Today I present for your consideration Fat Kid Rules the World (2012, Rated R, Available On DVD or Netflix Screaming).
Fat Kid Rules the World is the kind of small, offbeat film that I adore.
Troy (Jacob Wysocki) hurtles us directly into the path of this movie by stepping in front of a bus. He's fat. His mom died. His brother is a jerk. His father is harsh and doesn't know what to do with a kid who eats all the time and doesn't have any friends.
Marcus (Matt O'Leary) shoves Troy away from suicide and into the beginnings of what might be a full life with friendships, going places, learning to be a drummer so he can join Marcus's new band . . .
But is Marcus really Troy's friend? It's not long before Marcus asks Troy for money and assistance with various "projects" that might not be in Troy's best interest.
I don't want to tell you more about the plot of this film because I'm afraid I'll ruin it for you. Let's say Fat Kid Rules the World revolves around relationships: new relationships, old relationships, changing relationships, renewed relationships. Of course, it incorporates my beloved interconnectedness of humankind.
The acting is excellent. Wysocki is outstanding with his sad hound dog eyes and his ability to convey Troy's coming of age and new understanding of humanity. The way he starts to speak up for himself–Dudes, it moves me.
O'Leary is great, too, as is Billy Campbell as Troy's father. Dylan Arnold makes an impression as Dayle, Troy's incredibly annoying brother.
This movie is rated R. It includes drug use, violence, and profanity. If Favorite Young Man and The Hurricane were still my little darlings, hanging around the house during a snowstorm, I would want them to see this movie. I would allow a 10 year old to watch Fat Kid Rules the World, and really encourage it for ages 13 and older. But you know your kids. As always, I urge you to watch the movie yourself and then decide if your children should see it. If you vote to let the kiddies watch, then please, please, please discuss the film afterwards.
Fat Kid Rules the World earns The Janie Junebug Highest Seal of Approval.
Something I want to mention about movies that you should consider (and it's used in this particular film) is Watch For Parallels. Maybe a character will commit an act repeatedly but his actions will be a little different each time. Or MAYBE you'll see parallels between a couple of characters, and those parallel actions will change the course of the characters' paths.
Happy Viewing!
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
P.S. Please don't tell me you've never heard of this movie. I know you've never heard of it. I don't care. One of the reasons I write MOVIE WEEKEND is to introduce you to movies you've never heard of. Yes, sometimes I review a movie that everybody knows about, especially if my opinion of the movie is different from the general consensus. But most of the time, the idea is to ferret out something different, or to call your attention to a movie that's a waste of time (I want to save you from the bad and the ugly), or sometimes to say, Yeah, you HAVE heard of this movie and it's an artistic triumph.
P.P.S. You know, I hope, that when I say I don't care about what you say, that I'm putting on my indifferent act. Of course I care. Jeeze Louise.
P.P.P.S. I have to admit I'm glad I no longer live where there's snow. I'm not trying to taunt or pick on those of you who have to deal with a shitload of snow tonight. I wish I'd never left Maryland. But now that I've been in Florida for a while,
I
really
do
not
miss
snow.
I
just
miss
my
home
in
Maryland
I think it's great that you write about films no one has ever heard of. If I had some energy, I would do the same for books. Thank you for this one.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could send you some energy, Inger, because I'd love to hear about the books you read.
DeleteI miss the snow. And my home in Ohio!
ReplyDeleteYou do have a way of finding hidden gems in the way of movies. I have a list of ones you've recommended, but I have so little time to actually watch them.
You might not stop missing your home in Ohio, but you might start NOT missing snow when you think about no more shoveling. I love movies that are hidden gems. Books, too.
DeleteHow did YOU hear about this movie? It sounds really good, and I will see it.
ReplyDeleteI've rated so many movies on Netflix that they send me little messages saying, Janie, we think you'll like this movie. And I usually do. In spite of the little tiff Netflix and I have over movies removed suddenly from screaming, Netflix and I are really very tight. It's a love affair for the ages.
DeleteI didn't know you were a Maryland girl, Janie Junebug. Mrs. Shady is from Baltimore and I came to Florida from across the Maryland border in the land of fertile soil and rolling hills known as Penn's Woods. Based on what I've read it surely is rough sledding in my home town of York tonight! Meanwhile, it was in the 80s here in Tampa Bay today and I'm still running the air conditioning at 8 pm!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post about Fat Kid Rules the World but golly gee - I never heard of it! :) I'm a little disappointed because I was hoping you'd discuss Gone With The Wind. (Please don't say "Frankly, my dear Shady, I don't give a damn!") It made me laugh when I read your P.S. because I tried to get the same point across in my latest post. You review movies. I review music. It goes without saying that readers won't be familiar with some, perhaps most of what we have to offer. That's why we're here - to teach, to learn and to have some fun in the process.
I love small indie films and avoid many of the obvious Hollywood blockbusters. Fat Kid sounds like my kind of movie and I thank you for turning me on to it.
I hope your year is off to a great start, dear Janie. Talk to you soon!
I lived in Maryland for 15 years: 3 years in Laurel and 12 in western Maryland. I was a newspaper reporter in Waynesboro, PA (horrible job), and The Hurricane is a graduate of The Mercersburg Academy. We just had a cold front move in. It's supposed to get down to 39 tonight. I don't think it's much fun to review movies if people already know all about them and have formed their opinions. Let me serve as your guide, Dear World.
DeleteI am sitting here waiting for the power to go out... Tony just got in from shoveling, again. I spent all day delivering in snowmageddon, and yet... we still have 12 more inches yet to fall. We are under a blizzard warning, and I am expected at work in the morning.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet.... I still don't miss Florida.
I wish I knew where I could find this movie without netflix...
Do you have Amazon Prime? They might have it. The end of the movie rental store has really changed the way we see movies. You might try Googling "I want to see Fat Kid Rules The World" and see what happens. In fact, I might try Googling that to see what happens.
DeleteEven though I've never heard of this movie, the title intrigues me, for obvious reasons.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever seen one of my favorite movies, "The Man Who Could Work Miracles"? It stars Roland Young & Ralph Richardson. It was made in 1937 & it's based on a H. G. Wells story. I think you'd like it!!
ReplyDeleteI'll try to remember to look for it. You'll need to remind me 10 or 12 times. My mind isn't what it used to be. The trivia has shoved out the worthwhile information from my brain.
DeleteRight: I’ve never herd of this movie. So there. Be scared, good and proper
ReplyDeleteActually, we don’t get the same movies (and certainly not at the same time) on both sides of the big divide. So, maybe Netflix would be a good idea?
You are performing a public service; I hope you get all the appreciation you deserve.
I'm terrified. Do you get Netflix? Does it have the same movies all over the world? It should. And I feel quite appreciated, thank you.
DeleteI never…thought about what watching this movie. It sounds like something that would move me as well, and even if sad, it's always good to see a young man/lady understand more about life and stand up for themselves. I'm watching it! Well, soon I'll watch it.
ReplyDeleteI don't miss the snow either! Oh wait, the sun I see right now is deceiving. I have about 8 inches of snow mocking me right outside my door...
You tell the snow that The Queen of Grammar says, STOP MOCKING S. KATHERINE. Is it melting yet?
DeleteI'll put this one on my "maybe" list. Thanks for the referral.
ReplyDeleteHow did your former MIL like her cards?
I'll reveal what my MIL said on the next GRATITUDE TUESDAY.
DeleteI don't even give a crap about the movie anymore. I was having too much fun with your PMSs at the end. And yes, the snow sucks. Except I got an extra day off work because of it, for which I'm grateful. I only like snow when it closes the office. Which isn't very often.
ReplyDelete-andi
Every day is like a snow day for me now, but without the snow.
Delete