Nice idea - shame the rest of the film isn't as funny!
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"Shallow Hal" is just that, shallow, offensive and lacking in any humour. If you've seen the trailer you have seen the best bits!
Jacqui Vinters
The concept that inner beauty outshines physical appearance makes a great subject for a Hollywood movie. Unfortunately "Shallow Hal" charges in with fat jokes, pokes fun at any physical imperfections and falls as flat as a pancake. It is directed by the Farrelly brothers, whose other films include "Dumb and Dumber" and "There's Something About Mary". They are in the business of offending sensibilities with their anything-goes style of comedy, but here their gags just don't work.  | | Hal shares a drink with his thin blonde girlfriend |
"Shallow Hal" is not without its stars, notably Gwyneth Paltrow, who won an Oscar for her performance in "Shakespeare in Love" (1998).
Her character, Rosemary, is a real sweetie and with Gwyneth's looks would certainly win many hearts. It is the treatment of the subject that grates, not her performance.
Plot
When his father was on his deathbed young Hal was told to only date the youngest, prettiest women. So he does! By the time he reaches middle-age, Hal Larson, (Jack Black), is the ultimate shallow man. He only pursues women who look like supermodels, although he would hardly win a beauty contest himself! After an impromptu hypnosis session with self-help guru Tony Robbins, (played by himself), Hal's view of women takes a dramatic U-turn. He now sees right through the flesh to the heart and soul of the people around him.  | | Gwyneth in her fat suit |
No matter what their physical appearance is, Hal will "see" all good-hearted ladies as drop dead gorgeous babes on the outside. The problem is Hal's friends don't perceive things the same way. Enter Rosemary (Gwyneth Paltrow) an obese Peace Corps volunteer. Hal, envisioning Rosemary's kindness and humour as a knockout babe, is instantly smitten and romance blossoms. But the hypnotic spell gets broken, and Hal must face an unrecognisable Rosemary and make his choice. Verdict
The trailer sold the film with funny excerpts of a canoe ride and a swimming pool sequence - but in reality, they were the best bits and not expanded upon.  | | Hal returns to the hospital |
There was one touching moment when Hal met with a little girl in the hospital after the hypnotism had stopped working. He sees her properly and here the concept really worked, if only the rest of the film could have followed suit. "Shallow Hal" is hypocritical, if beauty isn't just skin deep then why don't we see more of Paltrow in her fat suit, as the real Rosemary? It is as though the audience wouldn't be able to find someone who is obese, attractive. Also Hal's hypnotism only works by showing him inner beauty in an outward physical form - he never in fact changes how he views women. So the moral behind the film is sunk right from the start. | 
