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> Shallow Hal |
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Staring:
Jason Alexander,
Kyle Gass,
Daniel Greene,
Nan Martin,
Bruce McGill
Average Customer Rating:   
List Price: $14.98
Our Price: $5.99
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Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
Brand: PALTROW,GWYNETH
EAN: 0024543040033
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Label: 20th Century Fox
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: 20th Century Fox
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2002-07-02
Running Time: 113
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Theatrical Release Date: 2001 |
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Description
A hypnotized playboy (Jack Black) who can only see "inner beauty" doesn't realize that his gorgeous girlfriend (Gwyneth Paltrow) is actually a 300-pound-not-so-hottie. "Heartwarming and hilarious" (WFLD-TV), it's the BIGGEST love story ever told!
Amazon.com
Coming from the creators of Dumb & Dumber and There's Something About Mary, the sensitivity of Shallow Hal seems like a minor miracle. The codirecting Farrelly brothers haven't forsaken their lowbrow inclinations, but this clever romantic fantasy offers unexpected substance with the same comedic effrontery that made the Farrellys famous. Their antihero is Hal (Jack Black), whose fixation on beautiful women is reversed (after an encounter with self-help guru Tony Robbins) so he can see only the inner beauty of "undesirables" like his new girlfriend Rosemary (Gwyneth Paltrow), now gorgeous in Hal's eyes despite being grossly obese. The movie's handling of this conundrum is sweetly sincere, poking fun at social prejudices while validating those (overweight, homely, disabled) who are often heartbroken by Hal's brand of shallowness. The concept won't hold up to scrutiny (i.e., the movie trades one set of stereotypes for another), but Shallow Hal works as an often hilarious reminder that physical beauty is only skin deep. --Jeff Shannon
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Feel good movie which helps pass the time., 2010-04-23
So, Shallow Hal isn't exactly the greatest comedy ever made, nor is it the worst comedy within the past 10 years, so we can safely say that it falls somewhere in the middle.
The movie gives Jack Black's character, Hal Larson, a very shallow personality, he is only into the outer appearance of women. Little does he realize that he isn't much to look at himself. His best friend, played by Jason Alexander, would fall into the same category.
Eventually, Hal meets a motivational speaker, Tony Robbins, who is able to alter his perception. He alters it enough so Hal can only see the inside beauty of women. This all makes for some very funny and quick jokes throughout the film.
Gwyneth Paltrow plays the character of Rosemary Shanahan, who doesn't have the highest self-esteem, but has a charm and sense of humor that is bright and innocent. As Hal meets and gets to know Rosemary, he forgets about her looks and starts to fall in love with who she really is. Eventually, the story takes some quick twists and turns and Hal finds himself in a predicament. Not giving away the majority of the film, Hal realizes that beauty is really skin deep.
This is definitely a movie I would recommend to watch on a rainy day, one that helps to pass the time. Watch it also for a very beautiful and charismatic Gwyneth Paltrow, who pretty much steals each scene she appears in. Jack Black gives a very quick-spirited and honest performance. Jason Alexander plays the very loyal lacky to Jack's character.
Funny & heartbreaking, 2009-11-21
Hal (Jack Black) is a very shallow Joe-Nobody type fellow who incessantly hits on women who are way out of his league. His criteria for whom he asks out is pretty simple: is she a hottie? If so, she's on his list. If not, then he's not interested.
One day, while stuck in an elevator a charlatan casts a spell on Hal. When he gets off the elevator, he is able to see the inner beauty in women. Women who are homely / overweight appear to be Victoria's Secret models. And, it works both ways: women who are gorgeous on the outside but have despicable personality traits appear to be hags.
There is even more to it than that. Men who are nerdy / ugly and yet have good hearts appear to Hal to be buffed-up athletes. No matter what the person looks like, or what gender they are, Hal sees what kind of persons they are.
Along comes Rose. Rose is very overweight, but to Hal she is absolutely perfect. Fittingly, Rose (both versions!) is played by Gweneth Paltrow, who IS one of the most perfect women on the planet! Paltrow's performance drives the rest of the movie, for she's able to encapsulate the pain of a woman who has been overweight all her life. She's a person who has had to deal with heckling, and has grown wary of it.
SHALLOW HAL is what I would call a dark comedy. It does have some funny moments & its concept is original. However, it's a movie that is a satire on how we as human beings treat each other (myself included). It also points out how all of us have our human imperfections. Because of that, it's a comedy that delivers on the humor and yet is utterly, absolutely heartbreaking @ the same time.
Good with moments of greatness, 2010-03-30
3.8 stars
While not as deliriously funny as the Farrellys' comic masterpiece There's Something About Mary, Shallow Hal is entirely likeable in its own right. Black is perfect as Hal, Paltrow and all the supporting actors are good, and it's Alexander's best role since Costanza. It bogs down a bit towards the end as it circles the runway and attempts a typically clumsy romantic comedy landing, but Hal is in full flight during much of the opening hour.
Perhaps the best scene is the opener; Hal's dying, heavily medicated father leaves him with some "pearls" that are among the funniest bits of advice I've heard in a long while. The morph into present-day Hal is perfection, and in general this entire flick is tightly shot and directed, with the script providing enough highlights to keep one amused throughout.
There is one scene near the end that is actually surprisingly powerful, with Black and a little girl, and I defy anyone to not feel a tear welling during that. It's beautifully done and makes one realize how well constructed the rest of the film has been to induce such emotion on such short notice. Bravo to the Farrellys for that moment, and for the heart on display here in general.
Most every comic film likes to bill itself as a "feel-good comedy", but Shallow Hal actually qualifies.
It's not so shallow after all..., 2010-07-02
Its funny when you walk into a movie expecting cheap laughs and wind up rather impressed with how emotionally centered the film wound up being. That is kind of the feeling I get with `Shallow Hal'. Sure, some of the laughs are cheap and this is by no means an Oscar contending `message film', but there is a surprising depth found in this `shallow' film.
The film revolves around Hal, a looks obsessed man who is rather obnoxious and is virtually alone thanks to his `high standards' and lack of any real tact. He is constantly warned by others to look for the inner beauty, but he basically refuses to do so, instead divulging his time seeking after hot-tail that always turn him down. He's saddled with a possibly even shallower best friend who uses the minutest of reasons to disregard the women he is with (and how he manages to get the woman he is with is beyond my comprehension). When Hal winds up stuck in an elevator with a hypnotist his disease is cured and he is given a new outlook on women. He only sees their inner beauty. So, when he meets the obese Rosemary, he sees the gorgeous Gwyneth Paltrow.
The humor here is surprisingly subtle, which I wholeheartedly enjoyed. Sure, I love it when the Farrelly brothers go overboard (well, sometimes) but it was nice to see them wear their hearts on their sleeves for a change.
Now, as some may be aware, I am not a huge Jack Black fan. I kind of find him `too much'. There is a lot going on with his `humor', but not enough payoff in my book. Here though, he actually follows through and delivers probably his finest comedic performance. It's outlandish (as are all of his offerings) but there is an emotional depth to his antics that he doesn't often find. Gwyneth Paltrow is the real treasure here though. Despite her radiant beauty, she understands how to play Rosemary in a way that makes us wholly aware of her awkwardness. She effortlessly puts on the front of being overweight while looking next to angelic. Aside from the physical acting she captures, Paltrow also handles the films comedic and dramatic layers like a pro.
I really wish we saw MORE of her.
Like some have mentioned, the humor is subtle and at times it can seem as though the film forewent the laughs all together, but I think that in the end this serves the film well because it creates a more heartfelt and `poignant' feel.
You have to look within, 2010-01-31
I just finished watching this for the first time and it was good. I'm glad to see a comedy come out of Hollywood which actually had a decent message: You can't always judge a book by its cover, you have to look within. This movie really drives that point home, hence the title "Shallow Hal", as in the beginning of the movie Hal is yet another shallow idiot fascinated by appearances, yet ultimately he sees the error to his ways and repents. Good movie.
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