I enjoyed this movie - it’s based on a play (of the same name) and so it doesn’t quite work… but it is beautifully crafted. It’s well put together.

And for what it’s worth, I don’t think it’s really about being fat. The symbolism of Moby Dick is required to hang the whole thing together - but it’s really about unresolved psychological trauma and ‘overcoming the whale’ a la Captain Ahab. Each of the characters has a psychological flaw brought about by fear - that’s why the essay is so important and features so heavily throughout…. It tells you what the play (and the film) is about…. It’s also why we never hear the last line.

This isn’t a film about fatphobia, it’s a film about grief. The story would work just as well if he were a heroin addict, but the metaphor wouldn’t work and it wouldn’t tie together… and we’ve already seen that story. Watch it again. Ignore the fact he’s morbidly obese and concentrate on the fact he has unresolved grief and a maladaptive coping strategy (like almost every other character in it) and you will enjoy it more.

Also, Brendan Fraser does an amazing job and should get an Oscar for his performance. :o)