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September 11, 2006
Shallow Hal
I liked Jack Black in "School Of Rock", and even though I've been reluctant to watch another Farrely Brothers film, when I discovered he was in it, I thought I'd give this one a go. The Farrely's are well known for their apparent aim to insult just about any physically or mentally disabled minority they can think of, all wrapped up with generous doses of bad taste. This is only a '12' certificate, so they are more restrained. In my opinion, a few judicious cuts would make this a passable family movie, but occasionally the crudeness is annoying. It would be nice if film makers could really make up their minds who their intended audience is.
Anyway, Hal is a shallow man, who only wants relationships with girls who have supermodel looks. He is hypnotised (by real life motivational speaker Tony Robbins in a cameo role) into seeing women for their inner beauty instead. And so when he meets really overweight, ugly, or disfigured people, if they are good people inside, they appear beautiful to him. He meets a truely gargantuan woman called Rosemary who is a volunteer at a local hospital childrens ward, and also does charity work for the peace corps. Obviously she appears to Hal as the lovely Gwyneth Paltrow and they begin a relationship.
In a gross misrepresentation of reality every ugly, fat person Hal meets has a heart of gold, and most of the pretty ones are mean and nasty people. I guess this simplification is needed to make the point. Unfortunately they haven't bothered to play the trick with every character, and I'm a stickler for detail like that. Rosemary's father is really quite an unattractive looking man, and stays like that even though he is a obviously a good person.
It's quite an interesting premise for a film, and there are a few laughs, though you always feel a bit guilty for it. Jack Black carries the film throughout - it really wouldn't be worth watching without him.
[trivia - I'm a big fan of the group Kings of Convenience, and was very pleasantly surprised to hear their song "Toxic Girl" during the film. It's not on the soundtrack CD though. I also felt that some of the incidental music had a real KoC feel to it.]
Posted by se71 at September 11, 2006 10:14 AM
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