Young writer-director scores with underdog story. Even without hefty humor.
Been bullied? Then you'll feel Rodney. He's the guy who's always getting ragged on. And the one whose married-to-God mother (Deborah Theaker) is making it a bitch for him to be himself. Heard that one before? Of course you have. Except, here in "Fat Girls" (available on DVD Feb. 12), his ma is given more spirit, more depth – and a hilarious menu of religious foods, like Holy Hamburgers and Jesus Jambalaya. She's a quirky, well-played supporting character in a coming-of-age film brimming with primo performances, like that of 20-year-old director-actor-writer Ash Christian, who plays Rodney, and his chunky female sidekick – "wannabe lesbo" – Sabrina (played by newcomer Ashley Fink).
Together, the two Texans, along with a Cuban refugee (Robin de Jesus), forge their way through the often-crappy high school experience, dodging insults (fag! fatty!), attempting to score some nookie, which for Rodney is "Hot Joey," and ultimately befriending their "inner fat girl."
Each has a goal. Sabrina wants to be a nutritionist – which she reveals with a mouthful of fries. Rodney wants to skip college and head to Broadway – even though he'd be lucky just to make it through the "American Idol" auditions. He seems better-suited for a career in reviewing porn, since he spends much of his alone time beating his meat to adult videos. When his mother discovers his secret obsession, the film takes a very "American Pie" turn as she and some church ladies sit down to watch a Kirk Cameron film. Turns out the VCR is stuffed with something else: Men. Screwing. "I don't think Kirk Cameron would take a buddy for coffee – and then for a ride on the Hershey highway," she quips to Rodney.
Yet he still cruises down that highway, realizing that he won't please everyone on his journey to self-discovery. Not his intolerant classmates. Not his mother. Not even Hot Joe. "As you get older, you realize you can't really be yourself," Rodney says during one of the voice-overs, an effective-yet-overused instrument in the film. "You have to be parts of what other people want you to be." So true.
No one knows that better than Rodney, whose father forced Young Rod to play sports (we feel your pain!) while all he cared to do was smear some lipstick on. And that's where Christian's endearing flick, with a protagonist that's easy to sympathize with even if he's not always likeable (especially during an unexpected midget-sex twist), earns kudos.
Humor attempts are sometimes forced and unfunny, but "Fat Girls" is hefty in the heart department and does score some big laughs. At the core of Christian's film is an easily-associable underdog tale, much like "Napoleon Dynamite," told with hip wit, memorable characters and authentic dialogue – especially those lines delivered by Rodney. It's an accomplished flick for any filmmaker. Especially a triple threat like Christian who, at the time, couldn't even drink legally. B
