Phat Girlz

I admit it. I'm guilty of wanting to look at women who are slim and trim. Some people complain that the women I like looking at have eating disorders or are unhealthy, but I just don't see it. And there are plenty of these women in this movie. One is the young hot babe who accompanies our plump heroines to the expensive spa treatments.

But Jazmin and her best friend are right. A woman can be large and attractive, and apparently, if this movie is to be believed, Nigerian men have the right attitude. Women who look like models are malnourished. It's unfortunate that this movie relies heavily on subtitles because things can happen, and did, I almost missed one of the funniest jokes in the movie but got a second opportunity to see it later. The joke was that the hot babe with the Nigerian doctor was a poor sick girl.

Jazmin, of course, does a number of things people shouldn't actually do, but it's a fantasy. If you assault someone who insults you and wreck a fast-food place, you should go to jail. This is a fantasy people might enjoy watching because they'd like to do what Jazmin did.

Mo'Nique gives a very good performance, one that suggests she might someday get an Oscar nomination. While she does a good job overall, she has one truly frightening scene as she struggles with her difficulties in life. Jimmy Jean-Louis does an excellent job as her boyfriend, and all the actors playing African men do a very good job as well. The humor is quite sophisticated in their scenes, and there are glimpses of African culture for those of us with European heritage.

Some of the movie is just plain silly, though. But overall, I think this would have been a good choice if African Heritage Network movies were still airing. I haven't seen any of those lately on my area TV stations, but they promoted positive images of people with African roots. In many ways, this movie does.

I am confused about a couple of things. I thought among black people, big women were desirable. I thought it was just white and Asian women (and possibly Latinas) in this country who had to meet certain standards of beauty to be accepted by narrow-minded men. That's just not the case with the Americans in this movie. Also, Jazmin seems to be the pot calling the kettle black as her men have to have perfect bodies.

And not once does anyone say Jazmin is beautiful BUT. A woman that big is likely to have health problems, and she should try to lose the weight if she can for that reason. That message was not addressed.

It's a worthwhile movie.

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.

If you recall How Stella Got Her Groove Back, this film will ring like deja vu to you. Even the heart throb's accent is similar. This time instead of the obstacle to over come being age and ageism, it is weight and society's bias against heavy women. Laughs are spattered through out, but there are plenty of messages bout inner beauty. Think of the film as How Stella Got Her Groov Fat. I seem to have seen the leading actor in k mart store style clothing adds so i think that he is a model. His buddy who goes for the supporting actress looks familiar as having played clean cut guys without the accent in past films. Sloppy as it wants to be, the movie is not bad if you go in knowing roughly what to expect. I anticipate some becoming annoyed with the lead actresses soap box and presumed indictment of skinny people. Many will overlook this flaw as a point in which the movie was making...she was flawed and needed entire film in which to get somewhat better.

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.

I had been dying to see Phat Girlz when it came out on DVD, but when I saw the incredible low rating on IMDb, I was just afraid of being disappointed and feeling like I wasted my time and money. But one of my friends had the movie and we watched it today and I have to say to the IMDb users, how was this movie bottom 100 bad? No, this had no Oscar worthy material and some of it was a bit silly, but I think that this film had a positive message. One of the most disturbing things I have seen on the IMDb reviews and boards are how this movie "promotes" obesity, when I don't see that at all, this film was just about accepting yourself and feeling good and confident in a world where being a "phat" girl is so unacceptable and makes them feel like the minority. Monique had a positive energy, at times I admit she could be over the top and annoying, but I didn't find her character to be horrible, but actually more believable.

Jazmin is a big girl in a small girl's world where she can't find any hot clothing for her size and wishes to help other big girls feel beautiful and sexy. But she is ignored and criticized for her outgoing personality and her plump figure. She wins a trip to the Carrabean Islands with her thin cousin and her other plump friend. There she meets and incredibly handsome doctor who loves her figure and finds big women to be very attractive and helps her realize that maybe with a little confidence she could be on top of the world and smile with her killer fashion designs.

I lost a lot of weight, I used to be a "phat" girl, so I think that's why I enjoyed the film somewhat, because I could relate. Besides that, this was just an average comedy that people are taking way too seriously. I think if you let go and just have some fun, you'll like the film, just ignore the ignorant people who are just hating this film because there are big women in it, it's just a cute romantic comedy with a positive message.

5/10