The Fattest Man in Britain

"I'm just a fat man!" It was a great line, but it just made me think that inside this broadly entertaining drama was a sharper, less funny one trying to get out.

If I had just read a description of the plot and nothing else, I probably would have given this movie a miss. But I am glad I watched it despite its quirkiness. Partly it is Timothy Spall, who still surprises me with his versatility sometimes, along with the unlikely but believable chemistry that develops between his Fattest man in Britain character and young pregnant Amy. Despite feeling a little sad for the main character, it is mostly a feel good movie about an optimist who has no right to be an optimist. The tourists he encounters seem over the top sometimes, but the way the pandemic has exposed people’s extreme behavior, I suppose I should withhold judgment on their believability. The plot bounces along with its strong ensemble cast and there is even some character development along the way, though not for everyone. As for the ending — well, I will leave you to it, but it is a feel good film, so trust that it won’t let you crash too low.

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