Who’s curvy: Queen Latifah as August Boatwright and Jennifer Hudson as Rosaleen Daise
Released in: 2008
Description from Amazon.com: Queen Latifah and Dakota Fanning head a stellar ensemble cast in this wonderful film about family, independence and the transcendent power of love (Minneapolis Star Tribune) based on the acclaimed best-selling novel. To escape her cruel, angry father and discover the truth about her late mother s past 14-year old Lily Owens flees with her caregiver and friend Rosaleen to a South Carolina town where she s taken in by the bee-keeping Boatwright sisters. Surrounded by the unexpected love, grace and spirituality she encounters there, Lily forms a bond with each of these uniquely gifted women and discovers that sometimes you must leave home in order to find it.
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Who’s curvy?: Nikki Blonsky as Maggie Baker
Released in: 2008
Description from Amazon.com: Golden Glober nominee Nikki Blonsky of ‘Hairspray’ fame stars as overweight high school senior Maggie Baker who knows she’ll never be as pretty, skinny or wealthy as the popular girls. But when a cruel prank nominates her for election as Homecoming Queen, Maggie decides to go ahead with her campaign against the advice of the school administration, her widowed mom, and the mean girls who will do anything to keep Maggie feeling like a loser. Based on a true story.
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Who’s Curvy?: Jill Scott as Sheila
Released in: 2007
Description from Amazon.com: With his film adaptation of his play of the same name, Tyler Perry asks the question, “Why did I get married?” The answer is different for each of the four couples featured in this relationship comedy, which includes Janet Jackson as a psychologist whose own marriage is on shaky ground. Not known for subtlety, Perry hammers in the point that no marriage is perfect–just as no one is completely blameless. Even when he presents a thoughtless husband who cheats on his wife with her hot best friend, he doesn’t present the wife as a helpless martyr. As portrayed by singer Jill Scott, Sheila is an overweight woman who is cowed by her bully of a husband. But the happily ever after that awaits her is almost worth all the verbal abuse she has taken from her philandering spouse. Scott is wonderful in her role and showcases a depth of real emotions. She also brings great humor to her role (After knocking someone out, she asks a police officer, “Did I kill him?… I should’ve killed him.”) Delivered by anyone else, the line would’ve been callous, but Scott is believable. Jackson, who looks lovely on screen, has a smaller role and does what she can as a wife who is having a difficult time coming to terms with the death of her young son. As for Perry, who plays the cuckolded husband of a high-powered attorney, he tones down his act to succinctly convey hurt, anger, and resentment. Though he’s best known for his broad, physical comedies, he shows a deft hand at tackling answers to a very complicated question–even if the answer may be a work in progress.
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Who’s curvy?: Jennifer Hudson as Effie
Released in: 2006
Description from Amazon.com: The spirit of Motown runs through the long-awaited film adaption of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, which centers around a young female singing trio who burst upon the music scene in the ’60s, complete with bouffant hairdos, glitzy gowns, and a soul sound new to the white-bread American music charts. Sound familiar? You aren’t the first one to draw comparisons to the meteoric rise of the Supremes, and despite any protests to the contrary, this is most definitely a thinly veiled reinterpretation of that success story. The Dreamettes–statuesque Deena (Beyonce Knowles), daffy Lorell (Anika Noni Rose) and brassy Effie (Jennifer Hudson)–are a girl group making the talent-show rounds when they’re discovered by car salesman and aspiring music manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx). Sensing greatness (as well as a new marketing opportunity) Curtis signs the Dreamettes as backup singers for R&B star James “Thunder” Early (Eddie Murphy). But when Early’s mercurial ways and singing style don’t mesh with primarily white audiences, Curtis moves the newly-renamed Dreams to center stage–with Deena as lead singer in place of Effie. And that’s not the only arena in which Effie is replaced, as Curtis abandons their love affair for a relationship with star-in-the-making Deena.
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Who’s curvy?: Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad; Queen Latifah as Motormouth Maybelle
Released in: 2007
Description from Amazon.com: It’s 1962, and change is in the air in Baltimore. Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion–to dance. She wins a spot on the local TV dance program, “The Corny Collins Show” and is transformed overnight from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity. But can the trendsetting Tracy win the heart of teen-dream Link Larkin and stand up for what she believes in, despite the program’s scheming stage manager? All she needs is her best friend Penny, a toe- tappin’ beat – and a little HAIRSPRAY!
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Who’s curvy?: Toni Collette gained several pounds to play the plus-size title character
Released in: 1994
Description from Amazon.com: Hysterically funny, fresh, and brimming with wit, MURIEL’S WEDDING is the comedy hit celebrated by critics nationwide! No one ever paid much attention to Muriel and her humdrum small-town life, so she and her best friend, Rhonda, decide to leave it behind and head for the big city … where they end up having the exciting adventure of their lives! What’s more, soon everyone takes notice when Muriel becomes engaged to a handsome and popular sports hero! You’ll love every hilarious minute as Muriel discovers that even when it seems all her dreams are coming true, the path to the altar still has plenty of surprising twists!
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