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Heavyweights (PG, 1995)

common sense media says

Good times at "fat camp" can be confusing to younger kids.

parents & educators say
See 1 review | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this comedy sends confusing signals about being overweight. It's not clear if the movie is about self-acceptance or self-loathing. There's some mild potty language and some pranks that get a little out of hand, as well.

Positive messages: Confusing messages about being overweight. Some of the tactics that Tony uses are cruel, and the revenge pranks that the campers enact are pushing it. The only females in the film are love-interests or mothers.
Violence: Tony is tied up and put inside of a cage with an electric fence. A father punches him in the stomach at the end of the movie.
Sex: Teens shown making out as the opening credits roll. One of the Camp Hope boys makes out with a girl at the dance. Pat the counselor kisses the camp nurse.
Language: "Damn," "big ass," "see you in hell," "kick his ass."
Consumerism: Food, glorious food! All kinds of candies and pizzas and junk food abound. Taco Bell, Burger King, McDonald's signs are displayed.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Food is treated like a drug -- the jonesing, the stashes, the withdrawals. Adults like the cameraman and the cook smoke cigarettes.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Heavyweights

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about food and its role in our lives. We need to eat to survive, right?
  • But what influences our decisions to eat certain foods?
  • Are you hungrier when you watch TV?
  • When does it feel good to eat? When do you not feel good about eating?

What's the story?

What's the story?
On the last day of school, Gerry Gardner (Aaron Schwartz) gets some unwanted news from his parents: this summer, he's being sent off to "fat camp." Once he's there, though, he meets some great guys who are happy to be away from the rest of the cruel, skinny world, and who share Gerry's obsession with candy and junk food. Their fabulous summer is threatened when Tony Perkis (Ben Stiller) buys the camp from its beloved owners, ruling with an iron fist. Not only are the kids depressed, but the counselors are shamed into submission. Camp movies never have a sad ending, though. Guess what happens in the end?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Ben Stiller's performance as a health maniac who operates the camp as a means to making a weight-loss infomercial is pretty dark. Yes it's funny when he shimmies about in his spandex shorts, doing sham tai chi, but there is something not right about his villainous camp counselor act. Is he having fun playing the role? He's not Bill Murray, that's for sure.

This said, older viewers might appreciate the satire more than younger kids. Judd Apatow is a co-writer on this film, which should ring some bells about over-the-top behavior. In all, HEAVYWEIGHTS does deliver some classic laugh-out-loud moments for the less faint of heart.

Movie themes & details

Themes
friendship
Movie Details
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Steven Brill
Cast: Aaron Schwartz, Ben Stiller, Tom McGowan
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 97 minutes
Theatrical release: March 4, 1995
DVD release: March 4, 2003
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA explanation: For some rude language and pranks
This review was written by Joly Herman
 
 

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Youth Dev ...
parent of 10 , and 12 , 17 year old
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Welcome to Summer
One of my favorites as a kid...plan on showing it to my students as a "welcome to summer" movie.
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