MovieChat Forums > Pizza Discussion > This Movie's Downfall

This Movie's Downfall

posted 17 years ago by barker_fan_78
14 replies | jump to latest

I rented this movie because I have always liked Ethan Embry and Julie Hagerty as actors and because I thought it would be nice to watch a "teen comedy" with a leading character who was not conventionally "beautiful." All of those teen comedies from the eighties and nineties had your typical Hollywood-beautiful types as quirky or offbeat characters...the underdogs. The problem with this movie is the writer's/director's portrayal of Cara-Ethyl.

He wrote her as a stereotype. An overweight teenage girl just has to be pouring over her double fudge chocolate cake, sweating with anticipation of consuming every crumb. She just has to eat like a pig. Does she have a pair of thick glasses?...but of course she does. Her pants just have to be falling down all plummer-style so we see crack. Oh...and of course she is a weirdo.

He made her stereotypically slovenly and super weird. He had this wonderful opportunity. He could have made her quirky and unsure of herself. He could have made her strong on the inside...full of all these opinions and vivacity that no one ever bothered to discover because of her appearance. He could have made her complex...and then contrasted her complexity with the simplicity of someone who relies on her looks to get by. But no....we get this jumbled mess of stereotypes and oddity. I don't doubt his intentions were good. As a woman who has struggled with weight her whole life, I have to say that this movie just made me angry. Very angry. If you are like me and hoped for a champion for the voluptuous woman...pass on this.

[–] JayCeezy 17 years ago

Not disagreeing with you, just offering my thoughts: Cara-Ethyl was 17, just turning 18. Faced rejection her whole life from her peers (witness the guys working at the pizza place, 'Emily' and the customers she knew from high school), disrespect from her young brother, and expectations of herself she knew she was not fulfilling (having even one friend to her party)with her mother.

She did seem like a stereotype, but stereotypes don't come out of nowhere. They are often true. For instance, 'a woman who has struggled with weight her whole life' being angry, and looking to an independent movie to provide 'a champion for the voluptuous woman.' That's a stereotype, not unexpected.

For me, as a guy, I identified with Matt. His life was as good as it was going to get when he was a high school star; now he is a 'pizza b*tch'. Ow! Roommates at 30 (notice the empty t.p. roll, and in the kitchen the empty paper towel roll; these are true stereotypes for a houseful of male underachievers). And moving forward, taking responsibility (like the job managing the pizza place, that he passed on) etc. all mean potential failure. It is hard to make something of one's life, and in the end only a very few people care. And that is, if one is lucky to have a friend or two, or family members who are supportive (instead of the other kind). Anyway, Matt impressed me with his kindness, and willingness to impart a bit of wisdom to a 17 year-old trying to fit in with 'the fun bunch.' Cara-Ethyl also got to have an honest moment with her mom, and that was worth a lot.

The ending was a bit disjointed and unsatisfying, but I liked it for what it was.

[–] chicadeblink 17 years ago

I really thought that Cara-Ethel was not the average stereotype of an overweight girl. I felt that the fact that she was so open about eating and eating a whole cake was the opposite of how she would be. I mean I was very overweight in highschool and if ever anyone was around I would avoid food like a plague. Most overweight people do too in HS. She is quirky and weird because it gives her an excuse as to why people dont accept her. When you arent 'popular' in highschool (me!) you always think its because of something you arent doing right. So I felt that the character was perfect in the fact that she was so imperfect.

im cool.

[–] Marebear7788 17 years ago

I Think the Movie would of been alot better if matt and cara would of fallin in love with each other and ended up together...or at least matt telling her he loves her but he would just hold her back that would of been sweet to see the Hot guy fall for the fat girl.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] kmoss-4 14 years ago

I just saw this movie and thought it was cute. I was glad they didn't end up together because of the age difference that would have just been creepy. But if you want to see a movie about a hot guy falling for an overweight girl (besides "Hairspray"), check out "Babycakes" with Rikki Lake before she lost weight.

"It's social...demented and sad, but social."

[–] Phatalbert10693-1 17 years ago

oh and uh heres another thing

the book can also be used as

a hat :-D

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] thuthchthan 14 years ago

*Is* they, you moron? Why don't you piss back off to the playground, you sad, shallow little man.

[–] BlackVelvetGlove 14 years ago

Wow, Killedyou. I think you should see more of the world before you walk away believing your statements are 100 percent true.

C'mon, it was the '80s! We all broke out in song and danced when we walked down the street.

[–] dwacon-2 14 years ago

This movie rates second only to “welcome to the dollhouse” -- it was a load of fun!

Dwacon
http://blog.dwacon.com/
http://www.twitter.com/dwacon

[–] tiffany_the_great 14 years ago

I agree with the OP...as a fat person I have to say the director's portrayal of Cara-Ethyl was lulzy and fail at most. He played off of the prejudices of fat-phobic people who assume that all fat people love food and relish the thought of eating all the time.

I won't say that I haven't met people like Cara-Ethyl--because I have--but to put such a character into the context of this movie is confusing because it seems to do exactly the opposite of what I assumed this film should achieve. Not to mention, there are largely more "normal" and not socially inept fat people in the world than Cara-Ethyls.

I really think the director completely missed by scripting the character as the obnoxious, socially retarded fat girl with no friends.

Someone needs to make a movie about me instead. (ha ha ha, just kidding)

[–] ms_moviebuff23 13 years ago

I agree that Cara-Ethyl should have been more of a strong-willed and non-caring young women, but I think the directer wanted her to be smart, yet scared, sheltered, and looking like a fool to get his message out there for "acceptance" and wanting it to be realistic in his mind.

She finally made a friend and wanted Matt to accept her the way she was. She didn't want to be looked down at as "weird" and "overweight" like her high school classmates would do.

In the end of the movie, I also was confused as to why her character didn't flourish into a young strong lady since she just turned 18 after falling in love with Matt. I don't put fault much on the actress, more of the directer and the writer who should have changed her more than what she did at the end. Cara-Ethyl deserved it and I was rooting for her. I honestly thought she was going to end up with Matt since he was actually good for her. It could have worked out as years went by where she's in her 20's.

Good story though, just needed some work and the ending was unfinished.

I'll always catch you when you fall.. -Will Young, Who Am I