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FAT GIRLS
Written, Produced & Directed by Ash Christian.
Director of Photography Vincent Wrenn.
Edited by Karl Kimbrough.
Released by Here! Films/Regent Releasing.
USA . 83 min. Rated R.
With Ash Christian, Ashley Fink, Jonathan Caouette, Robin De Jesus & Joe Flaten.

I appreciate those quirky films that feel small but are also known for outstanding and subtle acting, real emotion, and a genuine quality not often found in a traditional Hollywood movie (Little Miss Sunshine). Fat Girls is not one of those films, though it wants to be. In fact, it tries very hard, but nonetheless, it disappoints and underwhelms at every turn.

The plot is benign enough. Rodney Miller (Ash Christian) is a gay high school senior in a small Texas town. His best friend is an obese girl named Sabrina (Ashley Fink). Rodney likes theater and dreams of fleeing to New York to make it big on Broadway. Hmm, never heard that one before.

Rodney narrates much of the movie. At one point, he says “I didn’t see that coming. Did you?” To this I could only respond, YES! Of course I saw it coming, and so will anyone who watches this movie. The plot points are so obvious and been-there-done-that: the awkward gym class selection scene, the popular girl asking everyone to vote her and her boyfriend prom king and queen, the drama teacher befriending the student who is different…yada, yada, yada.

I can see where writer/director (and lead actor) Christian wants his film to go, but the dialogue and acting are so strained that the warmth and satire he wants to wring out of this treacly script are nonexistent. Humor is attempted by making Rodney’s mom a religious zealot, but it falls flat. Early on, his father dies (no spoiler, I assure you), yet it does nothing to move the film along or allow Rodney or the other characters to grow. By the end, which thankfully comes after only one hour and 23 minutes, you know exactly what will happen. As for the film’s title? Apparently fat girls live inside many people, even those not fat, and some who are not even girls. Rodney realizes this at the conclusion, but as far as I’m concerned, after this movie, I’d rather be anorexic. Danielle Hughes
November 2, 2007