Skinnyfat

By: Robert O'Neill
In-House Review - Jan 09 2012

As a slightly overweight 20-something gay gentleman, the opening of the new short, gay comedy Skinnyfat made me cringe a little. If the two cute, slender protagonists in this flick are complaining about their weight, what does that say about my own and carb-ravaged physique? The answer: nothing, really. My body is what it is and my options are clear: I can wallow in self-pity; I can eat well, switch to light and go to the gym more consistently; or I can just accept myself the way I am and move on to other things. I've chosen the "go to the gym, but accept myself when I'm craving Taco Bell" route. It could always be worse. At least I don't have Body Dysmorphic Disorder - like the aforementioned protagonists of Skinnyfat.

Chaz and Davy (scruffy, pierced Jayson Jaynes and baby-faced Evan Johnson) are wildly dissatisfied with their physical appearances. The problem? They have gone ever so slightly soft around the middle! They have lost their six-packs! Davy has even gone from a size 28 waist to a 29! Oh, the crippling shame and embarrassment! Dreading the prospect of becoming "twink has-beens," the pair decides to go to extreme lengths to get back the bodies they feel they deserve. Anorexia, bulimia, , exercise - nothing is off limits!

The humor of Skinnyfat is in its absurdity. These boys, frequently shirtless throughout the film, have absolutely no reason to hate their bodies - yet they obsess about nothing else. The degree to which you'll enjoy the film depends upon how much time you're willing to spend with shallow, self-centered characters (to the film's credit, their obsession is not meant to be taken seriously).

Overall, Skinnyfat is not without its charms - the actors are cute, Johnson and Jaynes, in particular, give winning (if clearly amateur) performances, and the ultimate message that the film delivers is a positive one. And, who knows? Maybe if you've actually struggled with body dysmorphia, you'll relate... or be horribly offended. You'll have to watch to find out (I'm way to fat to make that call)!

By: Amos Lassen

Chaz is cool-he is tattooed and pierced, a hip guy in Sa Francisco. However, he considers himself to be overweight. His last date felt his waist and this drove Chaz almost mad. Chaz thinks that although he does not weigh a lot and is lanky, his waste is too flabby. He embarks on a plan to lose weight and he enlists his friends, Davy, to join him. They work out, do yoga, diet, and throw up. What Chaz learns is that ideals change with culture ad there are no hard and fast rules for the way someone looks.
Andy Bydalel gives us wonderful comedy that shows what happens when the body overtakes the mind. I was not sure that body fat would make a great comedy but I was wrong. Chaz invites us into the culture of the gay San Francisco hipsters and we see real diversity. The very idea of making a movie about a skinny guy who thinks he is not skinny enough gives us an entire new comedy. Using satire, the wit is biting and sharp and we realize that there is someone for everyone out there. The cast is made up of new faces and the story is new. There are several issues looked at here and once you see the movie, you will not feel the same. I know I don't.