Queen Sized (2008)

Directed by: Peter Levin | 87 minutes | drama, comedy | Actors: Nikki Blonsky, Annie Potts, Macie Dolloff, Lily Holleman, Liz McGeever, Kimberly Matula, Fabian C. Moreno, Caren Anton, Jackson Pace, Kelsey Schultz, Kyle Russell Clements, Brandi Coleman, Dodie Brown, Dustin Estis, Eric Kelly McFarland

In America it is tradition that every year a king and queen are chosen for the prom. Achieving the title of Homecoming King and Queen keeps things busy, especially among the ladies. One secretly swoons over what it would be like because she doesn’t stand a chance, while another is counting on a nomination because of her popularity. The fact is that generally only the hottest and hottest girls have a chance. ‘Queen Sized’ makes fun of this entrenched notion.

Maggie Baker (Nikki Blonsky) experiences school as a veritable hell due to the stares and nasty comments. After school she often retires to her room. There she puts on the headphones to listen to music and find comfort in food. Since Dad Baker’s death from diabetes, Maggie’s mother has been paying more attention than ever to her daughter’s eating habits. Mom Baker (Annie Potts) confronts her with a pizza box filled with various empty packages that she found under the bed. She does not achieve what she wants; Maggie sprints upstairs and again flees into the music and into the snacks. She is accompanied by an imaginary version of Mother Baker who, like a ghoul, talks her into the ground with hateful comments about food and weight.

One night, Maggie is so tired of having to babysit little brother Will that she agrees to accompany friend Casey (Lily Holleman) to a party. Here too, Maggie resorts to food when she’s forced to find herself alone when classmate Devon (Philip Searcy) wants a private conversation with Casey. Maggie is spotted by Liz (Liz McGeever), one of the popular girls at the school and friend of the ‘class princess’ Tara (Kimberly Matuta). Liz quickly snaps a ridiculous photo. The next day at school, Maggie is shocked to see this photo on the list of candidates for homecoming queen next to the deadly winner Tara. Determined to take the fight, Maggie enlists the help of friend Casey. Will she make it to the prom queen or will this title go to the slim Tara?

The interpreter of Maggie is the cheerful solid actress Nikki Blonsky who broke through after her lead role in ‘Hairspray’. If ‘Hairspray’ is fresh in your mind, with Blonsky as the positive and bubbly Tracy Turnblad, it takes some getting used to to see the actress from a completely different side. Maggie sees life not so rosy. For example, Maggie refuses to fill out the university enrollment forms because she thinks she won’t make it. Blonsky portrays the character Maggie in a very thorough way with his emotional binge eating and fighting spirit. Although the actress plays Maggie sympathetically, she also knows how to portray the bad side of the character. Like the moment Maggie gets too caught up in self-pity and hurts her friend Casey. A good example where Blonsky beautifully portrays Maggie’s combativeness is when the character defends her participation in the election to the headmistress of the school.

Blonsky’s movie mother is played by actress Annie Potts. Potts has an entertaining double role. You see her playing two different variations of Mother Baker. One is quite compassionate and real, while the other is rock hard and only exists in Maggie’s imagination. Pott’s portrayal as a fantasy tormentor in a prom dress is thoroughly mean and irritating. And the sweeter version of mother Baker also knows how to shape the actress well, but she completely pales by the game of the spirited Blonsky. Potts’ strongest scene is when she and Blonksy have to appear before the headmaster and stand up for her daughter. Like Potts, actress Lily Holleman is also in the shadow of Blonsky, but she knows how to hold her own. Good examples of this are the scenes in which Casey stands up for Maggie when boys shout mean remarks and, among other things, the fierce argument with Maggie after the television interview. Finally, actress Liz McGeever as the underhanded Liz doesn’t come across as dirty enough, thanks to her lovely face.

Although ‘Queen Sized’ comes across as quite contrived, it’s not all fiction. The adventures of Maggie Baker are largely written based on a true story by Alexandra Burris. Of course with the necessary filmmaker twist. For example, Maggie Baker’s father died of diabetes, while Alexandra’s Burris father actually suffered from asthma. And the actual Burris doesn’t seem to have been as likable in her high school days, internet sources claim.

The makers of ‘Queen Sized’ tell the story at a brisk pace without too much hassle, accompanied by sweet pop songs by Fergie and Nelly Furtado, among others. For the intended target group; teenage girls, the film will provide plenty of entertainment. It’s a shame that ‘Queen Sized’ goes down a road at the end that negates the ‘can be fat’ message. Luckily Blonsky excels with her humorous portrayal so it’s worth watching Maggie’s tough battle for the title! All in all, ‘Queen Sized’ is an entertaining teen comedy that comes out a little too light here and there…