I didn’t know what to expect when I ventured over to the cinema in Enniskillen last Saturday night to see 'Barbie', donning my pink blouse and my freshly-painted pink nails.

I expected some light feminist commentary, a bit of craic and lots of fashion from the smash-hit film.

According to the film, The Barbies live in their own utopia called 'Barbieland', where “all problems of Feminism and equality can be solved” according to the film's narrator, Helen Mirren.

The bottom line is, if you’re a Barbie, you can be anything you want to be.

Here, the Kens are merely accessories, with ‘Stereotypical Ken’ (played by Ryan Gosling) vying for ‘Stereotypical Barbie’ (played by Margot Robbie) and her attention for most of the film.

However, after some problems in Barbieland – including an existential crisis for our lead character – Barbie and Ken enter the real world – ours – on a mission.

Barbie is horrified as she struggles to adjust to the real world and its inherent misogyny, but Ken thrives in the real world, getting to live and prosper based on the merit of his gender.

When he returns to Barbieland, chaos ensues, accompanied by an excellent musical number.

One element of the plot is the importance of female comradery and how, when women work together, great things can happen, such as overthrowing the patriarchy.

However, life in the real world is not often as simple as that ...

The film has some fabulous setpieces, a brilliant soundtrack and a touching message about Barbie and a woman’s role through time.

One character remarks: “We mothers stand still so our daughters can look back to see how far they've come.”

While it is a satire, the film has a big heart, especially when it comes to addressing the connections between women, whether they be through friendship or familial.

It was a moving and affirming film and was fierce in its originality. Since watching it, all I have thought about is how on earth did writer and director Greta Gerwig come up with so much for the film, while contemplating the doll that so many of us grew up with.

For more on 'Barbenheimer', read Jessica Campbell's review of 'Oppenheimer' here.