The Descent of Man
1st October 2023
“Nobody plays with Ken,” Ryan Gosling told Jimmy Fallon in an interview prior to the release of the Barbie movie. “He’s just an accessory and not even one of the cool ones.”
From the original advertising, it seemed that playing Ken was unusual for Gosling, who often portrays complex and troubled male characters. In Blade Runner 2049, for example, his role reflected the sensation of feeling not only lonely, but lost in a world and trying to find purpose within it.
This stands in stark contrast to Ken’s initial depiction as a clingy, unassertive simp who secretly harbours resentment about being in the friendzone. As the infamous Barbie poster says, “She’s everything. He’s just Ken.”