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Created Jul 04, 2008 02:11AM PST • Edited Jul 04, 2008 02:11AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Really Great 4.5

   This movie was enjoyable mainly because it was so easy for me to relate to. Being the fat kid during junior high and high school makes this the kind of story I always hoped to live myself. Chris Brander (Ryan Reynolds) is the fat kid who does what we all wanted to do – get skinny, get hot and make it big. He then actually has a chance with the girl who got away back in high school. This movie is hilarious throughout and is enjoyable to a wide audience. If you were a fat kid with an unrealistic crush in high school, however, or have ever been in the friend zone with a girl, the enjoyment will go a bit deeper as you will easily relate to the story.

4. Acting

   Really Great 4.5

   Solid comedic performances all around. Reynolds is a champ as always and Amy Smart plays that wholesome girl next door to a tee. No Oscars going out for these performances, but you will enjoy them.

5. Male Stars Perfect 5.0

   Ryan Reynolds is my hero. He has great comedic timing and his facial expressions are classic. He is able to pull off charming and flirtatious with ease, just as he did as Van Wilder. The best part of his performance, however, is when he’s in the fat suit at the beginning of the movie. He plays such a convincing fat kid that its kinda sick. The opening scene where he is singing “I Swear” into the mirror it made me laugh like crazy – until I realized that was me 13 years ago. Then its still funny, but its hard to laugh when you’re dying a little on the inside.

6. Female Stars Really Great 4.5

   I have been in love with Amy Smart since Road Trip. I think she is cute, funny and spunky as hell. She is the girl who you’re going to be able to drink a beer and play video games with and she’s still hot enough to believably have a bunch of guys chasing her. That’s exactly what this role is and it fits her like a glove.

7. Female Costars Really Great 4.5

   Anna Faris is hilarious in this movie. I’ve always thought she was good in the Scary Movie flicks, but this is really over the top and while it could go into annoying very quickly, its actually just funny as hell. The best lines in the movie pretty much belong to her. She’s got great delivery and just a complete willingness to look silly for comedy. Oh yeah, and she’s hot as a blonde pop star. In a goofy, obnoxious, get her to shut up and you’re golden kind of way.

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

   Chris Klein has always come off as kind of a mook to me. Sometimes a likeable mook, sometimes not. He’s a guy who looks much cooler than he actually is. He is another guy who got cool after high school, but he went the opposite way with it. He is a player, but in a vindictive way. So he’s a mook you don’t really like in this one.

   Chris Marquette is perfect as Reynolds little brother. He’s exactly like your little brother. A total spaz who is not yet old enough to realize the social manners that most aquire by growning up. And the relationship between him and Reynolds is great. The slap fights are classic and their back and forth banter is perfect.

10. Film

    Very Good 3.5

    Nothing tremendous. The movie is very focused on the characters and lets them carry the movie.

11. Direction Very Good 3.5

    Kumble has created an environment where the actors can feel comfortable and he gets great performances out of them. Very natural performances. Otherwise its a pretty cookie cutter comedy.

12. Play Really Great 4.5

    The dialogue is good, but the delivery is what nails it. From Chris Klein’s little speech about the Notebook to Reynolds and Marquette’s little back and forth, it really is spot on. The delivery is what sells it, but there has to be something there to sell to begin with.

13. Music Good 3.0

    Was there any? “I Swear” is the only thing that comes to mind. That was great for comedic effect, but I’m not sure what else was within the movie itself.

14. Visuals Great 4.0

    Anna Farris covered in whip cream about to eat a chocolate covered banana is classic. Its supposed to be sexy and in a way it is, but at the same time not at all. There are some great visual gags, but nothing fancy outside of that. No special effects, no car chases, nothing but straight forward comedy.

15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.2

    Pretty tame movie. There are some dirty jokes and innuendos, but that’s about it. A little bit of bad language, but not bad by any stretch of the imagination.

17. Sex Innocent 1.0

18. Violence Gentle 1.0

19. Rudeness Polite 1.5

21. Reality

    Natural 1.0

    Very natural movie. Nothing that really says – nope that couldn’t happen. No giant monsters or curving bullets or men in iron suits.

22. Circumstantial Natural 1.0

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0