Starring Danielle Macdonald, Jennifer Aniston, Odeya Rush, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Luke Benward, Harold Perrineau, Dove Cameron, Kathy Najimi

(6-Good Film)

Loving. Sentimental. Solid.

This girl group hug of a movie follows Willowdean Dickson (Macdonald), nicknamed Dumplin’ by her beauty queen mother, Rosie (Aniston); a nickname she loathes, and just another sign that her mom doesn’t understand her. Struggling with confidence due to her weight, she, fortunately, has her Aunt Lucy always there to pick her up. When Lucy dies, Willowdean feels lost, but decides to enter the local beauty contest after seeing her Aunt wanted to, but never did. This is a cutesy, emotional chick-flick, complete with the happy ending. I was overwhelmed by the excess sentiment, but, honestly, it’s a good film. Well-drawn characters and country setting (North Texas), plus a great Dolly Parton soundtrack as Willowdean idolizes her.

-Walter Tyrone Howard-

(175)