Phat Girlz

Plot synopsis:
Jazmin Biltmore is a smart-mouthed, frustrated, plus-sized, aspiring fashion designer and department store employee who is obsessed with her weight.
Jazmin has always been overweight, unlike her skinny, cousin Mia. Jazmin wins a trip to Palm Springs for the weekend at a five-star resort. She and best friend Stacey find the first day at the spa embarrassing, as hotel robes don't fit, and the massage table is quite small for their thick figures. They leave in frustration to join Mia, who has been ogling a Nigerian man swimming in the pool. He introduces himself as Tunde, but Jazmin is shocked, too distracted to remember her own name. He and his friends find Jazmin and Stacey beautiful. However, they think Mia is so skinny that they wonder if she is sick. They invite the women out, with Tunde saying he has never seen such beautiful women in America.
Tunde and Jazmin begin dating but before they consummate their relationship she grows jealous and makes a scene when she sees him having dinner with a white woman instead of having dinner with a colleague like he told her. Tunde reveals the woman was his colleague but Jazmin, realizing she will forever be jealous and think Tunde will leave her, breaks up with him and leaves Palm Springs. At home she is depressed and comforts herself with food before having a breakthrough and realizing she is beautiful and worthy of being loved. Bursting with new confidence, Jazmin approaches the head buyer of the Bloomfields where she works and shows him her designs. Impressed he helps develop Jazmin's fashion line "Thick Madame" becomes popular and is launched worldwide.
One year later, she to travels to Nigeria to apologize to the man she realizes she loves. A woman opens the door holding a baby. Jazmin asks if she is Tunde's wife, and the woman agrees. Jazmin has the girls go to the taxi because she does not like to be rejected with an audience. She tells Tunde that he has changed her life, but she won't be a "homewrecker". Tunde clarifies that the woman is a maid, he delivered the baby, and the maid doesn't understand English. He says his prayers have been answered, as he has loved Jazmin all along. They share a passionate kiss, and he promises to handle only her. Mia and Stacy also reunite with their partners, and they join Tunde's family for dinner. Mia piles food on her plate, stating that she wants to bulk up so she can find a rich Nigerian doctor as well. The film ends with Jazmin and Tunde in bed, while Jazmin insists on having the lights on to see every sexy thing on Tundes body With the credits ending.

Tags: romantic

Review:
I had been dying to see Phat Girlz when it came out on DVD, but when I saw the incredible low rating on IMDb, I was just afraid of being disappointed and feeling like I wasted my time and money.
One of the most disturbing things I have seen on the IMDb reviews and boards are how this movie "promotes" obesity, when I don't see that at all, this film was just about accepting yourself and feeling good and confident in a world where being a "phat" girl is so unacceptable and makes them feel like the minority.
Monique had a positive energy, at times I admit she could be over the top and annoying, but I didn't find her character to be horrible, but actually more believable.Jazmin is a big girl in a small girl's world where she can't find any hot clothing for her size and wishes to help other big girls feel beautiful and sexy.
There she meets and incredibly handsome doctor who loves her figure and finds big women to be very attractive and helps her realize that maybe with a little confidence she could be on top of the world and smile with her killer fashion designs.I lost a lot of weight, I used to be a "phat" girl, so I think that's why I enjoyed the film somewhat, because I could relate.
I think if you let go and just have some fun, you'll like the film, just ignore the ignorant people who are just hating this film because there are big women in it, it's just a cute romantic comedy with a positive message.5/10.
Come on lets not take this too seriously or take things to heart, this movie might not be in the Oscar stakes, and Monique may in time become a good actress - but it is nice to see a film which has a lovely happy ever after.I think it is nice to see a movie which has the fat girl being chased by a hunk who loves big sized women, because in this world on size 0, its like fat girls don't exist unless they are fancied by fat men.Yes, the movie is not taxing on the brain and it certainly is easy on the thinking brain after a reality bitten hard days at work.I enjoyed the film immensely and i am just treating as one entertaining forgettable film.
Next to that everybody who is thin is referred to as a skinny bitch, and if that girl happens to be white and have a black boyfriend it's even more terrifying according to Mo'nique as "they are stealing their men" She's constantly judging people by the way they look.And we have to root for this woman.So no humor and no likable lead-character makes this movie a bad one in my opinion..
I had seen some of Monique's stand up before and I thought to myself "Hey...she was sort of funny before, and I've got some time to kill...why not?" Long story short...BIG MISTAKE!
The idea behind this film was to break barriers and stereotypes, but that can't be done if you keep perpetuating them at the same time.According to this movie fat women are dateless, desperate, and can only attract men from far away, impoverished countries where being obese is a good thing because food is so scarce.
And the whole "thin people are evil;they need to eat and get fat too, so that I can feel better" theme, is just embarrassing.An obvious hypocrisy is how fat women are accepted in this film, but the only men depicted as love interests had to have above average bodies.
It wasn't okay to ignore fat women, but it was okay to ignore fat men and even men who were just average.Altogether Phat Girlz was pitiful and treated the idea of taking overweight women seriously like a funny daydream rather than a real possibility..
Secondly, she complains that people make fun of her and are rude to her just because she's fat, but than her and all the Nigerians make fun of her cousin just because she's skinny.It looks like it was filmed on someone's home portable camera.
It seems that in MANY cases, people aren't actually discussing the merits of this film but are more making value judgments about being fat--a major plot element in the movie.
So, some supposed reviews talk about how the main character needs to lose weight or that she's unhealthy but this really isn't a review of the film--it's a statement about what they think of fat folks.
Yet, at other times, the film is very positive and reaffirming--such as Mo'Nique's coming up with a line of clothes to make overweight women look good as well as the wonderful relationship she has with her Nigerian love.
The plot was warming, even if it had plot holes, and I was entertained thoroughly from beginning to end.It's getting way too much unfair treatment, as do a lot of movies on IMDb, and people just really need to open their eyes to all of them on here, because the ratings and comments on many, including this one, are ridiculous.
Overall, it was a bad movie, but not in the sense of, "Oh my gosh, this is absolutely terrible." I totally enjoyed it and found it to be a really neat little movie in the end, and think that all the haters should rethink just a bit, because Mo'Nique is proving that BIG is beautiful..
The 2.1 average as of 6/20/2007 is disgraceful and I hope it climbs up after people start seeing it more on cable.There were a few technical flubs, but overall the directing and cinematography were quite good for such a low-budget movie.
At no time did I feel that the acting was forced or unnatural (except when Eric Roberts opened his mouth).Watch this movie with no expectations and you will enjoy it.
I know the lines are not new but they are daily lines people use when they find themselves in Jazmin's situation so why should it be different if the movie is just trying to tell that basic story.
Monique's comedy wasn't as good as I've seen in some of her other movies, however, the essence of the story was a great moral lesson to not only "Phat" women, but to women AND men, in general.
Bottomline: look beyond the stereotypical and you will see that the movie has a strong message: We, men & women, have to first love and accept ourselves for who we are, regardless of size, shape, color or ethnic background for that matter, before we can radiate and experience loving relationships with others, and especially with the opposite sex..
Enough with the "B" word already.Summary: Good movie, funny, kind of raw with the language, low quality filming, yet a powerful ending..
By the time I left, I had lost 20lbs.But it was a beautiful sunny day, I had just seen a promotion of the movie and I wanted somewhere to go and have a better look at "Tunde", Jimmy-Jean Louis's role.
Every love story I watch most of the time seems to based on looks and it does not matter how he treats the woman or has any common sense let alone intelligence.
In this movie we see something different.The reality is there are fat people in the world and I guess the writers and Monique just want there place in the world without being hated and mocked all the time.Whether fat is good or bad is not something I am going to comment on and it really is a matter of opinion.
I must say that while I don't find the movie all that realistic, I did feel a sense of lightness.Besides it's a comedy and I sure laughed.For those who have not seen it, ignore the naysayers, you may find that you like it.
Funny, this site's statistics say many more people really liked the movie, rating it a 2 on average, but only a few comments were posted and of those many were negative critiques.
once you get over the discomfort brought about by a fat woman liking herself and by seeing how much hate a fat woman experiences in America, you can appreciate a funny, well-written, and pretty well acted movie.
There where a few obvious glitches like in most other films but all in all, the movie isn't a bad one at all.The joke has always been on the fat one but hey!
In Phat Girlz, Monique wishes to create high fashion for big girls so that the'll feel more attractive.
Being a "Phat Girl" i enjoyed this movie, it helps us thick girls to love our bodies and that not everyone can be a size five!!
I thought being thick was a bad thing now i just love my self the way i am and if nobody likes it then it is too bad for them "I'm as plump as a roast and thicker than most!"-Jazmin America is filled with diet obsessed, workout addicted people, the ideal is skinny for women and strong and muscular for men Not everyone is like that!
I think that women in general (phat girls or not) would appreciate this movie and get a great laugh out of it.
It may be true that this may be a bit more appealing to the thicker women and the people who love them, but my best friend saw it too and she is a size 3 (scrawny lil' heffa :) and she laughed her butt off too.
It is a look into African American women lives and what women who are "Phat girls" need to do and that is love themselves and forget what society has to say.
The movie is not perfect and at times was a little cheesy but it definitely drove home its points about how women (and men) of the full-figured variety are badly treated in American culture.
Was laughing throughout and who cares about fat, there is beauty in every human being God made.This movie definitely lived up to expectations I had from the trailers I watched.The sound track's phat too.
I mean, would you really hate on a movie that has, as the title suggests, "Girlz," or let me put it in a better, non-abusive context, "Ladiez?" And no, they are not "Phat" nor "Fat"; they are pretty and funny!
After knowing about this movie for one time, well, it's a great film!.
I knew basically on what is the movie, it's about "phat girls" and how the modern society looks at them and how we are obsessed with beauty and being skinnypersonally i used to be fat but it doesn't change the fact that i'd rather enter a knife through my skull then watch this againi loved the main actress i think she did a good job but the storyline is off and i think that he movie looks like if it been two months more in editing, developing it could turn out betteri think that if the director wanted us to look at ourselves and be happy with out body and stop obsessing about fat well, he could of done it better by showing us not beautiful thin girl but showing us anorexic girls that the problem is real and that there are happy overweight people in the world like he did using the character but like the 1/3 last part of the movie was really bad so i don't count it.celebrate yourself if you are a thick madam but don't watch this movie..
Something is wrong with you people( again, haters!)if you cant appreciate a feel good movie for the 'thick madame's' of America, better yet the world, cause ya know what, there are more of us than there are of you(stick figures)!!
This is a fantasy people might enjoy watching because they'd like to do what Jazmin did.Mo'Nique gives a very good performance, one that suggests she might someday get an Oscar nomination.
I can relate to this movie because as for Moniques character it took me a long time to love myself even though I don't way three pounds and am 6 feet tall.I think that Mo'nique is a beautiful woman.Watch it and enjoy a feel good movie..
The same goes for big men.There are skinny girls everywhere who love great big teddy bears.If you didn't like this movie,you didn't get it.
If you have something hateful to say about this movie then you must be a very unhappy person who feels threatened that fat people are somehow stealing your happiness when it is your own hateful heart that is repelling others from you.Though this film will never be considered by the academy Monique's performance was amazing and blew me away.
It is a known fact that the majority of Nijerian men prefer there women to be of a big body structure and for you don't get what i mean i mean fat just think its a lot of hateful judgmental people who rated this movie...and for those who are wondering I am Skinny and a mix between black and white this movie dosen't offend me in any way I see this movie as a confidence booster for women who ave a low self-esteem when it comes to men...come on ppl lighten up...
and seriously I know some skinny girls that go into fast food restaurants everyday nd order just as big a portion size as the actress did in this film but y'all only judging because shes fat STOP THE STERO-TYPING!!!!!.
And i think that this movie also got the message across that its not right for us to discriminate against anyone because of the way they look.
She's so fat that when she meets a hot rich doctor he has to be from a foreign country(Nigeria), because apparently only Arican guys love large women, or so the the movie would make you believe.
It OK to be a fat girl, but if you want to be a guy you better be a model and have a six pack.Avoid this movie at all costs, unless you like fat jokes or just hate healthy people.
People don't know the issues healthy women go through with their weight, but watching this movie made me stop caring what other people think about me.
Thank you Mo'nique for making me feel special for one time in my life, to where other people criticize the way you are made, how you look, how you dress.
However, the movie's double standard is clear: Large women deserve equal opportunities in love and clothing lines, but fat men are better off unseen and unheard.
You've got to appreciate that the film includes questions about the Nigerian custom of female circumcision, but the movie's impossibly happy ending and the chaotic nature of everything that has preceded it makes Phat Girlz a dish of empty calories..
Direct to Video would have been a better option with the Director opting for a "Alan Smithee" credit to save the possible embarrassment.You can't simply like the premise of a movie, and overlook nearly all the above and below the line aspects, and give it a thumbs up.Sorry for the plight of the overlooked "Phat Girlz" of the world, and those that are obsessed with body image, but horrible film making is horrible film making!
OK, here's one big spoiler about the movie (and maybe life, in general) ALL skinny women are "bitches" who will try to steal your man, and the best way a large woman has to cope with it is to hate the living hell out of those women.
Ostensibly "Phat Girlz" was made to celebrate Big Beautiful Black Women, but this movie does them no justice.
It felt like the film was mocking me by going on when I wanted it to end so badly.So, what was it that made me wish for Phat Girlz to be at least twenty minutes shorter?
The first two acts of this movie are incredibly boring, it feels like nothing ever happens, mostly because they keep discussing one single issue, that of being fat.
This movie was a good ole fashion love story and if you can look past the usual stereotypes, you should get a lot out of it.
I read a comment about how Monique's character only likes handsome men and so the movie is hypocritical and I suppose I can see the point.
If you wanna know what fat feels like watch this movie.
To be honest it don't matter what you look like, how much you weigh or what you been through You are in this world for a reason and girl make the best of that!!This is a must see movie for All woman!
Unfortunately, no matter how big its heart it or how wonderful its message is, "Phat Girlz" is one of the least effective movies of the year.Jazmin Biltmore (Mo'Nique) is an overweight department store worker who is becoming increasingly fed up with the awful clothes in the plus-sized section and the negative views on overweight people.
So I guess the message was really, "If you're not skinny, be happy with who you are." I just really wish that, in order to portray this character, the movie did not feel like it had to beat into the audience that "Phat" is wonderful and "Skinny" is bad.
I am a Mo'Nique fan and I didn't particularly like this movie, either; however, I don't think it's fair to assume that fat people can lose the weight if they really wanted to any more than it's fair to assume that all thin people are anorexic.
That's what makes America great, expressing our opinions.In summary, the movie could have used some budget upgrading and better video cameras but the message is clear: Phat Girlz are people, too..
Most people who voted haven't even see the movie-they hate the message (Big is beautiful.) Monique is hilarious and inspiring as Jazmin Bilmore, a plump diva living in a world that refuses to accept her.