Question:
Did anyone else take offense to Shallow Hal
I am 4 months post op and have lost 70 lbs. I am currently 150. I saw Shallow Hal the other night and didn't really find it amusing. I thought it was mean. They say that it says that it is important to look to the inside of the person but I don't think that is the true message NOw that I have lost weight people treat me differently and it upsets me .. how do you deal with this? — Jennifer L. (posted on November 13, 2001)
November 13, 2001
I have seen Shallow Hal and also am post-op (3 months 60 lbs). I found it
hillarious - I wasn't offended at all. I went with a group of friends and
we all thought is was a good movie. I think it is important to remember to
laugh don't take things to serious. If you are offended over the weight
issues in the movie, I wouldn't suggest seeing it.
— [Anonymous]
November 13, 2001
I'm offended by just the advertisements I've seen for it. There is NO way I
would throw my money away to see a movie like that!
— georgiacarol
November 13, 2001
Back in 1991 when I had the VBG and lost 170 pounds YES people treated me
different when I lost the weight. There is no time in your life to feel
offended by those that treat you different now that you are losing weight.
It is the nature of the beast. There are a lot of people in this world
that are shallow and YOU nor I can change that... Stay focused and
celebrate in your success!!!! Shallow Hal will be amusing to those that
are more at ease with themselves and where they are. The movie's premise
just brings to life those people in our lives that are shallow.. they are
everywhere we turn in our everyday lives. It is my belief that this movie
will help in weight acceptance. It will bother those who are and dont
accept themselves for who and where they are..... and this goes for any
handicapp or disease.... Hell we still live in a society where people with
different skin color and nationality are not accepted. If our only problem
in life is that we have a weight problem... rejoice..WE CAN HAVE SURGERY!!!
Heck, we could be living in Aphganistan. WE HAVE SOOOO MUCH TO BE HAPPY
ABOUT..... FORGET THOSE THAT ARE SHALLOW... SEE THE DEEPER MEANING IN LIFE
AND THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT FACE US EACH DAY. EXPEND YOUR
ENERGY ON THINGS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
— Pamela W.
November 13, 2001
i saw the movie with my boyfriend, who i must say is *hot, well
built/muscular and likes large women, but also kind, giving, honest, and
loyal. no matter what your size, go after what you want, use your
personality and you will glow.
i thought the movie was very funny. i think it made a good point: what
counts is who a person is not just what they look like. and yes they went
from one extreme body type to the other, lets face it most of us dont have
that perfect body and face. even overweight people tend to judge others,
like those thin girls are stuck up, not always true. we try to do our best
with what we got. thats what counts. so i liked the movie, it didnt offend
me, i could relate to some of it and that made me laugh.
— jennifer L.
November 13, 2001
The first time I saw the previews for the movie I was a little put off by
it, but once I realized what the movie was about I thought it might be
interesting. I think there are shallow/ignorant people out there, and the
only thing we can do is to be comfortable and confident with who we are,
whether we are 500 lbs, or 100 lbs. Even at my heaviest I was a confident
person. Even though I've had a few negative comments in my time, I tried
not to let them get to me. The people who make them are the ignorant ones,
not me. I am the same wonderful person no matter what I look like on the
outside.
— Kim B.
November 13, 2001
I'm so glad this question was posted. I waited anxiously for the movie to
come out, and when I read some reviews I was mortified. Initially, I
thought the movie was just about how you should look at the inner beauty of
a person. But then I read the movie gets its laughs at the expense of the
obese. And I read the character of Rosemary is not just fat but a real
glutton.
After reading that I don't know if I'm going to go see it - at least not in
the movie theater. I don't know that I want to be put in the position of
being obese and having people stare at my fiance and wonder if he is a
'shallow Hal'. I know that sounds strange, but thats my opinion.
On the other hand, I try to remember that movies are movies - they are not
real life. And if I'm ever offended by a movie or radio show or tv show I
have the ultimate power - walk way, turn it off, change the channel.
— Pamela P.
November 13, 2001
I think that people are trying to make excuses for this movie by saying
"it has a message" ...This message is supposed to be about inner
beauty, blah, blah, blah. All I have to say is that if it's about inner
beauty, How come Jason Alexander is wearing a toupe? Plus I don't see them
trying to "bring awareness" to disability issues by making fun of
people in wheelchairs? I say give me a break...I wouldn't watch that movie
if it was the last one out there.
— [Deactivated Member]
November 13, 2001
I just wish they could have found a better looking leading man. It's bad
enough that the goodlooking ones are shallow but when the short, pot belly,
need some hair, ugly ones get shallow, Now that's funny!!!
— blank first name B.
November 13, 2001
LOL! I agree with Debra!
— [Deactivated Member]
November 14, 2001
Well I saw the movie with my husband. I have lost almost 100 lbs, and am
in a size 8, not that my "new" size makes a difference as to
weather I enjoyed the movie. As a matter of fact I loved it!! We thought
it was funny as hell! We need to learn not to take things so seriously!
This movie is a comedy, not a documentary, so we should all just take it
for what it is!
— [Anonymous]
November 15, 2001
I would not go see this movie. The reason, fat people are the last
prejudice that it's ok to laugh at. If this movie had been about a man who
was dating a black woman but only saw her as white, or vice versa, would
that be funny? No way! Or if the person was retarded and he saw her as
"normal" Would you go see that? I doubt it. This movie,
although some stated it's funny, is another way to make people hate
themselves about their weight. AWW poor poor Gweneth, when she wore the
fat suit. She got to take it off, did you just take off your weight. NO.
And who the heck picked that ugly actor to be Hal. They need to change the
the story to a woman actually thinking he's good looking when he isn't!
Yuk! You are paying these actors, to make fun of you, or who you used to
be. It's not about being overly serious, it's about being REAL. If you
were/are black , white, or retarded, would you go to the movie if it were
the different scenarios I mentioned above, no you probably would not. Then
why go to one that makes fun of fat people? Think about it
— [Anonymous]
November 17, 2001
Anon: it's ironic that you are so adamantly opposed to anyone addressing
excess weight in any negative terms whatsoever, yet you have no hesitation
in saying "And who the heck picked that ugly actor to be Hal?"
— [Anonymous]
November 18, 2001
Of course it is offensive. Poor Gwenyth had to wear a fat suit. I've seen
the behind the scenes shots with the directors making fun of her fat suit.
The pictures of her naked on the cover of a magazine came out at the same
time of the opening of this movie - just in case we forgot she was skinny.
Sorry I strongly disagree with the posters that say not to take it
seriously. Obesity is a serious subject - people are unhealthy physically,
emotionally and mentally from being overweight. Not to mention the fact
that people think we are lazy, stupid and unclean. How many people on this
board alone have missed opportunities at work and just general life due to
being overweight?? This movie lets people opening laugh at fat jokes once
again. I'm sure there will be many boys leaving this movie and shouting
out at fat people. I say enough - they will not get my money for this
movie.
— [Anonymous]
November 18, 2001
I have opted out of veiwing what i consider to be a verrrry
"Shallow" and demeaning movie. Why is it that people think you
have to be hypnotized in order to enjoy the company of less than perfect
people? This movie not only demeans obese women but, those of us who are
not as phsyically attractive, smart or polished as the average model. I
think it is a horrible topic to make into a film and refuse to waste my
hard earned cash on it.
— Melissa S.
November 19, 2001
I went with 2 other girls to see this movie, one Post-opp and one other
pre-opp like me. We laughed, we felt bad, we identified with scenes. It
didn't hurt my feelings, face it, it's a reality, people are prejudice, we
don't like to be confronted with it though. It's only a movie, a story,
and yes it does "try" to get a message out overall.
I certainly respect everyones desire to see what ever type movie they
choose. Personally I find "hack-m-up"movies rediculous.... life
goes on!
— txkj
November 28, 2001
Shallow Hal? Loved it! It showed just how rude people can be and how
hung-up our culture is on looks. The scenes from the pediatric burn ward
show another way in which people are rejected because of appearances. It
sent a powerful much-needed message.
— Nancy G.
November 28, 2001
I am currently at 320 pounds. When I saw this movie I was 2 weeks post op
and was very negative before seeing it. I laughed and then I was sad. I
found that the movie wasn't as bad as everyone was making it out. I wasn't
offended and found that the ending was enlighting (sp?) I hope you will
give the movie a chance before judging it. Oh yeah..I liked it--but judge
for yourself. Enjoy!
— ningrahm
July 15, 2003
I had to respond to this post even though it was posted quite some time
ago- I saw the movie and at times felt a little humiliated, then at other
times I was laughing right along. I believe that the message in the movie
wasn't to humiliate obese people, but to make fun of society in general and
how shallow all of us can be at times. I have to admit that even though
I've been obese all of my life therefore am judged by society as a lazy,
overindulging person- I too, can be judgemental of others for thier hair
styles/color, clothing choices, employment- the list can go on. If we are
looking for something negative in people- you will always find something to
"pick on" Being judgemental and shallow makes us all lose. You
can miss out on a fulfilling relationship with a life partner or even a
friendship with a terrific person if you let something like thier hair
style or the way they dress and yes, even thier weight get in the way. In
my 20's I remember not wanting to date guys if they were too short or too
small for my liking, and I was obese! Now I wonder what would have
happened if I had given them a chance. I believe that we ALL have a little
of Shallow Hal inside of us and the point of the movie was to encourage
people to give each other a chance and not be so judgemental. Let's face
it- along with the life-saving benefits of our surgery- we all WANT to be a
normal size so we can fit into society a little more comfortably. To be be
socially acceptabe- I often think, when I reach my goal, what will people
be judging in me then? If it's not my weight- they'll find something else
you can count on it.
— lyndaleigh
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