initially revels in the joy of being alive, she soon discovers that her purpose extends beyond personal gratification. She expresses a desire to help girls and present a positive image of womanhood, mirroring the larger criticisms faced by Barbie over the years.
However, as Eve joins the workforce and becomes a secretary at Casey’s father’s law firm, chaos erupts. Despite her incompetence, Eve’s beauty and unwavering positivity help conceal her shortcomings, except from Casey. As Eve tries to fulfill the role of a mother figure by attempting to bake a cake, her failure prompts a heart-to-heart conversation between Casey and Eve. Through this exchange, Casey imparts wisdom to Eve, helping her understand that perfection is not the key to humanity. Instead, she emphasizes the importance of trying one’s best and embracing imperfections, drawing inspiration from Casey’s own late mother.
Ultimately, the film showcases Eve’s growth as she mends her relationship with Casey and gains a newfound sense of purpose. A critical moment arises when Eve watches a news report highlighting disappointing sales figures for the latest Eve dolls, imperiling their existence. Determined to save her hometown, she realizes she must return to her doll form and embark on a mission to rectify the situation. As Casey prepares for her championship football game, she shares crucial information with Eve…
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