Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Shallow Hal

This is topic Shallow Hal in forum Film Handlers' Movie Reviews at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 4594) on 11-09-2001, 01:23 AM:

I wasn't sure if I wanted to see this but my husbands theater got it today and he had to screen it, so I got stuck seeing it. I actually liked it.

I thought it was going to be insulting because I am overweight and the story line just seemed to be kind of crude. But, I sucked up my pride and watched it. Sure there were a few times when I was like "WHAT?" and everything was over done but I actually found it quite entertaining *Surprise Surprise!*. It's not something I would go out and buy the DVD for, but if you're in the mood for a stupid comedy/love story, its kind of cute!

I give it 2 1/2 out of 5 stars (average).

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 11-09-2001, 04:09 AM:

Is it PG in the States? It is here...imagine, a Farrelly brothers movie that's not restricted! Maybe they're getting old, eh?

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 11-09-2001, 07:31 AM:

John W: It's rated PG-13 here in the States. AFAIK Dumb and Dumber was rated PG.

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 11-10-2001, 05:46 PM:

I thought this one was pretty good, but not a good Farrelly Bros. flick, at least compared to their other ones.

Posted by Neil Hunter (Member # 1005) on 11-14-2001, 10:18 AM:

I lked this movie. I like how they made Hal like one of the guys you would normally hang out with. He was shallow, but you quickly realized this guy does have a heart. Plus, I like the way you saw it through Hal's eyes most of the time, not straying too much from his vision. That way at the end you are really seeing it as he is seeing it(even though you know everything that has happened). Hope that made sense.

Posted by Evans A Criswell (Member # 381) on 11-29-2001, 10:20 AM:

Attendance: 2001/11/28 Regal Hollywood 18, Huntsville, AL, 19:10, Auditorium 14, Flat

This was a movie I'd debated whether to see, and after seeing it, I had mixed feelings about it. I was glad I'd seen it, but part of me wished I'd passed it by. There were plenty of funny moments in the movie, but there were some scenes in the movie that depressed me. After the movie was over, I didn't feel cheered up, but somewhat depressed. The movie was definitely different than anything I'd seen. It was hard to think about the funny parts of the movie because the rest of the night, the image of that girl in the pediatric burn unit with the badly burned face kept entering my mind, and I fear that anytime I think of this movie in the future, that's what is going to enter my mind.

The movie shows us how we should see people. I admit that I want to be around people that I find attractive, even though I've known a lot of people that had great personalities that weren't. It often seems that very attractive people (the model types) seem to have the worst personalities and attitudes. One guy I knew several years ago always seemed to be able to get girlfriends that were super attractive, but I disliked every one of them I met, since they had personalities that made them unpleasant to be around. They were some of the most selfish, hateful people I'd encountered.

I'll leave y'all with the chorus of "If You Wanna Be Happy" by Jimmy Soul (1963):

If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life,
never make a pretty woman your wife.
From my personal point of view,
get an ugly girl to marry you.

I'm really surprised this song wasn't used in the movie! It would have fit perfectly!

------------------
Evans A Criswell
Huntsville-Decatur Movie Theatre Information Site

Posted by Peter Berrett (Member # 672) on 01-12-2002, 08:17 PM:

Attendance: Readings Cinemas Chirnside Park Friday 11.30 P.M. 12 Jan 2002. Skilltester toys won - 0 (I didn't see any Skilltesters!)

I was quite surprised at this film. In contrast to many American comedies this film actually had a bit of intellectual depth and was quite thought provoking. Although the film was funny it was evident that the film had a message too.

Sadly, in real life I don't think that things always turn out as happily for women who do not fit the stereotypes that our society holds up as standards.

It is interesting also that despite the money hungry nature of the film business in the US, they do churn out the occasional film that makes a moral point or two.

The humor in the film is fairly basic but does give a few laughs. I value it more because of its thought provoking subject matter.

I give the film 7 stars out of ten. Worth a look.

cheers

Peter Berrett

ps If only Michael Jackson had seen this film before he had plastic surgery. He might still have a nose.

Posted by John Daily (Member # 1362) on 07-16-2002, 09:09 AM:

Interesting addition: This is the film that had out-of-sync sound. On the DVD director's commentary track, the Farrely brothers mention that this only effected reel one and it was immediately replaced after the opening weekend.
My off sound came during the nightclub scene after Hal becomes 'hypnotized' (can't remember if this was reel 2 or 3, but it wasn't 1), and it had been out at least 3 weeks when I got the print.