You can't even make a superhero movie now without everyone going crazy if the female isn't the lead. Imagine them releasing a movie with female fat jokes the whole time.
shareEven when this movie was released, a lot of people were upset over the fat jokes.
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The sun is shining... but the ice is slippery.
I'm not sure if this movie couldn't be made today, but things have certainly changed. Just trying to sort it all out:
-This movie was made around 2000, 15 years ago. The obesity epidemic was just becoming recognized. It was in 1997 that the World Health Organization proclaimed it. It is much worse now, with obesity >35% in some states, let alone overweight.
-The sheer numbers of Rosemary sympathizers has increased greatly in those 15 years since filming.
-I don't recall, from back then, movies with any obese women playing notable roles, but now we have Rebel Wilson (Night at the Museum 3, Pitch Perfect 1&2), and Melissa McCarthy, whose starred in several successful movies.
-We've been through the Kirstie Alley drama, not to mention Gabourey Sidibe and Oprah.
-We've had the "Dove Campaign for Real Beauty" and some other movements against conventional beauty.
So I think it's much more likely to be thought of as a serious matter, and the obese women are showing some clout. But the culture has not changed with regard to conventional beauty. Just check the models in the ads for Victoria's Secret and Calvin Klein, and the contestants and winners in the various beauty contests.
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The story is king.
Too much political correctness these days IMO. I don't believe anyone should make fun of people for being fat but people can't even take a joke in a movie anymore without someone being offended.
Y'know, I could eat a peach for hours
Holy shit! That was Rebel Wilson who played that fake British security guard?! I had no idea! She hasn't improved a lot since then.
shareActually I think this movie would do better today. Shallow Hal isn’t about fat shaming or bullying obese people, it’s about learning to accept them and even putting your prejudice aside to find them sexually attractive. Sounds very 2020 to me. Besides, people in 1997 were actually very angry about the film. I know most internet users seem to think offended people didn’t exist until 2011, but people have been offended since the dawn of man.
shareIt's true. People can't take a joke anymore these days. The movie would be panned today (despite its message), and accused of fat-shaming women.
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