April 03, 2006 @ 1:27 pm

Phat Girlz

by: Liana Morales

And, who better to write a film about plus size women than a plus size girl herself? Someone who actually knows what she’s talking about and can bring to the table some of the real issues big girls face? The same issues that are often neglected in the "stick figure" world we live in today?

First time script writer/ producer, Nnegest Likké, keeps it all the way real with this film. “All the stories out there were either spoofing plus-size people or making them look like buffoons,” says Likké. “I wanted to write a comedy, but not something that made fun, or couldn’t be taken seriously in some ways.”

right PHAT GIRLZ is an edgy comedy that stars hilarious "Queen of Comedy" personality, Mo’Nique, who plays Jazmin Biltmore, a mouthy aspiring fashion designer, and Kendra C. Johnson, who plays her friend, Stacey.

The two play plus-size women who have two major concerns in life: their struggle with weight and their struggle to find love and acceptance in a world full of “skinny beautiful people”.

The PHAT GIRLZ are completely thrown off course when they meet the men of their dreams who come from a culture where big is better and definitely preferred.

Jimmy Jean-Louis plays Tunde Jonathan, a well-educated, good-looking Nigerian doctor who visits the U.S. for an international medical convention and falls for Mo'Nique's character, Jazmin.

Actor and comedian, Godfrey, plays Akibo, a fellow doctor and friend of Tunde’s who pairs off with Stacey.

Joyful Drake also stars in the movie as Mo’Nique’s ‘Perfect 10’ cousin, along with Jack Noseworthy and Eric Roberts.

Mo’Nique says she was thrilled to do the movie. “Normally when they do stories about fat girls, they dress them up in a fat suit,” says Mo’Nique. “That actress really doesn’t get it, because at the end of the night when they say, ‘Cut,’ that suit comes off. Our uniforms stay on permanently.

"It’s about time someone took a stand and said, ‘I’m fat, I’m proud of it, we ain’t goin’ nowhere,’” she continues. “‘Deal with it. If not, we’ll walk right over the top of you.’”

PHAT GIRLZ, although a comedy, delves into some of the social issues that society tends to ignore. However, it shows how everyone, no matter what size, color, age, etc. can find love and acceptance.

PHAT GIRLZ will hit theaters this Friday, April 7.

Read more vibe.com reviews.

Article tags: Phat Girlz, Mo'Nique, Queens Of Comedy 

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