FAT KID RULES THE WORLD

2012 / Director. Matthew Lillard.
Review by Glenn Cochrane.

FAT KID RULES THE WORLD is a comedy/drama about an overweight and bullied teen. His mother has died and he lives under the control of a strict militant father. At school he is ignored and regularly tormented and when it all becomes too much for him to bare, he attempts to take his own life. This is by no means a spoiler because it all happens within the first five minute and forms the foundation for his uprising. He meets a reckless and troubled teen and they form a punk band... the only problem is that the fat kid does not play any instruments. The unlikely friendship becomes one of dependency and before long both kids have a profound influence on each other. I had mixed emotions about the film. I was practically glued to the first act but lost a lot of attention during the middle, only to be back and enthralled by the final act. I can't pin-point why it lost me mid-way but upon reflection, the middle portion of the story was probably the most profound. I will definitely have to revisit this film soon. It's message is good and worthy of teenage attention. Older kids really ought to watch films like this so that they can reflect on their own lives and conduct. Actor Matthew Lillard directed FAT KID RULES THE WORLD and it's his first feature film... quite an accomplished one if you ask me. He has treated the material respectfully and ignored any easy grabs at cheap laughs. The performances are great and Billy Campbell is particularly effective as the hard-lined father who also has his own inner turmoil to deal with. Definitely worth a look. 

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