Home | Reviews | Exclusive Writings | Great Links | Miscellaneous | FAQ | Contact Us

Shallow Hal /

Rated: PG-13

Starring: Jack Black, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jason Alexander, Susan Ward, Joe Viterelli 

Directed by: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly 

Produced by: Bradley Thomas, Charles B Wessler, Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly 

Written by: Ivy, Sean Moynihan, Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly, Sean Moynahan 

Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox

 

Movie Image

Movie Image

Movie Image

     Let's be truthful here, this really is a sad story turned into a comedic extravaganza. But, that didn't stop me from laughing! I mean some overly obese people very well could be offended by Shallow Hal, but it was so funny, so funny indeed. Jack Black's clean cut look did appeal to me more than that scruffy, alcoholic he always plays. The best part of the whole movie though was seeing Gweneth Paltrow in a fat suit; I guess little miss perfect just turned a little less perfect!

     "Shallow Hal" is a man who can not get past the looks of a woman. On his death bed, his father told him to never marry someone who has a great personality, but to marry the one with the greatest sex-appeal. Every night after that, Hal would hit the clubs! But of course no one would want to dance with him, because he turned out to be an overweight loser himself! One day, he found himself very depressed. He entered the office building afraid of losing his job, once again while entering the elevator. Guess What??? It got stuck! But this turned out to be a good thing. Guess who he was stuck with? A motivational speaker and psychiatrist! Hal brought up his problems to the man immediately. Without telling Hal, the psychiatrist hypnotized him. This spell would allow Hal to see the inner beauty of a person, as if it was on the outside.

     In the clubs that night Hal thought he was the greatest living chick-magnet. Except what he didn't know was that he was a magnet for ugly, beat up chicks who were good at heart...

     You see, the story is the magic here. It creates hilarious jokes that you can't help laughing at; while at the same time it teaches us a moral lesson in the end. The real truth is that the writers create the magic, the actors and actresses just perform it.

     Shallow Hal was a movie of itself. I will guarantee you, this is one of comedy's greats! All of the other new movies in this genre are just corrupt, teen-attracting THINGS with a lot of crude humor in them that create an occasional laugh. If you would like to see an intelligent comedy with semi-realistic issues then Shallow Hal is for you!

-Danny, Bucket Reviews

 


Back to Home
The Bucket Review's Rating Scale