Fatso

Nils Jørgen Kaalstad (Sønner) is a great talent and does a good job in bringing the sexually frustrated and socially awkward 30-something Rino to life, but the film cannot match Kaalstad's authenticity. Writer/director Arild Frölich seems to want to make a film that challenges stereotypes and gets under the skin of his characters, but in trying to get there he clings desperately to the very same stereotypes. The film asks us to view the characters as real human beings, but doesn't treat them as such - they are pawns in a superficial examination of perceived settled social roles. And as a comedy, the film is hit and miss, mostly miss. Whenever Frölich feels he needs to lighten/spice things up, he adds a segment consisting of animated sperm. That doesn't really tell me anything about people like Rino, or others for that matter.

I've lost count of how many times I've seen this movie. I think it has all: really great characters, a good storyline, wonderful music, Wes Anderson-esque visuals... It also has a way deeper message than one expects at first glance. I absolutely love this movie and I was really surprised to find out that it has recieved a lot of criticism. Maybe people watch this movie expecting only laughs, and in that case I can understand why people are a bit let down. But it's not just a comedy - it's a movie that wants you to think and try to relate to the characters and their strenghts and weaknesses. I would say that this is a dark drama comedy that shouldn't be judged by it's funny moments. One of my favorite movies of all time - and that's really not a joke.

I saw this movie without any expectation that it would be good. But it turns out to be an artful and skillfully developed movie that is comical on the surface but carries deep down a tragic undertone. Nils Jørgen Kaalstad, who plays Rino, is a much better actor than first appears on screen. His acting is superb in subtle ways.

He plays an over-sexed nerd who is hooked onto pornography but has not developed the skills required to actually lure women to bed. His innate shyness and inexperience make him a lonely, socially (and sexually) ostracized person. But Rino has a good heart and is a kind and responsible person. The anecdotes on his translating "boring" user manuals of tools and widgets from the German to Norwegian is actually funny and very true-to-life. I know people who do such work for a living.

I can see that this movie may not appeal to viewers who don't not want to think. Rino's failure to live a "normal" sex life is a veiled condemnation of the dark side of Internet sex. Rino elicits sympathy. One hopes he will eventually finds the right woman who rescues him from the dungeon of cyber sex obsession. The movie is deeply honest and real-to-life.

I had not even heard about this 2008 movie titled "Fatso" from director Arild Fröhlich before in 2020, when I was given the chance to sit down and watch it. Actually I had the chance back in 2019, but I just never got around to watching it before now.

Turns out that "Fatso" was actually an enjoyable movie. Sure, it was a bit corny and sort of sustaining itself on its sexual baseline. But hey, if movies such as "American Pie" can do it so well, why not a movie from Norway? And director Arild Fröhlich went on to show that it could be done.

The storyline in "Fatso", while a bit simplistic, is actually one that you get well submerged into and you can't help but be brought in a good mood and have some laughs when you sit through this movie.

"Fatso" really worked out so well for me by the wonderfully quirky and off-beat - no pun intended - character gallery that was in the movie. There were just some really enjoyable characters, and very memorable characters as well.

The comedy in "Fatso" was good, especially because it wasn't over-done. There was also a good amount of proper storytelling, character development and drama thrown into the mixture.

I am rating "Fatso" a six out of ten stars.

This concept could very well have portrayed an awkward fat nerd's struggle to become a real alpha man and Rino could very well have become every fat nerd's role model. I thought first the movie was aiming at this, but like most Norwegian movies, this movie has its unnecessary twists and turns to make the viewer not anticipate such ending and of course this has it's own shares of such.

I must say Nils Kaalstad starring Rino is one of the best performances EVER. He genuinely portrays a very awkward and ultra nerdy guy in such a realistic way that you actually feel he is one hell of a looser and almost forget this is a movie and not a documentary of such a douche. He actually grows eventually a bit more balls and it is amazing to see the gradual transformation of Rino. From extremely awkward to sometimes very charismatic, this actor knows how to deliver! Malin is Rinos new roommate and she does also a terrific job to portray a stupid Swedish blonde girl who likes to party and never takes responsibility for anything. Rino's best friend is Fillip who is often very abusive to him, but since Rino has no friends, I guess he has to take what he gets. It is also very interesting to see how this relation completely changes, once Rino grows some balls.

Rino also likes to draw cartoons, depicting his sexual frustration, which is kind of interesting concept even though they are quite immature and plain right stupid. This movie could have been "Rocky for nerds" and I think they should have taken it this direction, but this is a movie that is interesting and constantly surprises you and you do not know what direction it will take you and therefore it gets a 6.5/10 from me. It had great potential, but it is a fun movie nevertheless.