After taking his dying father's advice, Hal dates only the embodiments of female physical perfection. But that all changes after Hal has an unexpected run-in with self-help guru Tony Robbins. Intrigued by Hal's shallowness, Robbins hypnotizes him into seeing the beauty that exists even in the least physically appealing women. Hal soon falls for Rosemary, but he doesn't realize that his gorgeous girlfriend is actually a 300-pound-not-so-hottie.
Acting
Gwyneth Paltrow's committed physical comedy in a fat suit she regrets.
Practical Effects
The elaborate fat suit prosthetics that aged like milk.
Writing
The screenplay's genuinely sweet moments buried under dated gags.
Director
Peter Farrelly
Jack Black
Hal Larson
Gwyneth Paltrow
Rosemary Shanahan
Jason Alexander
Mauricio Wilson
Joe Viterelli
Steve Shanahan
Rene Kirby
Walt
Bruce McGill
Reverend Larson
Tony Robbins
Tony Robbins
Susan Ward
Jill
Zen Gesner
Ralph
Brooke Burns
Katrina
Rob Moran
Second Tiffany
Kyle Gass
Artie
Laura Kightlinger
Jen
Nan Martin
Tanya Peeler
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Gwyneth Paltrow wore a 25-pound fat suit and prosthetic makeups that took four hours daily; she's since called it her least favorite performance.
The film exemplifies early-2000s 'enlightened' comedy that aged horribly—intending to critique superficiality while literally casting thin actors in fat suits rather than hiring plus-size performers.
US
