Phat Girlz (2006)

Redundant and unnecessary.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

*** This review may contain spoilers ***Like many,I expected to see an ongoing,fat joke filled movie ,when I watched this. That certainly isn't the case here. This film actually has a heart,a mind and gets deep into the soul of what these two women (as well as larger women everywhere) go through everyday.Despite the fact that Mo'Niques character puts up a tough front and gives the fist to anyone who calls her a fat "B" (you know the rest)she really is hurting very deeply inside like any other person would and should be. As seen by the amount of products in her room,she's fighting a losing battle with her size. Which makes her more depressed.Her best friend is down on herself as well and has unfortunately grown up with the impression that,not only is she fat,she's homely too and lacking in personality. Mo'Niques skinny cousin in the movie was no help to her growing up or now.Then,as in most movies ,fate takes over.The two friends and the cousin win a stay at a luxury resort where there's nothing but skinny women around making them feel uncomfortable (except for the cousin of course). Into their lives come three men who hail from Africa. These men,unlike the practically brain-washed men in the world,walk up and basically want to meet Mo'Nique & her friend. The third man thinks the cousin must be sick,being so skinny. The best looking of these men is completely into Mo'Nique but she's not allowing herself to accept it 100% because she's so used to men not giving her the time of day. Her friend gets an admirer too and soon he's gotten her out of her shell (as well as her clothes & his,no nudity though!)This movie,unlike some films that paint unflattering portraits of women or overweight people and African Americans,this film has great intelligence to it! I especially liked the real African dancing in the movie and how they demonstrate it's okay to be yourself in your skin.Yes,there's the typical "your mama" jokes between Mo'Nique and some guy who works at a fast food place but the boy has it coming for being insulting. It's a very funny scene to watch! Best of all though,this movie doesn't offer up an easy answer for Mo'Nique's character. It isn't...just lose the weight,just get a man or just get rich and everything will be perfect. After her admirer tells her she should accept that she'll never be a size five,she runs from him and hides away in her room and into a deep depression.She eats for days & watches TV but then,something just snaps in her and she goes on a tear through her room. Throwing all the diet products,clothes that don't fit and the TV out the window. From that point she re-invents herself and starts up her own clothing line for large women,leading to a fashion show and financial world -wide success. Which she shares with her friend and cousin.With her new attitude and outlook & success,she still is missing that one piece though. She flies down to Africa and is reunited with the man who loves her just the way she is. For all these reasons,I give this movie 10 stars!I can only guess that the over-abundance of negative ratings are from those who may not have taken the time to "really" watch this movie. I may not be African-Amercian,but I know it should be on a list of the best 100 films starring & made by African Americans. I urge any & all to give this a second look! "Phat" is in the eyes of the beholder! (END)

Before I get to a review of this movie, I have a few words to say about some of the other reviews as well as some discussions on the message boards about this movie. It seems that in MANY cases, people aren't actually discussing the merits of this film but are more making value judgments about being fat--a major plot element in the movie. So, some supposed reviews talk about how the main character needs to lose weight or that she's unhealthy but this really isn't a review of the film--it's a statement about what they think of fat folks. Oddly, a few of the comments went further and were quite hateful--as if hating fat people was somehow okay. With a few, I almost wonder if they'll soon suggest that fat folks just be killed! Are they trying to say that this is one last acceptable prejudice? As for the film itself, I cannot understand it being placed in the hallowed Bottom 100 on IMDb other than prejudice against the overweight. Sure, the film is far from perfect and I do have some problems with the writing here and there, but there is no way this is a horrible film--something inclusion in the Bottom 100 would indicate.Mo'Nique stars as a woman who is both ashamed of her obesity and who is also, oddly enough, very self-assured in other ways. In other words, she is strong and more than willing to stand up to people who are cruel towards fat people but she herself privately beats herself up mercilessly about being so overweight.Obesity and body image is a great idea for a film--mostly because it's rarely addressed. I loved this aspect of the film and the film had so much positive to say. BUT the film also occasionally lets itself down now and again with cheap fat jokes or anti-skinny woman remarks or the buffet scene. Can't the film be self-assured without actually occasionally reinforcing these old stereotypes at the same time?! Yet, at other times, the film is very positive and reaffirming--such as Mo'Nique's coming up with a line of clothes to make overweight women look good as well as the wonderful relationship she has with her Nigerian love. It's an odd, odd dichotomy how the film seems so very progressive yet not throughout the film.Subtle this movie is NOT--and if it were perhaps edited a bit, it would have been an exceptional film. With just a few tweaks, it could have been amazing--but as it is, the negatives aren't that bad and the film has been unfairly savaged. I'd give the film a 6--almost a 7. With a good editing and better writing, perhaps an 8.If you see the film, judge the film--the writing, the acting and the technical aspects of the film.

This movie was a good movie. It shows how no matter what you look like you need to be love yourself to be loved by someone else.It really helps big woman take a look at reality to see there can be good in being big. And just because your big doesn't mean your a bad person. The cousin was too stuck up ,and didn't really fit in this movie well. It did have a few parts that could have been taking out or changed around but overall this was a good movie. If you're a person who thinks bad thoughts about yourself, this movie can be a good eye opener for you. Follow your hopes, and dreams and anything can be possible. This is a good movie, no where near the worst movie out there.

I have been reading all your comments, and I think some of the comments are a bit overboard in the dislikes!! Come on lets not take this too seriously or take things to heart, this movie might not be in the Oscar stakes, and Monique may in time become a good actress - but it is nice to see a film which has a lovely happy ever after.I think it is nice to see a movie which has the fat girl being chased by a hunk who loves big sized women, because in this world on size 0, its like fat girls don't exist unless they are fancied by fat men.Yes, the movie is not taxing on the brain and it certainly is easy on the thinking brain after a reality bitten hard days at work.I enjoyed the film immensely and i am just treating as one entertaining forgettable film. Just like the movie for what it is - an easy on the brain feel good movie.