Phat Girlz

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.

Jazmin Biltmore (Mo'Nique) is an overweight, sassy woman who dreams to be a fashion designer. Her life is miserable because "no one loves fat people". But than she wins a trip to Miamie. She brings her uptight best friend (Kendra C. Johnson) and her perfect, skinny cousin (Joyful Drake). While there, she meets a perfect man (Jimmy Jean-Louis) from Nigeria, where the bigger the woman, the more they love her.

My oh my! This was VERY hypocritical! First off, she complains that guys only want perfect girls, and than she has pictures of almost-nude perfect men on her walls and dreams of hunky, almost nude men in her dreams! Secondly, she complains that people make fun of her and are rude to her just because she's fat, but than her and all the Nigerians make fun of her cousin just because she's skinny.

It looks like it was filmed on someone's home portable camera. Most of the actors cannot act for their life. BUT- it is not ALL horrible! There are some funny scenes! There are some (surprisingly) touching scenes! I am no way a fan of this, but I think that many, many other horrible films deserve the honor of worst film ever, not this.

A fair warning to all the movie fans out there, this movie was absolutely HORENDOUS! I wanted my two hours back! I had seen some of Monique's stand up before and I thought to myself "Hey...she was sort of funny before, and I've got some time to kill...why not?" Long story short...BIG MISTAKE! The plot was awful, the characters were not funny, and lets just say I've seen better acting watching old tapes of my elementary school plays. Now, on the slight upside, there were some funny parts, but for the other 99% of the movie, I was deciding weather to cry for Monique for making this movie or for me because I could have taken my 10 dollars and done something much more entertaining. A word to the wise...under any circumstances ...do NOT see this movie!....beware of Phat Girlz!

The problem with this movie is, that next to fact that has almost no laugh-out-loud-scenes, the protagonist of the movie, the Phat Mo'nique is all but likable. Yes, she's fat, hasn't been laid in 8 months, gets comments thrown at her head (which she can reply to) but that would make you think she herself would not make the mistakes other people make by judging her by her weight. Unfortunately, Mo'nique only likes men who are extremely handsome and have gone to the gym a lot. Next to that everybody who is thin is referred to as a skinny bitch, and if that girl happens to be white and have a black boyfriend it's even more terrifying according to Mo'nique as "they are stealing their men" She's constantly judging people by the way they look.

And we have to root for this woman.

So no humor and no likable lead-character makes this movie a bad one in my opinion.

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.