You have to give a movie like Fat Girls points for trying. This low budget comedy, by writer/director/and the film’s star, Ash Christian, does place a great deal of heart in its telling of its tale of two high school outcasts.

The titular Fat Girls, as referred to in a voice over by Christian during the film’s first few moments, are summarized thusly, “you don’t have to be fat to be a fat girl, you don’t even have to be a girl - it’s a state of mind.”

And the actual state of Texas serves as the film’s backdrop, as Rodney Miller (Christian) and his plus size gal pal, Sabrina Thomas (Ashley Fink) set out on a quest of self-acceptance, deep in the heart of their small town existence.

Rodney dreams of escaping drubbings at the hands of small-minded rednecks, craving more than a secretive and quick tryst with the school star quarterback, and has his sights set on becoming a Broadway star.

At home, he is ignored by his father, while his mother relishes in preparing him meals with “religious affiliations” attached to them, like angel food cake and heavenly hamburgers.

And, at school, with the calendar marking off the days until Rodney and Sabrina are free to escape their respective outsider labels and put an end to their high school hell, they decide to make a statement to their classmates. Sabrina lands herself a beau (Robin de Jesus), and Rodney musters up the courage to ask handsome English transfer, Joey (Joe Flaten) to the Graduation Dance.

The film does deliver some very comedic moments, mostly when Rodney interacts with his religiously fanatical mother. And, while Fat Girls isn’t quite on par with a film like 1998’s Edge of Seventeen - it does give an honest look at the awkward adolescent years, and will surely resonate with anyone who has been labeled as different.

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Tim Parks is an arts and entertainment freelance writer from San Diego, CA. His writing has appeared in The Gay and Lesbian Times, where he has a monthly column called “Gaywatch,” and he has also interviewed a multitude of celebrities. Parks’ work has also appeared on afterelton.com and in the U.K. magazine, reFRESH. Tim may be reached at t.parks@q-netwerk.com.

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