Self-respect, self-confidence, and self-empowerment are the rah-rah-rah themes of this winning, if a little pandering, coming-of-age indie about an intelligent, ambitious 18-year-old Latina (appealing newcomer America Ferrera) with a vexatious, traditional family, a generous figure, and an admirable amount of gumption. While Ferrera is encouraged to apply for scholarships by a teacher who sees her potential, her meddling, small-minded mother (the fantastic Lupe Ontiveros, Chuck & Buck) is determined that she should instead become an additional family breadwinner by working in her sister's struggling dress factory. Her journey is not a stereotypical one of self-discovery (she's already comfortable in her own skin, poised and proud of her Rubenesque physique) but one of a young woman flustered by indecision, standing at a crossroads in her life. Loyalty or personal growth? Family or future? Although Real Women Have Curves has structural flaws, indulgent sermonizing, and lots of rhetorical dialogue, such problems are easily forgiven--chalk it up to director Patricia Cardoso's enthusiastic inexperience--because ultimately the film is gratifying, endearing, and enabling. Recommended. (R. Blackwelder)
Real Women Have Curves
HBO, 85 min., PG-13, VHS: $50.98, DVD: $26.98, Apr. 22 Volume 18, Issue 3
Real Women Have Curves
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As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
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