There were a lot of great performances throughout 2023. The women of ‘Booksmart,’ the voice acting in ‘Mutant Mayhem,’ and that dude who could stare you into submission in the atomic bomb movie. However, even though we all pretty much knew he’d be great as Ken, I still think we were all blown away at how perfectly Ryan Gosling embodied the most friend-zoned man in history in ‘Barbie.’ This is why he’s my absolute favorite when it comes to People’s Sexiest Man issue, 2023.
Some say the role was tailor-made for Zac Efron, and yes – he, Chris Hemsworth, Ashton Kutcher (had the movie been made in 2002) could have all taken that role and made it their own but the cards thankfully fell in such a way that the man who won over many writing letters every day for a year back in 2004, was able to make those people and even more fall in love with him even more so as they ultimate himbo, Ken. It was weird though.
I walked into ‘Barbie’ an hour or so after landing in Las Vegas to see Garth Brooks later that night in my Paramore tee and pink shorts ready to leave with all the Girl Power the Spice Girls had taught me oozing from my pours. Instead, it was Gosling’s Ken I raved about. To be fair, he stole the movie and had the most flushed out plotline of the entire cast. Sorry, I’m still not 100% sold on the mother/daughter aspect. It felt like we needed like at least 5-10 minutes more of that, and Barbie – amazing performance but that was also a plot that I felt needed just one or two more elements to feel whole. Ken though?
Gosling’s Ken had a beginning – a man desperately in love with Barbie, dedicated to making his existence all about her. Then a middle that featured him realizing that outside of his world, men were in charge. This, of course, inspired a bit of a revolution for the Kens. Then the ending, the Kens realizing they weren’t supposed to be fully in charge, and Gosling’s Ken understanding that his identity did not have to be linked to Barbie. He was Kenough. Not to say Barbie didn’t go on a similar journey, it’s just that hers was a little more convoluted with the whole human aspect being tossed into her storyline.
Anyways, Gosling as Ken was perfection and might be the role that has knocked ‘The Notebook’ out of the one he’ll be associated with most in the coming years. Will he be able to top the Kenergy of this performance? One day, but for now, it’s Kenough and one of the most Kenjoyable movie moments of the year.
Was I shocked when Gosling wasn’t declared as People’s Sexiest Man this year? A title that would land him the cover? YES. He was all anyone could talk about but you know, I can’t get into that now. You’ll have to listen to the episode about my issues with this year’s issue. Until then – keep it kentertaining!
Crushgasm 