In a response to an op-ed in the WaPo, Salon’s Amanda Marcotte points out the double standard applied in the WaPo article: It paints men as hapless bystanders who are excluded from female-centric pop culture, putting the onus on women to provide entertainment for men lest they are deprived of any amusement in life.
My interpretation is that Ken found the substance less trappings of masculinity and the patriarchy as unfulfilling as his previous life. In both he was nothing without Barbie looking at him. Both his role as Beach and then as Patriarchy were lacking since they were both defined around Barbie. He even admitted he wasn’t interested once he figured it out the patriarchy wasn’t about horses. So the ending was him finding a new life outside of what Barbie did.
I only saw the film once so I might be wrong. I wonder how people (mostly Men) would view this film if it wasn’t so attacked.