TV Review: Queen Sized
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that although this made-for-TV movie --
which stars
Hairspray sensation Nikki Blonsky -- has central
messages about acceptance, body image, and eating issues that
are good for tweens, too, there are several things that make it
a better choice for teens only. For one thing, teen characters
are shown drinking with no consequences, and there's at least
one mention of teens having sex. Girls are also frequently
shown in their bras (although you could argue that that's no
worse than what the average kid sees on MTV every day).
Families can talk about stereotypes in general and how difficult they can be to overcome. Teens: Has anyone at school ever tried to label you and make you feel like you weren't "normal"? If the main character of this movie was a student at your high school, do you think she really could have been crowned homecoming queen? Why or why not? Parents might also want to broach the subject of binge eating and stress that it's not a healthy behavior. While it's true that you don't have to be skinny to be happy, it's equally true that you should live your life as healthfully as you can by eating nutritious food and exercising regularly.
Common Sense Media Review
Stereotypes are shattered in this TV movie that's based on
the true story of a plus-sized high schooler who decides to run
for homecoming queen -- and not just the ones you'd expect. In
fact, the lack of predictability is what sets this drama apart
from so many other teen-driven stories with a positive
message.
In QUEEN SIZED, plump, plucky heroine Maggie Baker ( Hairspray 's Nikki Blonsky) is imperfect in more ways than one. There's the obvious fact that she's overweight. But she also has an unhealthy habit of binge eating in times of emotional stress that's shown in relatively graphic detail. (Thankfully, there's also an exploration of why she might feel the need to suppress her feelings with hidden stashes of junk food she keeps in her room: Her father recently died, her mother is frustratingly thin, and she's teased mercilessly at school.)
In another unexpected twist, Maggie's pretty blonde classmate, Tara (Kimberly Matula) -- who's also vying for the title of teen royalty -- isn't a vindictive witch. She's actually a nice person with a brain of her own who's captain of the debate team ... and just so happens to date the school's dreamy quarterback (OK, so apparently some stereotypes are worth hanging on to). It's actually Maggie's coattail-riding friend who becomes obsessed with making sure that Maggie doesn't make it on the ballot.
The things that hold Queen Sized back include weak dialogue that smacks of an "after-school special," a few improbable plot twists and the decision to use co-star Annie Potts as both Maggie's mother, Joan, and as a sort of glammed-up devil that sits on Maggie's shoulder and makes her feel bad about herself. Still, it's nice to see a movie about high school that nobly tries to step out of the box.
Looking for more teen offerings with positive messages? Mean Girls and Never Been Kissed are excellent choices ... and so is Hairspray, for that matter.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
