Being Allan: What Happens When You’re Outside the Box? 

Is Allan the only queer character in Barbie?

For a mind that overthinks everything, this was a prominent thought I had before my second viewing of the film. Honestly, the question caught me off guard, especially because Barbie doesn’t truly explore queerness. Not in terms of sexuality, but is Allan queer because of his politics? In Barbieland, there is seemingly no racism or classism, and the patriarchy is quelled. But what does queerness look like in this utopia? 

The thought I had felt fleeting initially, but it began to sprout and became difficult to ignore. An idea, the most dangerous thing of all, began to form.

Barbie, the fourth feature film from writer-director-actor Greta Gerwig, has taken the world by storm, earning over $1 billion in global box office revenue. With its bubbly ensemble cast (led by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling) and humorously existential script (co-written by Gerwig and her husband), the summer box office is radiant with fans decked out in their favorite shade of pink (or, in my case, bootleg Barbenheimer merch). We are Barbie girls living in a Barbie world. Or, maybe, Barbie lads living in a Barbieland. Regardless of the name, summer movies being central to pop culture (Barbie and Oppenheimer this year, Top Gun: Maverick leading the charge Memorial Day Weekend 2022) is a good thing. While Stereotypical Barbie is the center of the film, fans are flocking to their favorite characters. For me, Allan was the standout.

The word “queer” is incredibly multifaceted, ever-changing, and loaded. The question, “Is Allan Barbie’s only queer character?” should have sent your mind racing in a hundred different directions. So, let’s come to a consensus, albeit imperfect, of what queerness means: a rejection of normative (i.e., heterosexual or cisgender) definitions of behavior. I don’t have a large enough ego to believe I can encapsulate the totality of queerness with this one piece (or even answer my own question), but for this exercise, let’s see how far down the rabbit hole goes.

Played sheepishly by Michael Cera, Allan is genuinely one of one, and his place within Barbieland is questionable from the start. When introduced, he is given little fanfare. “He’s just Allan,” the narrator says as if being Allan isn’t enough. He was created to be Ken’s best friend but seems to be his (or their) polar opposite. Ken is muscular, cocky, and only finds satisfaction when he receives Barbie’s attention. Allan is meek in stature and confidence. Ken’s clothes should fit Allan, but the near rainbow (!) knit shirt is boxy and unflattering. It billows like when kids put their shirts over fans or an outdoor air conditioner unit in the summer.

Beyond their physical appearance, Allan doesn’t fit in with the men. Barbieland begins as a matriarchy with tranquility for the women but downshifts into the patriarchy and becomes a land of horses, Hummers (not those kind of hummers), and women submitting to men. Even though Allan benefits from this system by being born/created a man, he openly rejects it and tries to flee Kendom. Gloria and Sasha talk him into staying, which leads to him subverting the Kens to help the Barbies take back Barbieland. In all of this, where does queerness come into play?

Barbieland is a matriarchy, but Allan is not a woman. Kendom is a patriarchy, but he despises it. Allan is meant to be the best friend of someone who barely acknowledges his existence, so he is a loner in a world where men and women are opposing forces. Even though we never hear Allan articulate what his actual politics are, his mere existence is abnormal no matter what world he inhabits. My question may not have a definitive answer, but Allan is fascinating because no other character lives within this level of ambiguity.

When fleeing Kendom, Allan tells Gloria and Sasha, “Not one person would care if Allan was in the real world.” But I don’t believe that to be true. Men, regardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation, should actively reject the trappings of masculinity. Though played comically in the film, men can be and are jealous, insecure, and denigrate women to propel themselves. Men covet material objects in the hopes that they will give them value without actually believing they are valuable within themselves.

However, regardless of your beliefs, if you have no actions behind your words, it is all for not. Allan actively takes a stand and puts true effort and work into supporting these women. He chooses to fight for what he believes is true, even if it causes him to lose power. Allan does very little talking while being primarily about action. The world is desperately in need of more Allans than even he realizes.