MovieChat Forums > Tammy (2014) Discussion > Why do people keep harping on her size??...

Why do people keep harping on her size???

posted 11 years ago by shawnw007
53 replies | jump to latest

Okay, so Melissa is a bit heavy-set. Who cares? That still doesn't eliminate the fact that she's funny, likeable, and becoming quite successful in the movie industry. It's really a shame how quickly she's condemned because of her weight, and yet, other stars who've done considerably worse damage to their own health are continuously revered. Look at Keifer Sutherland and Zac Efron, two megastars who were both treated for problems with alcoholism. Look at Samuel L. Jackson, who acknowledged that years prior to his box-office successes, he was addicted to crack and living on the streets. At that's only a few. Case in point...NONE of us can afford to throw stones or put on pious airs. I'm sure Melissa McCarthy looks at herself everyday in the mirror. So what's the point in hating on her if it's entirely HER business what she eats?

[–] LawrenceOfAlabama 11 years ago

Perhaps if she ( like most fat male stars) didn't use that as their comedic crutch. We wouldn't comment so much on it. Even in the trailer she makes a joke about being so heavy she can't get over the counter.

So if you open up that humorous dialogue. Then it is open for all. I hate how certain people ( black. Fat. Handicapped. Etc). Make jokes about themselves then when we joke in the same manner we are the offensive one?

[–] WhenGreyjoysCry 11 years ago

and it was all innocent enough when she was just somewhat overweight, but she has really gotten big this last year. Most of us here really like Meilssa McCarthy and don't want to see her go down the same road as John Pinette. We point out her weight for the same reason we will for the people we care about....we want to see them change their ways and maybe live a longer and happier life.

“There are no ordinary moments. There is always something going on.” – Peaceful Warrior

[–] don-damon 10 years ago

Comedy is a fickle bastard. Americans especially have gotten used to laughing at all the short falls of people who are struggling with their demons. MM has banked her whole schtick on her weight. Would she be as funny if she were, say, Jennifer Aniston size? We watch JA because she is hot babe. But we love laughing at the fat guy/girl. Chris Farley, John Belushi, Roseanne Barr all had weight problems. Constant yo-yo fluctuations. Hopefully, she will try to take better care of her self. She could be a great comedienne

[–] Blue_Eyes_James 11 years ago

I'm not sure why some people point to it as a "comedic crutch" when her size is just one thing in her comedic arsenal. Maybe something extra that Amy Poehler doesn't have in fact. Or does her fat comedy just distract you from her other skills? (Not typing overweight and heavy-set ten times.)

You can't deny body type as factoring into comedy sometimes, you gotta use what you got... Arnold Schwarzenegger, Verne Troyer, sometimes you couldn't write slapstick without the size factoring into the script. But her faces, her delivery by itself -

"I'm driving a car!"

"I don't want you to bite my mouth." (The deer scene, I almost choked with laughter!)

"There was a bee! There was a bee!"

"Enjoy the special sauce!"

Don't discredit her for being a funny her! She has a style, Goldie Hawn couldn't do the special sauce line quite the same way.

[–] rmoriarty97 10 years ago

Agree, remember the singing in the car scene in Identity Thief? Funny as hell but not because of her weight!

[–] joshdestardi 11 years ago

There is a BIG difference (no pun intended) between outright hateful comments regarding a person's appearance and then having a mutual laugh about a person's characteristics.

The difference is obvious.

Not very original, but 'We accept the love we think we deserve.' Brilliant.

[–] KrayzieOutKast 11 years ago

Because, as I see it, she's the same character in every role. It's the "oh hey, look at me, I'm overweight, I'm foul-mouthed, I dress horribly, I'm a badass, etc." When you have to make fun of yourself in every role, it gets old and losses its humor.

She was hilarious I'm Bridesmaids, but that was her first big exposure, and it was great. Now she does the same thing every movie.

[–] efhartman 11 years ago

I couldn't agree more!!! Her routine is getting VERY old. She needs to show some range and do a different role.

[–] BrazilRules 11 years ago

She is just not talented enough to venture away from being cast like that. Much like Chris Farley who played the same character in every film. The only large comedians that successfully broke out are John Candy and John Belushi. John candy was in my estimation a good actor who could play a variety of roles with a range that goes beyond the overweight shtick.

"Just because I don't know what it is, doesn't mean I'm Lying." Claude Elsinore

[–] joshdestardi 11 years ago

...and how do you know whether 'she's not talented enough'? Has she been given acting roles to increase her acting chops? I liked John Candy; he was likeable, just like Melissa Mccarthy.

But take a look at his IMDB filmography. Yep, many of the same roles/characters.

I think there's some sexism going on with Melissa McCarthy and about how people view fat women. John Candy is "a-ok", but Melissa McCarthy is a big fat ******.

Right?

Not very original, but 'We accept the love we think we deserve.' Brilliant.

[–] freshsaltwater 11 years ago

Unfortunately, that's the way it's always been. A man can be 600 lbs and nobody comments, but if a woman has just a little meat on her bones she's a disgusting pig.

[–] PenguinCat 11 years ago

Because, as I see it, she's the same character in every role. It's the "oh hey, look at me, I'm overweight, I'm foul-mouthed, I dress horribly, I'm a badass, etc." When you have to make fun of yourself in every role, it gets old and losses its humor.

But why bother with her then? Ignore the previews. Look away. It's the hateful insulting, immature, crap they post that is silly.

If they are in High School fine, they can't help it. But if they are adults they really ought to seek help with how much she bothers them. It's not healthy to be that angry over something so trivial.

Always be yourself... Unless you can be Batcatt

[–] kindred122 11 years ago

When you have to make fun of yourself in every role, it gets old and losses its humor.

I hope you hold all other comedians to the same standard, because LOTS of comedians have built their careers on making fun of themselves. Be it their religion, race, their upbringing, their marriage, etc. Self-deprecation is the foundation for many comedians, both in their stand up and in movies. So spare me the trite garbage about her making fun of herself is getting old. You people only have a problem with her because she's a fat woman. And for some reason many of you seem to think it's ok to constantly degrade and put down fat women as if they aren't even human. End of story.

[–] shawnw007 11 years ago

"She was hilarious I'm Bridesmaids, but that was her first big exposure, and it was great. Now she does the same thing every movie"

Yeah...but so does Liam Neeson, Chuck Norris, Adam Sandler, and pretty much every celebrity who is typecast. Yet, we don't seem to mind it as much with them. All in all, that's their choice to elect the characters they play.

[–] doggie_rodriguez 11 years ago

Why do people keep harping on her size???

People don't like it when "unattractive" succeed.

90% of the negativity about is her appearance, which is idiotic to have a problem with. I'd be willing to bet that most of the people on here that knock her weight are overweight themselves.

[–] sevenmarie 10 years ago

People don't like it when "unattractive" succeed.

this is 100% the answer!

[–] mongooseface 11 years ago

Not true, I'm a big fan of Michael Shannon and he's not exactly Hollywood beautiful is he?
The problem with Melissa, as has already been stated, is that the "Look at me, I'm fat and I swear loads" schtick is getting really boring. Very rarely is she involved in a scene where there's an actual clever joke, we're all just supposed to laugh at her hugeness and bad language.

[–] GSmith9072 10 years ago

Not true, I'm a big fan of Michael Shannon and he's not exactly Hollywood beautiful is he?

He's male, they get a pass for overweightness/unattractiveness. When males have that problem, it's OK as long as someting else makes up for it since, y'know, no one's perfect. Females on the other hand are reviled for it. No one can see past it, it negates your value as a human. Being female and 'ugly' while famous will always incite anger.

BUGS

[–] gingersac 11 years ago

She is also very pretty, and she has a man!

[–] bastille-852-731547 11 years ago

It's all because hollywood/celebrity culture stresses having a "perfect" body. In reality 27% of Americans are obese. I'm not obese by the BMI standards, but I'm definitely trying to eat better.

[–] heatherderringer 11 years ago

She's picking up a bit of momentum, as her audience is 99% "curvy"*, but whatever her actual mass, her fanbase is full retard mode.

*obese

[–] bboops23 11 years ago

Because, as I see it, she's the same character in every role. It's the "oh hey, look at me, I'm overweight, I'm foul-mouthed, I dress horribly, I'm a badass, etc." When you have to make fun of yourself in every role, it gets old and losses its humor.

For many people with weight problems insulting yourself is a defense mechanism. I should know, I was heavy the first 22 years of my life. I'm still heavier (I've dropped over 100 lbs, I exercise 3+ times a week and I'm dieting, it is slow going but it works) but not as much as I was and I still have a very self deprecating form of humor because it is a coping mechanism. You commonly insult yourself as a way to make people like you. It is a hard habit to break. Also Melissa McCarthy often dons a bit extra padding for most of her roles. She is still a bit heavy, but not as badly as you'd think. Her short stature also makes it look worse than it is.

I often have a tendency to assume that no one will ever like me for who I am so I say things as an insult to myself. Melissa McCarthy however is clearly very confident in who she is. She knows who she is and she doesn't let anything stand in her way. I truly adore her because she's proven that plus size women can be leading ladies.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4385660/ -> This girl is going places

[–] kjperes13 11 years ago

She says in the new Rolling Stone that she would "kill, absolutely kill" to be a size 6 again, so she is obviously not that confident in who she is. She talks about how she knows she eats horribly, doesn't exercise and drinks too much, and how it affects her kids...but that she doesn't care because she could get hit by a bus tomorrow.

You may think she's OK...but she's not.

[–] Ithilfaen 11 years ago

She says in the new Rolling Stone that she would "kill, absolutely kill" to be a size 6 again

Maybe because she's tired of getting called a fat disgusting cow by *beep* all over the web. Ask black people if they wish they were white. If they've been harassed, threatened, insulted and spat on all their lives because they were black, I guarantee you that you're bound to have quite a few who'd say yes. Doesn't mean they hate who they are.

For every lie I unlearn I learn something new - Ani Difranco

[–] DoctorStrangelove 11 years ago

Yeah... I bet internet peer pressure, at her age, is the MAIN REASON she'd like to be smaller.

I'm sure it has nothing at all to do with joint pain, frequent exhaustion, inability to participate in activities with friends, difficulty sleeping, depression, endless dietary struggles in this fast food culture, worrying about early onset osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease... ALL OF WHICH can be caused by being overweight... and there are also the constant, simple daily annoyances of being obese. And that's all BEFORE you factor in other forms of abuse like drinking and smoking.

Now go tell your black friends that being black is exactly like being fat, and if you gained 50 pounds you'd understand their struggle completely.

The Doctor is out. Far out.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ks8971 11 years ago

Because she's fat.

She plays the same role in every movie, the female version of Chris Farley. Just a tubby overacting slob.