So have you been to a film that you enjoy, but you feel a bit guilty about laughing? Well SHALLOW HAL is one of those films.
The Farrelly Brothers have given us a very funny and sweet film that takes on (pardon the pun) a very weighty subject about inner beauty.
I laughed, but yes at times I did feel bad even though I knew that the ending was bound to be the right one. The problem here is that we find
ourselves laughing at someone else's problem or insecurities and that can make us feel uncomfortable or even ashamed.
"Find a classic beauty."
"Aren't you being a little shallow at how you look at women?"
Society, magazines and the visual media tell us that we should all be slim, trim and well defined and if we are not, then we are not ideal
people. We are told that there is something wrong with us. Of course over the long span of my life I've noticed that real people are not really
slim, trim and especially great looking. I think that most of us do not have to be told that we should see under the skin or body shape to
discover the inner beauty of a person. Most of us are either going out, dating or marrying real women with real flaws and insecurities and
we do so because something about them attracts us to them. We are attracted to people of all shapes and sizes because we are able to
see beyond their supposed flaws. So what is the big deal? Over the years I have found that a reubenesque woman looks just as sexy
when she wears the right clothes or carries herself in a sensual or confident manner. The same can be said of men. I think I look decent
in good clothes even though I am over weight and lots of men out there feel the same way as me. I do not think we necessarily need a film
to tell us that we should feel good about ourselves.
"I know what I am and I know what I'm not."
The film does show us how cruel some people act towards certain individuals. I have to tell you during some scenes, I really had to fight
the urge to yell back at some screen characters with a the simple comment that sooner or later their nice slim, muscular bodies had a
90% chance of looking like mine. The brothers Farrelly decided that we should see, that what I just said, is a simple truth. If
you stay during the credits they show us not only the actors but also the entire crew who laboured on this film. Guess what? None of them
looked particularly glamourous. They were all regular Joes. I think that said more than the actual film did and I think the the Farrellys did
an inspiring thing with these credit scenes.
"I can't believe how lucky I am."
Glamorous Gwyneth Paltrow told reporters in a recent interview, "The message of the film is, it doesn't matter if you're overweight or not.
This is just this ridiculous thing that is socialogically imposed on us, that we feel it's unacceptable, when it has nothing to do with who this
person actually is." Of course lots of people will say that this is easy for her to say but still she is correct. SHALLOW HAL moves to
show us just how Hollywood has corrupted us into thinking we should have this idealized version of ourselves. It shows us how easily
we can be made to go against our beliefs. It shows us how easily we are fooled into thinking they are right, but, when it comes right down
to it, this movie reveals to us that love and what we see in a person is more important. The film tells us that on a whole most of us will
make the right decision when it comes down to the wire.
"Everything's perfect...It's a little scary."
The Farrelly Brothers do not assail us with their usual outlandish routines and "filthy" gags. They take a much more sensitive hand in
their direction of SHALLOW HAL. Well actually they do make one insensitive gag to do with conjunctivitis, an inflamation of
the muscous membrane under the eyelids. Still it is a funny scene when you see it. One character succeeds in showing us what the
point is of the entire film. The character, is Walter, who with a positive attitude throughout the film him shows us that we can ovecome any
frailty or perceived disadvantage we have in life. He moves throughout the film exuding confidence even though he is a victim of
sina bifida, a congenital disorder in which the spinal column is imperfectly closed. The actor is Rene Kirby an IBM executive that
the Farrellys met during the shooting of ME, MYSELF AND IRENE. They were sitting at a bar when Peter Farrelly felt a tap on his
shin and saw this guy moving by on all fours. Peter learned that Kirby was born this way but his parents never allowed him to use
a wheelchair, walker or crutches, so he walks on all fours. Subsequently he has a pumped up upper torso and massive arms. Kirby is
also an expert skier and prize winning gymnast. He also bowls, skateboards, drives a car and even rides a special bicycle. If you stay
during the credits you will see some great scenes of him skiing and performing other activities. In Walter, I see the entire point of the
movie. If he can overcome his disorder, then the rest of us can overcome ours as well, whether it is pyhsical or mental. The movie
focuses on his unique sense of humour and incredible positive attitude. The directors have not taken time to dwell on his infirmity
instead they show us that he is just one of the guys who hangs out with everybody and whom everyone likes. He is the life of the party
and the heart of this movie.
"I'll make you proud papa."
The film opens with the death bed scene of Hal Larsen's (Jack Black) reverend father. Before he dies he tells Hal not to settle
with routine but to go for the best. When he grows to manhood he has become a shallow, pudgy and not overly good looking guy who feels
that he can not settle for normal. He has to have the best looking women he can find. Unfortunately for him most women aren't interested
in him and some of course find him shallow.
"What do you weigh? 110or 115 pounds?"
"Which one of my cheeks are you looking at anyway?"
He has a friend Mauricio (Jason Alexander) with whom he spents most of the time. They are constantly on the prowl for the
knockout girls. On the occassions that they do find one, they become insecure. Mauricio rejects his knockout of a girlfriend because
she has a toe that is way too long. This comes from a guy with an ill fitting wig and a deep dark secret which I will not reveal to you.
From the very beginning of the film we quickly shown how shallow these two guys really are. They use a character named Jill to drive
this point home. Hal wants her but she can't stand him because well, she sees him as a shallow and selfish person. later she will
find him appealling and wants him. Why? Well when she sees him going out with women of the not so perfect kind she feels he is no
longer shallow and this appeals to her but it of course causes one of those cliche film moments when a misunderstanding occurs,
one that hurts Hal's new love.
"i think me daughter is lucky ta have you."
On a fateful day that Hal is at work, he is trapped in an elevator with Tony Robbins. One thing leads to another and Robbins tells Hal
that he will help him see the inner beauty in people. Of course Hal doesn't feel any different but he has been hypnotized. He begins
to have lots of glamourous women dancing with him and wanting to spend time with him. Of course everyone sees the women as they
really are. Eventually the fateful day comes when he sees the woman of his dreams. She is a slim, svelte blonde beauty named
Rosemary Shanahan (Rosie) played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Of course as everyone knows by now, Rosie is not what she seems and in
that, of course is the comedy. Hal falls in love with not relealizing what she really looks like. He just sees the inner her, the good and
loving woman she really is.
"The brain sees what the heart wants it to feel."
One of the most heartwarming scene is in a hospital for sick children where Rosie volunteers her time. She takes Hal to visit some
sick chilfdren she helps. Like Hal we do not see what is wrong with these children because we see them through his eyes. It is
not until near the end of the story that we will see what afflicts these children. An excellent part of the film.
"I'm a coward...all right!!."
Well lots more happens, but if I tell you more it would spoil the movie, so I think we should leave at that. Acting is good and the story is
decently written so the money you spend for that admission ticket will be well worth it. Don't forget to stick around for the credits and listen
to Edison Lighthouse's song "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)". I've always liked that song ans of course it fits in
perfectly with this film. I even put the lyrics to the song down below. Sing along.
"Well frankly, I thought you were shallow."
Hey hold on don't go away, I forgot something. Amidst all this, the film does have a flaw. Hal has been forced to see the inner beauty in
everyone but yet with some peole the directors have not shown us what he sees or should see. Let me see if I can explain this properly.
Everyone Hal sees that are either obese, homely or damaged; he sees their inner beauty and yet with some he does not. For example his
pal Maruricio, he sees the same and yet if any character needs an inner beauty makeover he certainly does. Walter, he still sees walking
on all fours. He sees Rosie's father the same but Rosie's mother he sees differently yet in they are both obese. Rosie's obese and homely
male friends he sees as
handsome and strong and yet he sees some of his co workers the same. Why? Keep in mind that Hal, once he is back to normal, does not
recongnize the people he saw before in their idealized selves. This of course serves us some real heartbreaking scenes. You can assume
that this is a plot hole in the story or that some people are so happy and adjusted with who they are that he can see this. Walter is a prime
example. He is happy and adjusted to his self and maybe that is why Hal sees him the same. If in actuality this plot device were to occur
in real life then everyone Hal were to see should have been a stranger to him. He should technically see everyone through rose tinted
glasses and everyone should become a stranger to him. This of course does not occur. Well after you see the film yourself, you will have to
draw your own conclusions. This situation will in no way stop you from enjoying this heartwarming and funny movie.
SHALLOW HAL is far from a shallow film.
Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)
By: Edison Lighthouse
(Barry Mason - Tony Macaulay)
1970
She ain't got no money
Her clothes are kinda funny
Her hair is kinda wild and free
Oh but love grows where my Rosemary goes
And nobody knows like me
She talks kinda lazy
And people say she's crazy
And her life's a mystery
Oh, but love grows where my Rosemary goes
And nobody knows like me
There's something about her hand holding mine
It's a feeling that's fine
And I just gotta say (hey!)
She's really got a magical spell
And it's working so well
That I can't get away
I'm a lucky fella
And I just got to tell her
That I love her endlessly
Because love grows where my Rosemary goes
And nobody knows like me
There's something about her hand holding mine
It's a feeling that's fine
And I just gotta say (hey!)
She's really got a magical spell
And it's working so well
That I can't get away
I'm a lucky fella
And I just got to tell her
That I love her endlessly
Because love grows where my Rosemary goes
And nobody knows like me
(Fadeout:)
It keeps growing every place she's been
And nobody knows like me
If you've met her, you'll never forget her
And nobody knows like me
La la la- believe it when you've seen it
(Nobody knows like me)
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