michellephillips This is a TV movie that feels like it should have been a film. Overall it is charming, and sweet, yet more serious than it appears at first viewing. It is an offbeat mix of Cinderella/Pretty WomanI saw this many moons ago on the tube, loved it and never forgot it. I loved it because of the film's message. People are more than just their outward appearance. Heart and soul can matter more. Dreams can come true. Everyone, if they have the courage and spirit can make them come true, regardless of circumstance. Viewing the movie so many years later, I find that it still holds up for the most part. Rickie Lake's wonderfully realized Grace goes from finding her solace in a bag of chips to realized her zest for life and love in her pursuit of the man of her dreams.Why she chooses the character of Rob to give her love to is the weakness of the film. And it leads into the other central issue of the film, the mystery of love and attraction. Why do we love who we love? Grace focuses on Rob because he is beautiful. That at least is her initial rationale for why she wants him. Ultimately she wants him simply because she loves him and he makes her feel loved in return. Surely the best of reasons, maybe the only reason.If this film was made today, it might have ended differently. Rather than ending up with handsome Rob, Grace might have simply gone on to cosmetology school, growing from her relationship with Rob into a more confident woman, who would move on to someone else. A better ending for this movie? Maybe, but most women will thrill to the ending of Rob kissing her in the subway. I know I did. When I first saw it, and when I watched it again. Baby, dream your dreams.

Nicholas Rhodes Recently discovered this one here in France under the title "Une Fille à Croquer". This is a light-hearted reassuring and at times funny film with lots of tenderness. True, the ending is a little contrived and over accelerated. Also, Ricki is a damned side more attractive than the boy's fiancée ( awful woman!! ) so the final choice for him was pretty obvious. Still it's always a pleasure seeing someone making a film going against Western stereotypes ( ie that fat is bad and thin is good ). In Africa, as far as I know, its just the opposite, the men ADORE fat women and wouldn't give thin ones the time of day. There are other films on this them like Shallow Hal but the best is a German one called "Die Hässlich" ( see my comments on IMDb ). This is a far more emotional affair and does not end well, but not for the reasons you might imagine - Kleenex is definitely essential. Babycakes is more light hearted and although Grace is plumpish, she is damned good looking but more important has a sincere and warm character, which is why the metro driver has no problem coming to his final choice !!

lasilana IF you want a cheesy love story - this is right up there - looks aren't everything - and its Ricki Lake before she got a talk show and lost all her weight --- its cute in a cheese filled way - and its SO very late eighties early nineties -- I liked that its about finding yourself as much as it is about finding someone to be with - and I love that he is a figure skater --- how amusing is that? Craig Sheffer is great as a guy torn between what he wants and what he thinks he should want. Ricky Lake plays a fat girl who has no self esteem - and I just like the cheesy feel good category that this falls into. I also really liked the element of cattiness in this movie - that some people just cannot stand by and watch someone change or find happiness without getting involved... and its pretty cute for a TV movie.

Wandering_Lilly When i first began to watch this movie i wasn't sure whether it was going to be any good, i thought Large girl pratically stalking a 'good looking' guy wasn't going to end well but it was absolutely wonderful the first time i watched it i could not stop crying.It is a symbol for all those woman out there who are not perfect, i'm one of them and when i watched this movie it gave me Hope, it sounds corny but its true. Not all great looking men want fabulous looking woman, ok most do but i don't believe that every guy who has a good looking girl is truely happy. That is what this movie show's, You wish and hope for long enough and maybe one day life will come up good after all.SPOILERSGrace is over weight, overly un-happy and overly lonely, She just wants to be seen for who she is and not what she looks like. When she and her friend go ice skating, Grace see's the most beautiful man on earth and at that moment she belives in herself that she has a chance with him. She begins to follow him, finds out he works as a train driver and that he has a perfect looking girlfriend but not the perfect life. She takes it upon herself to meet him and that she does at the ice ring where they get talking and she invites him to dinner. He doesnt turn up until the dinner is ruining but she forgives him and asks a favor for him to go to dinner with her and his family, he says yes, sticks up for her and they bond. They both decide that while his girlfriend is on a buisness trip he will move in with grace. Rob and Grace have the time of of there lives.But his girlfriend comes back early and ruins it all. Rob begins to realise that life with the perfect looking girlfriend isn't all its cracked up to be and that life with Grace is bliss. I won't ruin the ending.