Bullying in schools is a hot topic for many, but there seems to be a lack in modern media showing it ‘in action’ with someone overcoming it. If this was the 1970’s, they’d most likely have an after-school special tackling the topic.
The Fat Boy Chronicles just might be filling that void now.
This movie follows the story of an overweight teen-aged boy during his freshman year in high school. Inspired by a true story, the viewer sees Jimmy Winterpock overcome the torment created by brutal bullying at the hands of many kids in new school. It is during his annual physical at the doctor’s office that he becomes driven to change his life and hopefully leave behind his ‘fat boy’ for good.
P and I watched this together. He was not as impressed with the film as I was. However, he could relate to some of the things that happened as he saw those behaviors when he was in school and heard all about the bullying that happens in the schools of friends and family members. And, we talked about how he would not want to go to school and face such turmoil.
There are moments in the film that would have me hesitate with letting my younger boys watch. Jimmy’s best friend acts out in response to his alcoholic father and the girl who has caught his eye at school and will actually talk to him suffers from emotional trauma that compels her to ‘cut.’ There is also a party scene with high school student engaging in behaviors including use of alcohol and one girl ‘flashing’ attendees when Jimmy is being tormented by one bully about having ‘larger breasts’ than the cheerleader. Viewers see her bra, but I recognize that it might be more than they want their young men seeing in a film and hence share about it here. Dove.org has given their seal with a 12+ rating suggestion.
The Fat Boy Chronicles has a suggested retail price of $29.99 US/ $32.99 CAD, is currently un-rated and a run time of 78 minutes.
Check out the Preview of the Film:
Disclaimer ~ Our family was sent a copy of The Fat Boy Chronicles to facilitate this review. No monetary compensation occurred and all opinions are my own.
It is too bad that kids are bullied, but at some point the parents have to take responsibility for their kids and put them on some sort of a diet. Allowing your child to be obese to the point where they are relentlessly tormented seems like a form of child abuse.
I think this video would make me very sad…but I guess that’s the point!