"Holy Shit Did You Know Matthew Lillard Directed A Movie?!"
Yes! THAT Matthew Lillard! And you know what? It is GREAT.
I know that you might find this information a little mind blowing. I did at first, but I assure that feeling will pass.
First off, the film is called “Fat Kid Rules The World,” and while that title doesn’t scream (pun intended) Academy Award, it is based on a young adult novel by K.L. Going published in 2004, so cut it some slack.The movie version of Fat Kid Rules The World (or FATKID for the sake of my hand cramps) came out in 2012, and is still about a fat kid. It is one of the most positive ‘fat kid’ movies I have ever seen, and it refreshingly stars two young and talented actors that I’ve never heard of.
A high school kid named Troy is overweight and alone, saddened by the death of his mother, the growing pains of drifting apart from childhood friends, and his inability to bond with his emotionally inexpressive father. Feeling incapable of ever fitting in, he attempts to commit suicide by walking in front of a bus.
I’m going to pause for minute and also point out that in the film adaptation, the story is set (and filmed!) in Seattle, Washington, and the bus that nearly gets him is bound for ‘SEATTLE’ which I found to be a particularly hilarious metaphor for how much I love/hate this city.
Being hit by a bus marked Seattle while in Seattle is so Seattle.Obviously the kid doesn’t die; he is saved by a drug addicted singer/songwriter/guitarist named Marcus who befriends him because he’s constantly burning all his other bridges.Marcus’ character was apparently based on Kurt Cobain, but I think part of the reason I instantly connected with the movie was that I actually saw some of a lot of my younger self in the character.
I’m in no way bragging. I never actually learned to play the guitar because I was way too high. There is something so true in the relationship between Troy and Marcus, and parts of it, as embarrassing as they are to look back on, made me feel sentimental in a strange way.
I have a friend who was sort of my Troy- She wasn’t suicidal or overweight, but she was safe. I was a mess, and I was impulsive, and I knew she would loan me $5 to eat or if I showed up to her house (via the rooftop that led to her bedroom window) I could sleep off whatever I’d been doing and know that she’d make me mac n’ cheese.
Marcus convinces Troy to be the drummer in his punk band, despite the fact Troy doesn’t know how. He talks about all these bands Troy has never heard of, he wows Troy with the idea of a life- more than just the MMORPG he plays. Real life with friends and girls and a belongingAt no point did I feel that Troy truly believed the promises of grandeur that Marcus spouts, he just wants to.
Marcus finds a friend to teach Troy the drums as best he can, while Marcus spirals out into his addiction.
I was not as bad as Marcus, BTW, but there were a few other eerily similar scenes involving forced showers and Troy’s dad (played wonderfully by Billy Campbell ) pulling Marcus aside the first time Troy is going to go to a show, to ask if he is high, trying to instill some responsibility while being legitimately concerned for his son and this kid he doesn’t really know.
It is a really weird feeling being assessed by someones parent like that. It is weird to feel like someone is worried of you and for you all at once.
In the film they discuss the idea that Marcus is using Troy, but as someone who has sort of been Marcus, it is so much more than that. When you feel that scattered and don’t have a steady family life, finding someone who feels grounding is a diamond in the rough. You don’t mean/want to take advantage- that comes along with the drugs/drinking/mental issues.
The dad in FATKID really stood out for me. He is broken too, in his own way- he was in the military, uncomfortable and struggling as a single parent. He falls back on structure to deal with his own emotions.
There is a part where he buys Troy a drum set to practice on- and I seriously cried a lil bit. I mean, some of that might have to do with my insomnia, penchant for malnutrition, and it being nearly 5am- but it was just beautiful. The dad, despite knowing that his son’s new friend is a druggie, trusts his son enough to take a step back to encourage his social growth. I’m like, whuuuuuuuuut begin sobbingTroy finds that he likes having something to try for, and he likes the experience of being in the moment.
I especially like this movie for something that I feel isn’t done enough- The ‘fat kid’ doesn’t get skinny. There is no montage of his complete makeover, what the fat kid gets is confidence, and the discovery of a new sub culture where he feels good, and alive, and welcomed. It’s like that teach a man to fish proverb, man.The film feels so natural, maybe more natural than Linklater’s Boyhood (to me). I am truly impressed with Lillard’s work. Not only that, Mike McCready, (the lead guitar player for Pearl Jam), composed the score!
"Holy Shit Did You Know Matthew Lillard Directed A Movie?!"
Yes! THAT Matthew Lillard! And you know what? It is GREAT.
I know that you might find this information a little mind blowing. I did at first, but I assure that feeling will pass.
First off, the film is called “Fat Kid Rules The World,” and while that title doesn’t scream (pun intended) Academy Award, it is based on a young adult novel by K.L. Going published in 2004, so cut it some slack.The movie version of Fat Kid Rules The World (or FATKID for the sake of my hand cramps) came out in 2012, and is still about a fat kid. It is one of the most positive ‘fat kid’ movies I have ever seen, and it refreshingly stars two young and talented actors that I’ve never heard of.
A high school kid named Troy is overweight and alone, saddened by the death of his mother, the growing pains of drifting apart from childhood friends, and his inability to bond with his emotionally inexpressive father. Feeling incapable of ever fitting in, he attempts to commit suicide by walking in front of a bus.
I’m going to pause for minute and also point out that in the film adaptation, the story is set (and filmed!) in Seattle, Washington, and the bus that nearly gets him is bound for ‘SEATTLE’ which I found to be a particularly hilarious metaphor for how much I love/hate this city.
Being hit by a bus marked Seattle while in Seattle is so Seattle.Obviously the kid doesn’t die; he is saved by a drug addicted singer/songwriter/guitarist named Marcus who befriends him because he’s constantly burning all his other bridges.Marcus’ character was apparently based on Kurt Cobain, but I think part of the reason I instantly connected with the movie was that I actually saw some of a lot of my younger self in the character.
I’m in no way bragging. I never actually learned to play the guitar because I was way too high. There is something so true in the relationship between Troy and Marcus, and parts of it, as embarrassing as they are to look back on, made me feel sentimental in a strange way.
I have a friend who was sort of my Troy- She wasn’t suicidal or overweight, but she was safe. I was a mess, and I was impulsive, and I knew she would loan me $5 to eat or if I showed up to her house (via the rooftop that led to her bedroom window) I could sleep off whatever I’d been doing and know that she’d make me mac n’ cheese.
Marcus convinces Troy to be the drummer in his punk band, despite the fact Troy doesn’t know how. He talks about all these bands Troy has never heard of, he wows Troy with the idea of a life- more than just the MMORPG he plays. Real life with friends and girls and a belongingAt no point did I feel that Troy truly believed the promises of grandeur that Marcus spouts, he just wants to.
Marcus finds a friend to teach Troy the drums as best he can, while Marcus spirals out into his addiction.
I was not as bad as Marcus, BTW, but there were a few other eerily similar scenes involving forced showers and Troy’s dad (played wonderfully by Billy Campbell ) pulling Marcus aside the first time Troy is going to go to a show, to ask if he is high, trying to instill some responsibility while being legitimately concerned for his son and this kid he doesn’t really know.
It is a really weird feeling being assessed by someones parent like that. It is weird to feel like someone is worried of you and for you all at once.
In the film they discuss the idea that Marcus is using Troy, but as someone who has sort of been Marcus, it is so much more than that. When you feel that scattered and don’t have a steady family life, finding someone who feels grounding is a diamond in the rough. You don’t mean/want to take advantage- that comes along with the drugs/drinking/mental issues.
The dad in FATKID really stood out for me. He is broken too, in his own way- he was in the military, uncomfortable and struggling as a single parent. He falls back on structure to deal with his own emotions.
There is a part where he buys Troy a drum set to practice on- and I seriously cried a lil bit. I mean, some of that might have to do with my insomnia, penchant for malnutrition, and it being nearly 5am- but it was just beautiful. The dad, despite knowing that his son’s new friend is a druggie, trusts his son enough to take a step back to encourage his social growth. I’m like, whuuuuuuuuut begin sobbingTroy finds that he likes having something to try for, and he likes the experience of being in the moment.
I especially like this movie for something that I feel isn’t done enough- The ‘fat kid’ doesn’t get skinny. There is no montage of his complete makeover, what the fat kid gets is confidence, and the discovery of a new sub culture where he feels good, and alive, and welcomed. It’s like that teach a man to fish proverb, man.The film feels so natural, maybe more natural than Linklater’s Boyhood (to me). I am truly impressed with Lillard’s work. Not only that, Mike McCready, (the lead guitar player for Pearl Jam), composed the score!
