Shallow Hal
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Movie Reviews of Shallow Hal
Movie Review: In Defense of a great film
Summary: 5 Stars
Shallow Hal is generating unnecessary controversy. First of all, the performances are all good. Secondly, the Farrelly Brothers don't always have to be outright mean like the savagely funny "There's Something About Mary" in order to make a successfully told comedy such as "Hal". Yes, I think that there are a few lines that don't make me laugh as much as they maybe should. At first, I thought that the movie was saying that inner beauty must look like supermodel. HOWEVER, I realized something: how is the film supposed to represent Hal's changed perception of women from the outside without giving us a contrast of what everyone else sees to what he sees? Key word: he. This is Hal's idea of beauty, so naturally, inner beauty to him is going to be a knockout. If my idea of inner beauty was a woman who looked like Peter Rabbit, then a movie where I saw inner beauty would have me chasing all over after a bunch of rabbits. But most people wouldn't identify with that. They can identify with what society has defined as beautiful. This isn't forcefully perpetuating a negative societal train of thought. It is allowing people to see Hal's changed perceptions visually while still making sense. When Hal sees everyone for how they really look, he doesn't act like he used to. He doesn't need the "beer goggles" anymore. And that is the point the film is making: No one should need them to begin with. As far as the pratfalls taken by a seemingly skinny Paltrow throughout, they are moments of surprised humor followed by immediate identification and sympathy for Rosemary and her self-consciousness, as well as a chance for us to side with Hal and see his chivalrous actions as perfectly just. I loved "Shallow Hal", from sympathizing with Black's endless energy in his predatory dancing at the beginning (I've been that clueless man), to being happy that he was becoming sincere while making Rosemary feel more self-esteem, to the wonderful ending where she finds true love for her true beauty. Everyone lighten up! I've had plenty of experience being cast out from society, darn it, and this movie was one that made me feel happy, that the one who deserves love and happiness finally gets it. Score one for the good guys!Movie Review: Funny and touching all at the same time
Summary: 5 Stars
Let me start off by saying I'm an extremely overweight person (OK, let's just say fat and get it over with), and I was not offended in the least at this movie. In fact, I loved it. I had a lot of empathy for the Gwyneth Paltrow character in the movie, with her extreme lack of confidence and poor self image. What makes it a great acting job on her part is that she is the VERY SAME CHARACTER whether in or out of the "fat suit". The only part of her performance that doesn't quite ring true is her unihibitedness in the bedroom with Jack Black. I'd think it would take a few times before she'd feel comfortable "leaving the light on", if you know what I mean. But, having broken a chair or two in my time and having suffered under-the-breath comments and stares I know what it's like, and that's just reality. It's a bonus realizing that Gwyneth Paltrow probably grew as a person when she ventured out in the fat suit and saw just how lonely the "fat life" can be.To be honest, I also identified with Jack Black, in a way, as a guy who has higher standards than he should in the more superficial categories. And, let's face it, it doesn't hurt to have beautiful women like Gwyneth Paltrow, former Baywatch babe Brooke Burns, and Jack Black's lovely neighbor (whose name escapes me) to add to the eye-candy in this movie.
Nearly every move was perfect. It was a stroke of genius to cast self-help guru Tony Robbins as the person who "hypnotizes" Black's character to only see the inner beauty of people and not the outer. Jason Alexander plays, to me, what is a very George Costanza like character, rejecting his girlfriend because her second toe is half an inch longer than her big toe, when he has a secret defect revealed later in the movie that is much more grotesque. He, in fact, is much more shallow than Hal. The coolest character is Walter, who walks on all fours because he has spina bifuda. This is played by a non-actor who actually has the disease and actually gets around just that way. But that doesn't get in the way of him enjoying life to the absolute fullest.
I am normally not a big Farrelly Brothers fan. I find their movies generally crossing the line from humor to stupidity. But this movie shows that the boys have a heart. Highly recommended.
Movie Review: "Would You Rather Have A Woman With One (...) Or Half A Brain?'
Summary: 5 Stars
After taking gross out comedy to new heights with "There's Something About Mary" and "Me, Myself And Irene", Bobby and Peter Farrelly decided to tone it down for their next film. The result was this wonderfully offbeat comedy about a womanizer who learns the hard way that there is indeed beauty on the inside.
Jack stars as Hal Larson, a relentless skirtchaser who, ever since his dad advised him on his deathbed, has always looked for the right women. However, instead of a woman who's kind and accessible (ie, the average looking, marrying type), Hal's idea of a perfect woman is one with a nice (...), long legs and big (...). Along with his friend Mauricio (Jason Alexander, trying desparately to add some life into his post - "Seinfeld" career), Hal scowers various dance clubs looking for beautiful women. One day, everything changes. Hal gets stuck in an elevator with self help guru Tony Robbins. Hal and Tony have a discussion. Tony is bothered by Hal's superficiality when it comes to women, and puts a spell of sorts of Hal. Hal is now able a woman's inner beauty. In his eyes, all women are beautiful. The problem is, in everyone's else's eyes, they're really not all that attractive. So when Jack meets the 300 pound plus Rosemary (Gwyneth Paltrow in a fat suit), he sees her as the typical stick thin blonde he's used to. Hal hits it off with her without ever knowing what she really looks like. As Mauricio becomes increasingly worried about his friend, Hal and Rosemary fall deeper in love. Until the spell is broken. Of course, by the end, everything wraps up in a preditable fashion, but it still works out.
The film is every funny. I applaud Gwyneth changing her look for her role. Most actresses would balk at the idea, but Gwyneth is about showing off her acting talents rather than her looks (though she is a very beautiful women). Jack Black is very funny as Hal, and though as I said earlier he's trying shamelessly to revive his career, it was nice to have Jason Alexander along for the ride. Loaded with extras, this is a dvd that I would recommend to most people.
Movie Review: Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder
Summary: 5 Stars
"If you can see it and hear it, isn't that reality?" so asks "shallow" Hal (Jack Black) after he shockingly discovers that his friend has taken him out of guru Anthony Robbin's "trance" to see the "beauty" of his fat love, Rosemary.
Hal, as we know, has been tasked from young by his dying dad to pursue only pretty looking gals. One day, he finds himself stuck in a lift with the famous positive-thinking guru, Anthony Robbins, who zaps him with a new definition of what beauty is and can be defined. So begins Hal's adventures in discovering women and his own self.
This movie makes the point clear that beauty is defined by whoever sees and defines it as such. Culture, society and Hollywood-infested mass media define our mainstream definition of beauty and success from outward appearances and achievements. Most people in today's society just can't keep up with the Joneses but are expected to by society's demands. Tony Robbins allows Hal and us to redefine beauty from at a more deeper or 'spiritual' level as one's inner virtues which transforms one from within. Usually disempowered people could be empowered by the message of this comedy.
Stop chasing the useless Hollywood culture and go join the Peace Corps!
Another reason to watch this movie: Gwyneth Paltrow looks hot and adorable! ;-P
If she's really like that in real life, that's hot!
Now, how about a movie that glorifies skinny people?
Fat people may be the butt of jokes but reality is that they get hitched, they get the chance to find mates! I know a lot of married fat people! What about skinny people? No way, I don't see skinny MEN getting hitched! Females are spoilt for choices. Whatever their size or looks, females of all kinds can easily get mates simply because they're female, no matter what some jokers think, but males don't have too much fun.... that's the reality I see today. How about a little male empowerment? Is there such a theme in any movie?
Movie Review: I actually got chills....
Summary: 5 Stars
The plot: Hal never settles for anything less than perfect until Tony Robbins (self-help guru) convinces him to see the inner beauty of those who he would normally find unattractive - enter Rosemary who's about 300 lbs. overweight - only Hal finds her to be the most beautiful woman alive. Mix in his even more-so shallow friend played by Jason Alexander, and you've got a great movie that will leave you to decide for yourself which is better - "a woman who is missing half a breast or half a brain..." Regarding the subject of this post, yes even during a Farrelly bros. movie I got chills - I'm not going to say which part of the movie in order to avoid giving out unwanted spoilers, but it involves a child....that and so many other moments of the film just made it work for me. Yes, some people will say it gives into sterotypes, but they are only exaggerated to show us the extremes in life for comedic purposes. People do make fun of fat people, but by the end of the film you realize that even heavy-set people do have a sense of humor and can be funnier and believe or not - nicer than those who make fun of them. Looks don't mean everything - or as much as some people feel they do, and that's the whole point of the film.
It also shows the standards society has set for themselves. What if you fell in love with someone who is not attractive on the outside but is beautiful inside? Would you be able to go into that kind of relationship knowing how society would think about you? To those that can serisouly say they could - this will be a philosophical romantic movie with few laughs here and there (as it was for me) - to everyone else, this will merely be romantic comedy big on the laughs (no pun intended).