Fat Movies & Resources
Each Fat Fridays Virtual Social Club involves a themed discussion and game. The following information came from our May 2022 gathering with the theme of fat movies. The list of fat movie characters and other links and resources came from our group discussions, while the game was created by Bree.
Fat Movie Characters
A round of applause for our MVPs!
John Candy in all the things! Special mentions of Uncle Buck and Nothing but Trouble. John Candy was one of our MVP Fat Movie Actors who was named by a handful of folx. Everyone was in agreement about their appreciation of his humor, noting that his jokes were never rooted in fatphobia or mockery as a fat person.
Queen Latifah was another MVP Fat Movie Actor who was triply mentioned for The Last Holiday, Girls Trip, and Bringing Down the House
There are plenty more favorite fat movies and fat characters to choose from!
While some of us acknowledged there are problematic aspects of some of our favorite fat characters, reclaiming and reframing those characters has been empowering for us.
A Matter of Size
Divine in everything Divine’s ever been in! Special mention of Female Trouble
Divine & Ricki Lake as Edna & Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray (1988)
The Fat Body Invisible
FatMob (documentary) - Watch here!
Gordita by Debbie Wolf (short film)
Homer Simpson and Patty & Selma from The Simpsons (there was a movie, it counts!!)
John Belushi as Jake Blues in The Blues Brothers
John Goodman… also in everything he’s ever been in! Special mention of his films with the Coen brothers
Kathy Bates as Evelyn Couch in Fried Green Tomatoes
Linda Bassett as Mrs. Jennings from Sense and Sensibility
Melissa McCarthy as Mullins in The Heat
Mo’Nique as Jazmin Biltmore in Phat Girlz
Russel from Up
Ursula from The Little Mermaid
Weightless by Faith Pinnick with Liz Nichols (documentary)
Name That Fat Movie Character! (Game)
Check out the PowerPoint for the game here. When we played during Fat Friday, the PowerPoint was shown and participants were given the chance to guess the character name from memory. If no one could guess, then the following options were provided.
1. Glenn Shadix in Beetlejuice
A. Otho
B. Lotho
C. Etho
D. Rotho
Answer: A. Otho
2. Gabourey Sidibe in Come as You Are
A. Pam
B. Sam
C. Graham
D. Tam
Answer: B. Sam
3. Harvey Guillén in Werewolves Within
A. Finn Wheeler
B. Peter Anderton
C. Devon Wolfson
D. Joaquim Wolfson
Answer: D. Joaquim Wolfson
4. Ken Page in Nightmare Before Christmas
A. Santa
B. The Mayor
C. Oogie Boogie
D. Barrel
Answer: C. Oogie Boogie
5. Melissa McCarthy in Identity Thief
A. Abby
B. Diana
C. Connie
D. Tammy
Answer: B. Diana
6. Sammo Hung in Kill Zone
A. Wong Po
B. Fatty
C. Chan-Wing
D. Tiger
Answer: A. Wong Po
7. Gabriel Iglesias in Magic Mike
A. Fluffy
B. Gabe
C. Sprinkles
D. Tobias
Answer: D. Tobias
8. Francesca P. Roberts in Super Mario Bros.
A. Daisy
B. Goombella
C. Bertha
D. Elder Princess Shroob
Answer: C. Bertha
9. Divine in Female Trouble
A. Babs Johnson
B. Dawn Davenport
C. Francine Fishpaw
D. Edna Turnblad
Answer: B. Dawn Davenport
10. Kenan Thompson in Good Burger
A. Ed Brandon
B. Roy
C. Dexter Reed
D. Russ
Answer: C. Dexter Reed
11. Ha Jae-Sook in Take Off 2
A. Ko Young-ja
B. Hee-joo
C. Oh Mal-Sook
D. Al-soon
Answer: A. Ko Young-ja
12. John Goodman in The Big Lebowski
A. Walter Batsos
B. Walter Sobchak
C. Walter Kerbatsos
D. Walter Chaksob
Answer: B. Walter Sobchak
13. Octavia Spencer in Hidden Figures
A. Emily Stanton
B. Linda Workman
C. Dr. Corman
D. Dorothy Vaughn
Answer: D. Dorothy Vaughn
14. Fat Joe in Night School
A. Bobby
B. Teddy
C. Jaylen
D. Stewart
Answer: A. Bobby
15. Ts Madison in Zola
A. Dallas
B. Valencia
C. Hollywood
D. Odessa
Answer: C. Hollywood
16. Divine & Ricki Lake in Hairspray
A. Edith & Taffy Turnblad
B. Edna & Tracy Turnblad
C. Eden & Tina Turnblad
D. Evie & Taylor Turnblad
Answer: B. Edna & Tracy Turnblad
Resources
Bralette recommendations
Not brand specific, but try tank crop tops as bralettes, especially the super short ones
Trans Tape, while used as a form of binding, can also be used as an alternative to bras
How to navigate friends who participate in diet culture
Reply with, “You know that’s bullshit. You know the facts.” (...that diets don’t work.)
Depending on my capacity or the closeness of the relationship, I might come up with a boiler type response. Like, “I’m sorry friend, I make it a habit not to comment on people’s bodies.” This explains why you’re not talking about the changes in their body, without listing reasons why it's offensive. If you don’t want t dive into that with these people, you could try that instead to protect yourself going down that long road with them.
Reply with, “Wow, our bodies really change a lot in the course of our lifetime.” You can use that with whatever direction people’s bodies change.
Sometimes derailing is the thing to do to protect yourself from being subjected to that. (Change the subject.)
Disengage.
RSVP for Fat Fridays Virtual Social Club!
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