Chica XXL

I know I am vastly in the minority on this decree, but I found this movie to be hilarious. I admit it was very poorly done and the film itself was unprofessional, and definitely nowhere near a masterpiece, but hey, it's just good fun and not meant to wow the audience. I laughed my tail off at some of the jokes, because it is a really funny movie, and even though it could have been a lot better, it was enjoyable, entertaining and overall a very cute and fun movie to watch. Mo'Nique is really a joy and steals the show, whereas everyone else just tags along for the ride. The plot was warming, even if it had plot holes, and I was entertained thoroughly from beginning to end.

It's getting way too much unfair treatment, as do a lot of movies on IMDb, and people just really need to open their eyes to all of them on here, because the ratings and comments on many, including this one, are ridiculous. Overall, it was a bad movie, but not in the sense of, "Oh my gosh, this is absolutely terrible." I totally enjoyed it and found it to be a really neat little movie in the end, and think that all the haters should rethink just a bit, because Mo'Nique is proving that BIG is beautiful.

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.

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.

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!