gavin6942
Plump kids are lured into joining a posh fat camp with the promise of quick weight loss and good times, only to find that the facility is a woodland hellhole run by a psycho ex-fitness instructor."Heavyweights" currently holds a 29% "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on seven professional reviews, but is fresh within the community with 78%. According to Stephen Holden, "Heavyweights is really two movies in one, and they don't mesh. One movie is a no-holds-barred spoof of a Tony Little- or Susan Powter-style fitness merchant. The other movie is a conventional family comedy that pokes lighthearted fun at the chubby young campers" What makes this film stand out is that it is an early film from Ben Stiller and Judd Apatow, both of whom have become huge success stories. But there is still something odd about the film, because although the "fat kids" are the good guys, they are still presented as something to laugh at and a group of kids who can't stop hoarding junk food. This could be seen as offensive by some.
ShawnL2
This was simply one of the worst movies I've ever seen. It was recommended by a now-former friend. The plot was clearly slapped together by three zombies from "The Walking Dead" (or a C- list Damon/Affleck non-sexual couple) and made about as much sense as Ron Paul ; the "we can do anything even though we're fat" message was ham-handed at best, and as blunt as Sarah Palin on a particularly stupid day; the dialog was wooden -- which make sense because so were the actors. I literally couldn't see the forest for the trees. Its the sort of movie that makes you pray for a forest fire, or for Jason Voorhees to show up and put a stop to this nonsense. That's the only ending that could have improved this movie: mass slaughter, starting with the writers.I'm stunned at how bad it is, in all honesty. I can't imagine how it got made. I really can't. The voice-over narration of the kid's letter home to grandma was filled with lines like, "Together, we can do anything!" and "We all love ourselves now" -- yet they feel that way after doing absolutely nothing to earn that confidence except promise to lead healthier lives after a night of binging. I laughed only because I can't believe that someone read the script and said yes. Avoid this movie. It's not an enjoyable mess, just a mess; on a brighter note, it is an epic triumph for writers and producers lacking talent, grace, and apparently basic intelligence.
moviecritichank-7
Heavyweights is a 1995 comedy released by Walt Disney Pictures and directed by Steven Brill, the creator of the also hilarious Mighty Ducks movie (which is another favorite of mine). It is about overweight kids who are sent to a camp run by a fitness fanatic named Tony Pekis (Ben Stiller from "Meet the Parents") who is out to make their summer a nightmare. I first saw this movie when it came on Disney Channel about 3 or 4 years ago and since then I have bought and watched this movie over 12 times and I plan to see it many, many more times because this movie is absolutely hilarious and I think it is a Classic movie. From the very beginning to the end credits where the Camp Hope song is sung (which will have you laughing even more) and where Perkis becomes a door-to-door salesman (which is also hilarious) Heavyweights is (if you have a sense of humor) a great movie which I love to quote. One of my many favorite quotes is when Josh, (Goldberg from The Mighty Ducks films) says to Perkis "I know whose candy it is, okay. The candy belongs to seymour butts." Then Perkis replies, confused "Seymour butts?" "Seymour butts?" "Who's seymour butts, huh who's seymour butts?" then Josh says "Nobodys seen more butts than you Uncle Tony!" If you haven't seen this movie yet, the next time you are in a video store, consider renting this one. You shouldn't and I hope you won't be disappointed. You will laugh harder than you probably ever have at a PG film. Rating: Over the scale! (if you've seen the movie you get my joke).
dunbare
Heavy Weights is not a politically correct movie. I first saw this movie as a child on the Disney channel and thought it was hilarious.****SPOILERS********The movie is basically about fat boys in a fat camp and their crazy summer with psycho fitness slut Tony Perkis (Ben Stiller). Jerry is the leading fat boy. The film starts with him at his last day of school ready to enjoy a lazy summer. After he misses his bus and is almost attacked by a dog he comes home to find his parents are sending him to Fat Camp. Jerry is not pleased and screams at his Dr. Phil looking father "Your fatter than I am, you go to camp!" Jerry ultimately is forced to camp where he meets lovely fellow big boys, and realizes camp might not be so bad. They have go carts, "the Blob" and best of all no one picks on you because everyone is the fat kid. He makes many friends right away including a young Keenan Thompson.The movie really pokes fun of the mockery of fat children.1. The fat camps beloved owners (played by Ben Stillers real parents) have gone bankrupt and now new ownership has emerged in the form of former fat kid turned exercise Nazi Tony Perkis. This movie is where I first heard about Ben Stiller. He is great as the cruel Tony. He loves to embarrass his poor campers. At one point he cancels their lunch and simply tells them over the intercom "lunch has been canceled due to lack of hustle...Deal with it."CRUEL.2. The dance. This is another of Tony's sick twisted jokes and is hilarious. The boys have a dance with the girls camp and of course these girls are repulsed by the boys.3. Lars. This guy looks like one of the Gestapo. He is a counselor who has a thing for the camp nurse Julie. He is evil and perhaps his character is a mockery of a German Nazi. Lars is foreign and has an accent and marches around the camp with his Aryan looks blowing his whistle like a deranged fat hating Nazi.4. The baseball game. This is just downright unfair. The camp plays baseball against camp MVP, camp MVP is a SPORTS camp....Guess who won the game? 5. Food stealing. There cannot be a movie about fat camp without the stealing of food. Sounds funny and it is...after all no matter how many "glandular" or "hormonal" problems a person of generous girth has, ultimately the majority just ate and a lot...The boys go crazy when they learn the slop they have to eat and resort to desperate measures.6. Revenge. The boys are abused and downright sick of it. Their ultimate kidnapping of demonic Tony is hilarious. The scene at parents night when the parents see what their child is really going through is very funny! 6. The Apache Relay. The finale. This is where the camp again competes with camp MVP in order to win the Apache Relay.The apache relay is a serious of various obstacles that camp MVP always win..... The ending is really great.This movie certainly makes incredible fun of fat people, and not just fat people, but boys going through puberty. I found it hilarious than and still find it hilarious now. It may not appeal to anyone who does not like this sort of politically incorrect comedy, but for those who enjoy Ben Stiller or an occasional chubby joke may find this movie not only funny, but endearing. I would watch this with my brother and sister and we would laugh our heads off, but we were always rooting for the fat kids. Tony Perkis was the devil and we found the "capture" of him clever. Loved this movie.....may not be something for obese sensitive.