 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Queen Sized
- Review Date: January 11, 2008
- NR
- Genre: Drama
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
Complex messages for teens save so-so TV movie.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to 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).
What's the story?
In QUEEN SIZED (which is based on a true story), plump, plucky high schooler Maggie Baker (Hairspray's Nikki Blonsky) decides to run for homecoming queen. That means going up against pretty blonde classmate Tara (Kimberly Matula), as well as coping with a coattail-riding friend who becomes obsessed with making sure that Maggie doesn't make it on the ballot.
Is it any good?
Stereotypes are shattered in this TV movie -- 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. For example, Tara 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). And Maggie's unhealthy habit of binge eating in times of emotional stress (which is shown in relatively graphic detail) is actually dealt with thoughtfully.
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.
What families can talk about
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.
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AGE
fave lifetime movie. i loved this movie. im not the skinniest girl in the world. not every one is perfect.not everyone can be a stick figure. good movie. i find it realistic
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AGE
Watch with your teen daughter - We're all flawed
From the previews I thought this would be your standard sappy good vs evil movie. It's NOT. It's about friendship and relationships, and shows us that nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes.
Age appropriate - It's about high school and should be viewed by high school students. I watched it with my 7th grade daughter and found a few of the sceens inappropriate for her. Like a brief talk about sex and drinking at a party. The mother also appears as the heroine's thoughts (much like the angel and devil cartoons) and the in the thoughts the mother is constantly putting down the daughter.
This movie shows us that nobody is perfect. The main character makes many mistakes, but most importantly she learns from them.
I highly recommend you watch this with your daughters and try to get her to discuss it with you.
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| Studio: | Starz Media |
| Director: | Peter Levin |
| Cast: | Annie Potts, Lily Holleman, Nikki Blonsky |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Theatrical release date: | January 12, 2008 |
| DVD release date: | August 5, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
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