Stometer
Save your money for something good and enjoyable
Dynamixor
The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
FuzzyTagz
If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.
maxxpump
I saw this production after reading the synopsis, and seeing familiar names in the cast, I was expecting a riveting and well written comedy, but apart from a couple of lines, I didn't find it funny.They basically made comedy from bad language and abuse, unfunny stereotyping, and the whole concept wasn't a particularly great one.So if you think that abuse towards overweight people is funny and like the occasional bit of bad language and toilet humour, it might be up your street. But this wasn't a film which I particularly liked.
RedPixel
I can't understand why a lot of people have given this a low score. I have no idea what I was really expecting from this. I was intrigued when I saw it advertised as I saw the original documentary on the now sadly departed Jack Taylor a few years ago and he was such a unique character.Timothy Spall plays his incarnation of Jack (George Godwin) in a more dumbed down way. George (forgive the upcoming pun) is a more well-rounded individual, making him more believable. How ironic is that? There's no sign of Jack's Creation but there are plenty of references to the legend that was Jack Taylor to satisfy his cult following. There are some lines almost lifted from the documentary on their entirety: "I weighed 53 stone at Morleys!" and Jack's trademark laugh was done to perfection.The story which surrounds George I felt to be very fitting. The contrast between George and the teenage Amy is a delight to watch and provides many genuinely touching moments. I have to admit I found it very hard to stop myself from shedding a few tears at certain key moments.The supporting cast are superb with Bobby Ball delivering a wonderfully sweary performance as Georgie's manager. Francis Barber is his buxom carer and there is a cameo from Barry Austin who was also featured alongside Jack in "Being Britain's Fattest Man".All in all both myself and my other half really enjoyed this film and I have since purchased the sublime soundtrack composed by Badly Drawn Boy.
davideo-2
STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning In a day and age where fame comes to the talentless quite easily, there are people getting noticed all the time for their comically over-sized bodies who are always appearing in the papers for being a sideshow or not being able to work and claiming benefits...So being such a current affairs matter, the renowned Timothy Spall has donned a super-size fat suit to play one such spectacle, Georgie Godwin, who we learn through-out the course of this TV film has become super-morbidly obese not entirely through his own fault, and has survived through years of being a sideshow and cash cow to his so-called best mate Morris (Bobby Ball) only for a new friendship with a young girl to save his salvation again.The lighting is a little too grey and bleak for what was meant to be such light entertainment, not to mention the script throwing up some heavy content and strong language knocking out the family market. But at it's heart it's still a good natured, gentle piece that strikes just the right balance between hilarious and heart warming. Ball is a surprise return after being away for so long, and even more surprising (and relevant) is the appearance of real life Birmingham fat man Barry Austin, as Georgie's rival in a local 'super fat' contest. ***
st-39
Reliable, solid performance as usual from Timothy Spall. As one who looks forward to uplifting dramas especially during these current times of economic recession, I found the last 2 minutes of what was billed as a comedy drama very uplifting – particularly after sitting through 2 hours of this. A word of congratulations must go to Jeff Pope and Caroline Aherne who seemed to have managed with ease to release Bobby Ball from his Christian beliefs by prolonged use of his foul language - quite a contrast from an earlier appearance he made on 'Songs of Praise.' It was billed as a comedy drama. I missed the comedy part. Is this what we really want on weekend prime time television in the UK?
