I can understand people saying that this is a very inspirational story, because it definitely is. Although I myself don't need to lose weight (quite the opposite), a couple of my friends and family members do struggle with their overweight, although not as extensive as the mains in this movie.
This movie explores the age old solution. Get healthy nutrition and start exercising. Hey and guess what...it works. The problem for most people is willpower to continue on their diet, something this movie clearly shows with the 4th of July BBQ sequence. And in a time where people tend to only just 'try every diet pill on the market', trying to use the age old solution is a story worth documenting.
The movie starts quite good for a documentary. It uses animation to illustrate Joe's problem. The movie is executed good until Phil calls Joe. It's like a whole new movie starts. Different tone, different design. And compared to the greatly executed first part, it feels like a quick and cheap add-on. Especially when the movie ends with the scrolling text in the end. Why not illustrate the effect that Joe and Phil had on their community with yet another animation and add the additional information as a voice-over. In other words, come full circle. It feels like the first part was created for theatrical release, as a short portrait of Joe, and that after its run we now get the 'made for television' extended cut, including the longer story of Phil.
As a film maker myself I can understand that sometimes the story decides the form of the end result. But the story is there and it is a wonderful one. It's the execution of telling that story that is lacking in some parts. I would still highly recommend people, who struggle with their weight, to watch this movie though. But since IMDb is about the movie as a whole, I can't give it a high vote just for having an inspirational story.
This movie explores the age old solution. Get healthy nutrition and start exercising. Hey and guess what...it works. The problem for most people is willpower to continue on their diet, something this movie clearly shows with the 4th of July BBQ sequence. And in a time where people tend to only just 'try every diet pill on the market', trying to use the age old solution is a story worth documenting.
The movie starts quite good for a documentary. It uses animation to illustrate Joe's problem. The movie is executed good until Phil calls Joe. It's like a whole new movie starts. Different tone, different design. And compared to the greatly executed first part, it feels like a quick and cheap add-on. Especially when the movie ends with the scrolling text in the end. Why not illustrate the effect that Joe and Phil had on their community with yet another animation and add the additional information as a voice-over. In other words, come full circle. It feels like the first part was created for theatrical release, as a short portrait of Joe, and that after its run we now get the 'made for television' extended cut, including the longer story of Phil.
As a film maker myself I can understand that sometimes the story decides the form of the end result. But the story is there and it is a wonderful one. It's the execution of telling that story that is lacking in some parts. I would still highly recommend people, who struggle with their weight, to watch this movie though. But since IMDb is about the movie as a whole, I can't give it a high vote just for having an inspirational story.