I didn’t write this, but I thought it may spark some poop on this board.
It’s about what director Allison “ass general” Anders said about the movie
This is a link I guess (not where I got the post):
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0,6115,184465~1~0~fatjokesareoffensive,00.html
Ok, why is this movie getting more crap than Something About Mary and the “retard” jokes?? It’s because people only care about this type of humor being directed towards them. How many COUNTLESS things could we find in out entertainment that are just as bad, only more socially acceptable. No one cared when Nutty Professor did the same thing a few years ago. It just so happens that one moron bitches about THIS movie, and it turns into a whole campaign. The reason why a skinny person wears a fat suit in this is because they needed her to be skinny for the role too. It’s a lot easier dressing up a skinny person than it is to make a big women look skinny. And you know what, I’m fat!? Why don’t I care? Because I’m secure, and I’m not a moron screening everything that might be offensive… how can you enjoy anything in life if you can laugh at yourself. WHERE WERE YOU when Gwyneth Paltrow was made fun of for being skinny on Saturday Night Live? Maybe she couldn’t even help it if she tried (which she shouldn’t if she’s happy), you don’t know that??
I didn’t read the cited article but I would like to add my two cents anyway.
I’m not fat (no euphemisms here) but my mother was, enough so that fat jokes make me a little uncomfortable. Despite that, I was able to thoroughly enjoy both Nutty Professor movies. In both, Prof Klump was more than just a fat guy. He was a guy who happened to be fat but he was also smart and decent.
I didn’t see Shallow Hal – not because of fat jokes but because I got the impression both from its commercials and from reviews that it was deeply hypocritical. It purports to have a message about seeing people for their inner beauty but it is in itself one big fat joke. The Farrely’s seemed to want to have it both ways. Their previous films all were pretty offensive but at least they didn’t make any pretense of teaching us a moral lesson.
This is a little off the subject but another reason I chose not to see it is the fact that it also feeds the “men are shallow and only care about looks…” line. Men and women use different criteria when evaluating potential mates. And yes, physical appearance is high on most men’s list of desirable attributes. It’s not the only factor, or even the most important but it’s up there on the list. That doesn’t make women’s criteria are somehow more noble or moral, they’re just different. Men want good looks, women want wealth and fame. The vast majority of us never achieve these ideals but still manage to find someone to love. In that respect, this movie was insulting to men too.
Bringing this back a little towards the original point, I have a friend who belongs to that minority of men who is strongly attracted to fat women. Is he shallow as well because looks (very much non-mainstream looks) are important to him too?
I saw the movie and found it to be so-so. It was amusing at times, but the comedy was sophmoric. I didn’t, however, find it offensive. Maybe I’m jaded, because I was a very fat kid when I was young. I was picked on pretty viciously at times. The movie never took that extra step and crossed that line into uncomfortable (something the Farrely’s are quite capable of doing) I don’t know, I just don’t see what all the fuss is about. Then again I’ve developed a thick skin over the years.
Ok, I’m a fat chick but I can’t wait to see this movie. Because I haven’t seen it yet I can’t make many comments about it, but I seriously doubt that I’ll find it offensive. Then again, I’m the type of girl who laughed uncontrollably at movies such as American Pie and There’s Something About Mary.
It’s a COMEDY already. I don’t think it’s supposed to make any profound statements or be food for thought. It’s meant to be laughed at. I don’t think the message in American Pie was that band geeks are repressed sex fiends, or that the underlying message in Something About Mary was that interracial relationships are socially unacceptable. I think the messages in these movies are: LAUGH, IT’S FUNNY!
The world has become so caught up in being politically correct that it’s nearly impossible to tell even the simplest of jokes without offending someone, somewhere. The world needs to lighten up! We need to learn to laugh at ourselves. Remember the line from Ferris Bueller: Pardon my French, but Cameron’s so tight that if you stuck a lump of coal up his ass, in two weeks you’d have a diamond! That’s the way society in general is today. We’re too damn uptight, and it’s cutting into our fun time. No wonder there’s so much violence nowadays…everyone’s too afraid to laugh and they have to have SOME way to relieve stress!
FYI, there was a big thread in The Pit about this a couple weeks ago.
I haven’t seen the movie, but from your descriptions, it reminds me of a show I used to watch on USA Network called “Silk Stalkings.” That show frequently had feminist themes, but all the while paraded girl after girl across the screen in skimpy outfits.
I always suspected that the makers of Silk Stalkings wanted to make a sexy show, but at the same time deflect potential criticism for “objectifying” women.
Perhaps that’s the thought behind “Shallow Hal” – the makers wanted to make a movie with a lot of fat jokes, but were trying to deflect criticism for beating up on fat people.
You see, I agree 100%. Men often look for “good” looks. Yet, there are always exceptions to the rules. I think I know a man for almost any category for women as far as looks goes. Attraction mainly has to do with a woman’s ability to carry and nurture children, and a mans ability to provide assurance, protection and wealth to keep the race going successfully. But there has to be exceptions, such as homosexuality for example… the attraction doesn’t stem from a persons need to reproduce.
On a side note… big women have it hard, but short men have a hard time too. Shrek was about “everyone is beautiful” type of mentality… yet the short dude was the villain, and they made fun of it the whole picture without redeeming qualities. Not that I care! I’m 5"5’, and I have YET to meet a woman who PREFERS men who are shorter than they are than taller. Not just “puts up with it”, yet I know a man who LOVE huge noses. He says it gives a woman character. You also don’t see a lot of short men getting acting gigs, why is this never addressed?
I myself like women in DORKY black glasses, I like woman who stumbles periodically while walking, and a gal who SNORES!!! And some ‘chubby’ women I know that would loose appeal if they were to loose weight. It “fits” them, and it works with their personality
I heard a legend that movie makers had to put Richard Dreyfus on a stepping stool when he was kissing leading ladies, so that it wouldn’t seem like he was kissing upwards.
I serously doubt the majority of overweight Americans have no control over their waist size. Though I wouldn’t doubt that those who are morbidly obese may have mental problems that need to be treated just as seriously as bulimia or anorexia. But I do not believe they comprise the majority of overweight folks in the United States.
After Sept. 11th there were a few talk shows talking about “comfort” foods. Generally these are fattening foods and morning shows were warning people to watch out or they might gain some weight. So in this country we’re worried about eating to much while the nation we’re sending troops to is experiencing hunger. Yeah, we don’t scarf down to much food for our own good.
Well maybe this topic really doesn’t belong in Cafe Society. If I’ve hijacked the thread I apologize. I had enough bad feelings directed at me in the Pit and I don’t care to restart anything any time soon.
Well, I did see the movie, and I’ll speak to the merits on that point (thus making it relevant to “cafe Society”).
As for a film, I found it “okay”. Nothing gut busting, or roll out of your chair funny. The fat-inner-beauty-thang I found as a visual metaphor…just another device to move the story concept along.
It became a bit preachy, but that was okay in a movie of this nature. I think the film aimed for the audience looking for both, a little acceptance of the body, and a little of that inner-beauty. I think it rode the edge on both sides of the fence.
But hey, it’s film…thus it’s open to interpretation. I’m sure there are those who will demand someone’s head on a stick for not using enough full figured people in this film. But that goes beyond the film and more into production, and representation.
But for many, that is also equal to the merits of the film. I guess you can’t win.
Wealth? ok. Fame? I’ve never met a woman in my life who wanted a man who was famous. And when I’ve had discussions about it with my girlfriends (which we have done a great deal because we have known or worked for lots of famous men and their wives and girlfriends) we have all pretty much agreed that having a famous boyfriend/husband would mostly suck.
I havent’ seen the movie, but I read a quote from Carnie Wilson recently that she cried through half of it.
Since I nearly cried watching the trailer, I think I’d probably be better off not seeing it at all.
stoid
who also cried during the first half of Nutty Professor.
Tallish chick (5’7") checking in, married to shortish dude (5’6"). When I’m wearing shoes and he’s not, I love to kiss his forehead. When I drive his car, I have to adjust the seat – back, to accommodate my longer legs. I’m the one who gets dishes off the high shelves in the kitchen, because I have longer arms. (Once he tried to jokingly play “keep away” with the car keys by holding them above his head. I just reached up and took them. ) I like being able to look him in the eyes and kiss him on the lips without straining my neck. And I wouldn’t trade him in for a million bucks.
In only two situations have I regretted that he’s not taller: (1) when we took ballroom dancing lessons – it was too clumsy for me to go under his arm for spins and such, and (2) when I’m trying to find him in a store and can’t see him above the tops of the shelves. Fortunately he frequently wears a hat.
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Aw, you’re just sayin’ that 'cause your UserName sounds like “Jack Black.”
Tracer, Haha! Good one. But no, my friend…no relation, in any way shape, or form, of the actor “Jack Black”. In fact, I had to do a search on the name just to see who you were talking about. DOAH! Silly me! It’s the actor in the very film we’re talking about (goes to show how much I paid attention to that detail - - Hah!)
But…if he was a bit taller.
Add male pattern baldness.
More of a pot-belly
Get a scruffy beard
and…
…one tiny detail…
…A LOT of make-up to make himself African-American (or, black, or whatever I’m supposed to be nowadays). But thanks for the humor, I appreciate it. (damn, I noticed how many posts you have…that’s a lot!..I’m just a babe…make that an embryo)
Jet Black (Will the real Jet Black please stand up)
Yup, one inch. I know it’s not a big difference, but I am at least familiar with at least one short man’s history. He used to have this bitch of a girlfriend who used to berate him for not being taller – as if he could do anything about it! For God’s sake, we ran into her a few years ago (she’s now married to a tall [but miserable] man, of course) and she still managed to get in a few digs at Mr. S about his height.
Ever see the Tom Hanks movie That Thing You Do? There’s a scene where one of the young guys in the band (Steve Zahn) is trying to snag a girl at a gig, and she’s blowing him off. Mr. S commented right away that Steve was the same height as the girl, and that was probably why she wasn’t interested. The same height or a little shorter still isn’t taller when all you’re looking for is arm candy. As you know, I’m sure.
Hey Slick, I didn’t like fat jokes back when I wasn’t fat, but my mother and several of my good friends were. A person doesn’t have to be fat to be offended.
And what the hell is up with it being OK to make fun of someone’s physical condition, just because YOU think they can change it? Gonna make fun of me for wearing glasses because I could get contacts? Make fun of me for being ugly because I could get plastic surgery? Make fun of my crooked teeth because I didn’t get braces?
This ain’t the pit, so I won’t express that time-honored and heartfelt sentiment. But I’m sure you can guess it.
