DUMPLIN’

US, 2018, 110 minutes, Colour.

Danielle Macdonald, Jennifer Aniston, Odeya Rush, Maddie Bailio, Bex Taylor Klaus, Luke Benward, Dove Cameron, Harold Perrineau, Kathy Najimi, Hiliary Bagley, Sam Pancake.

Directed by Anne Fletcher.

Dumplin’ is a nickname for Will, Willowdean Dixon, called this by her mother who tends to ignore her, Will feels the hurt, and the scoffing and bullying at school in naming her as “fat”. There are some rather bigger actresses than usual in this film, a vindication of their right to be in the films, not to be judged by their bodies or their appearances, but by who they really are. They are women of “bigger build”.

So, there is a message from this film – and, the surprising fact that practically everybody in the film is sympathetic when, according to the conventions, there should be a whole lot of pettiness and sniping going on.

Will is played by Australian Danielle Macdonald (Patti Cakes), devoted to the main influence of her life, Lucy, also a big woman, but happy, exuberant, common sensed, her wise advice to Will when young. And, into Wills of life comes a friend, Ellen (Odeya Rush), whom we see is very pretty, though this is not remarked on, but the two of them bonding and growing through childhood into teens together in a constant friendship.

The other main star of the film is Jennifer Aniston, taking the opportunity to do something a bit more serious, but also some comedy and some nice sending up of the Jennifer Aniston image. She is Rose, Will’s mother, also influenced by Lucy but not acknowledging how much. In the meantime, she has become the local beauty queen, the expert on pageants, her life devoted to the pageant each year rather than to her daughter whom she takes for granted.

At the centre of the film is the local beauty pageant – the subject of quite some mockery in many films but here taken rather more seriously, even though Will has the ambitions to sabotage the event. However, she and Ellen and their friend, Hannah along with another very big girl, the ever optimistic, Maddie (an exuberant screen presence, Maddy Baillio), sign-on, go through the interviews, the test of talent, dance preparations, rather tongue in cheek.

It would be wise to mention that this is a Dolly Parton fan film, her songs played and sung throughout the whole film, and a club where drag Queens perform her songs on stage. The crew at the club were great friends of Lucy, welcome Will and her friends, go to great lengths with advice as well as costumes for the pageant, turning up to applaud loudly during the event, vindicated.

The pageant does not go quite as we might imagine – although, it is very nice in so far as all the girls are friendly and collaborative, no plots to undermine the others, and the judges all very simpatico.

And, there is a very nice handsome boy at the diner where Will works who is attracted to her, kisses her, Will not being able to believe that he could like her – but, he does and he joins in with all the rest going to the club, Dolly Parton songs and glee, a celebration of everyone, but especially, girls with bigger build.

1. The title, the nickname, Rose’s use of it, Will and her dislike, eventually coming to terms – only a word?
2. The Texas settings, the small town, homes, school, diners? The world of pageants, meetings, interviews, rehearsals, promotion, the pageant itself? The musical score?
3. Homage to Dolly Parton, the range of songs, Will and her devotion, the club, the drag queens and the performances?
4. Will, Willowdean, a large girl, with Lucy, Lucy as large, buoyant, cheerful, encouraging Will, educating her, in the absence or disdain of her mother? Lucy and her death, an absence, her mementos, Will searching through them, Rose and her having to appreciate Lucy more? Lucy’s influence on Will?
5. Ellen, as a young girl, meeting Will, their immediate bonding, sharing, Dolly Parton, visits, chat? Ellen being mistaken for Rose’s daughter? Their growing up together?
6. Will, her work at the diner, improvising and saving situations, friendship with the workers, Bo and his interest in her, their talking together, her not having confidence in herself, the kiss, happy, fearful, leaving, later conversations with Bo, eventually coming to him after the pageant, and his being present at the celebration at the club? The handsome boy and his admiration for the large girl?
7. Will being mocked, school, been called fat? Her defending herself and attack against bullying? The principal calling for her mother? But Will being encouraged?
8. Beauty pageants, their place in the US, in towns? Rose winning in 1991? Her eventually telling Will the story, not enough money for the dress, Lucy improvising? Rose and her later career, advice, committees, organising pageants? To the extent of neglecting Will?
9. Will and Ellen, image and beauty, wanting to sabotage the pageant? The friendship with Hannah? Goth, nonconformist ways? Their forming a team? The friendship with Millie? Her exuberance?
10. The interviews, each explaining herself, the exhibition of a talent, Millie and the hoops, Hannah and the martial arts, Will and magic? The falling out with Erin, Erin hurt, Will being wilful and the consequences?
11. The visit to the club, memories of Lucy, the hosts, Lee and the impersonation, taking Will aside, encouraging her? Millie and her enjoyment? The return, the large lady and teaching Will the magic tricks, Millie and her costume and singing?
12. The other contestants, glamour, but their not being catty or undermining each other? The judges and their being fair and appreciative? The niceness of the pageant?
13. Will and her speech on loyalty, her mother listening, Ellen for giving her?
14. The expectations of the town, the number of days down to the pageant, the preparations?
15. The pageant itself, the introductions, Will disqualified because of the costume alterations and rules? Change? But able to escort Ellen on stage? The reconciliation? Dresses, talent, Mille singing, Will and her magic success – and the coach and the others from the club in the audience, cheering?
16. Millie, not telling her mother, her mother’s arrival, the confrontation, Millie standing up for herself, the members of the club, the mothers change of heart, cheering?
17. Lee, Sam, the welcome to the club, memories of Lucy, performances, coaching, the pageant?
18. Will, the reconciliation with her mother, their talking, memories, the dress not fitting, the club dresses coming to the rescue and Rosa’s response?
19. Will, going to see Bo, the kiss? And the happy celebrations of everyone at the club, Dolly Parton songs, everybody on stage?