When I recently was given the opportunity to review Phase 4 Films‘ recent release, The Fat Boy Chronicles, I knew going into it that this movie would be geared for kids in an older age group. Even knowing that I was interested to watch The Fat Boy Chronicles because 1) it was inspired by a true story and 2) it was a Dove Family Approved movie(to learn more about Dove Family Approved movies click here.)
The inspirational family feature addresses the hot topic of bullying affecting millions of families in North America. The film festival award winner has been endorsed by numerous educators as a teaching tool for the classroom and featured on both local and national news outlets, including CBS News.
Jimmy Winterpock is the subject of brutal high school bullying who overcomes the torment by finding the strength to focus on his goal to lose weight and win over the girl of his dreams. Based on the acclaimed novel by Diane Lang and Michael Buchanan, the film has been heralded by critics for bringing real world issues that affect teenagers to an audience looking for answers. Dr. John Barge, Superintendent of Schools – State of Georgia, declares it “a must see for every parent and educator.”
While this movie is “Not Rated,” watching the severe bullying that Jimmy Winterpock experiences in the film is extremely uncomfortable and I wouldn’t recommend it for kids under Middle or High School ages. There are also other issues faced by kids that are addressed in the move that may be hard to explain to a younger audience, such as alcoholism, suicide, and self- mutilation. While none of these other issues are a main focus, they are all touched upon and may not be appropriate for a younger audience.
This is an inspirational movie though and I’ll leave you with my favorite quote, appropriate for all ages, “We are all tested but how you respond will define your life.” For the correct age group audience this receives… my SIMPLE star rating :: 4 out of 5
The Fat Boy Chronicles :: $29.99 SRP
*The product in this review was provided to me for the purpose of conducting this review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own*
