Rating: 
Summary: BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER...
Review: This film by the Farrelly brothers is one of their better ones. Though they have not shaken off their lowbrow sense of humor, they have managed to better incorporate it into their film, so as not to lose all credibility. As a result, they have put together a pretty decent and unusual romantic comedy. The plot revolves around our not so good looking leading man, Hal Larson (Jack Black), who, due to a traumatic scene with his dying father when only nine years old, is fixated on dating only women who have super model looks. Pumped up by his equally not so good looking, best friend, Mauricio Wilson (Jason Alexander), Hal is hellbent on dating only good looking women no matter how stupid, mean, or self absorbed they may be. It is no wonder that he has yet to find the woman of his dreams. A run in with motivational speaker, Tony Robbins, changes Hal's life, when Tony places a subliminal message into Hal's subconscious, causing him to see only the person's inner beauty. When his path crosses that of the morbidly obese, but warm and kindly Rosemary Shanahan (Gwyneth Paltrow), it is love at first sight for him. He does not see a fat girl but a beautiful and luminous Gwyneth Paltrow. Hal continues to see only the inner beauty of all those whom he meets, until he is brought back to a jarring reality by his erstwhile best friend. What happens when faced with the reality of having a morbidly obese girlfriend is a trial and tribulation that only Hal can resolve. Will true love win out? Watch the movie and find out. Gwyneth Paltrow is sensational as Rosemary. Her delivery is affecting, as she comes across as sensitive, sweet, and hesitant, as well as somewhat lacking in confidence. She is absolutely incandescent in the role. She effectively plays the part of Rosemary, as if she were a young woman unused to the attentions of a suitor. She is also quite funny at times, as Hal's comedic foil. Jason Black, as Hal, is also funny, though somewhat wooden. He is obviously a comedian, rather than an actor. Still, he manages to play his part effectively, overall. Jason Alexander plays his role a bit too over the top, almost manic, and ends up being more obnoxious, rather than funny. In the end, however, when his own personal secret comes out, it really is a hilarious moment in true Farrelly brothers fashion. The rest of the supporting cast is very good and effectively contribute to the comedic efforts of the film. While this film emphasizes that inner beauty is what is important, it does so, however, while still making fun of fat people at their expense. When Gwyneth Paltrow asks for a slice of cake and proceeds to hack off a third of the cake for herself, the film is continuing to propogate stereotypic notions of fat people. A number of sight gags further serve to underscore this premise. This is, however, a Farrelly brothers comedy, after all, and to be expected. The DVD has a number of interesting features, including one entitled "Seeing through the Layers", which shows the efforts made to turn Gwyneth into a believably obese woman. The DVD also includes a film commentary by the Farrelly brothers, as well as eleven deleted scenes, in addition to some other features. All in all, this DVD offers excellent picture and sound quality and is value laden.
Rating: 
Summary: Damn funny!!!
Review: This is a funny movie. Jack black is a kick...actor.
he is very funny to watch. He rocked in saving silverman and orange county. I like this movie the farrelly bros have done it again. This one is a little different than the other ones. It contains a good story. I own the DVD it contains tons of cool extras. I hope the farrelly bros continue to make more movies and I hope jack black continues to rock in other movies in the future.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Review: Shallow Hal is a great movie. This movie is a garunteed laugh and it even has a bit of romance to it, but don't worry its no chick flick. Overall a great movie. If you don't buy it than you have to rent it. You will want to buy it after renting it cause you will watch it again and again. Do it you know you want to.
Rating:
Summary: Big is beautiful
Review: I will have to say this movie wasnt all that funny because of the touchy issues of weight and beauty but i will have to say it does get a message across. Especially for those out there that are only oriented on what is on the outside of a person. The most beautiful people in the world arent model thin or model pretty because there personalities are what makes them special. The only part in this movie i wasnt too happy with, was the fact, they make it out that if your big your prone to break everything and your constantly eating. The scenes in which the character Rosemary busted chairs by sitting on them, or the bench at the 4-star restuarant collapsing under her weight... i think they could do with out. Or Rosemary's constant stuffing her face with everything she came across. But once again, the movie was decent and i would recommend seeing it.
Rating:
Summary: Paltrow Shines in Big-Hearted 'Hal'
Review: I'm surprised about the controversy this has film received since its November 2001 release. SHALLOW HAL is anything but shallow. If you like the Farrelly Bros. past comedy THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY, you will enjoy SHALLOW HAL. If you didn't like it, you will still enjoy SHALLOW HAL. 'HAL' has a message that not everyone can see. Some people seem blinded and can't see the message because a few fat-jokes have stomped it down a little. But, more people find it big-hearted and moral than those find it offensive and stupid. Hopefully, you'll see the message that you shouldn't judge people on physical appearance, and that beauty is really in the eye of the beholder...especially in Hal's case.
Gwyneth Paltrow is amazing and truly shines in the film. The amazing thing about her is that she really doesn't differenciate between thin Rosemary and overweight Rosemary (Gwyneth in a fat-suit). Though there's about three fat jokes that are played for innocent laughs, other events related to overweight are merely there to show some of the hard things and sometimes embarrassing moments, and hurtful comments, that some overweight people have to go through. The DVD is full of amazing features, including 11 deleted scenes and three film specials. SHALLOW HAL is definitely a must see, and it really made me think about the next time I act a little shallow. You feel Rosemary's hurt sometimes throughout the film, but the heart is big as well as the laughs, and I think you should see the film, if you're deep enough.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the worst movies in recent memory...
Review: This movie is terrible. I mean really, really bad. I guess it's supposed to be a comedy, but there are absolutely no laughs to be found. The movie is one very long fat joke that doesn't work and is stretched to an hour and a half. I think the Farelly Brothers were attempting to make a "message movie" but I think it is actually sort of offensive to overweight people. Jack Black is a funny guy, but he hasn't made a good movie since "High Fidelity." He's not funny at all in this, it's a total waste of his talent... Jason Alexander? Not funny at all. The Farelly Brothers are continuing to prove what hacks they are as filmmakers. After making three great comedies in a row - "Dumb and Dumber," "Kingpin," and "There's Something About Mary," they've now delivered their second straight dud (fourth if you count Osmosis Jones and the Farelly-produced "Say It Isn't So"). Even in those three classic comedies I questioned their movie-making skills but at least they provided laughs. Do yourself a favor and don't watch this godawful mess. I wish I could say, "Well, it's really stupid but it has funny parts" but there are no funny parts.
Rating: 
Summary: Not So Much A Gross-out Comedy As a Passable Romance
Review: Jack Black (the very noisy clerk in "High Fidelity") is Hal of the title, who falls in love with Gwyneth Paltrow's character Rosemary. But as he can see only 'internal' beauty of the people he meets, he doesn't know that the actual Rosemary is not what he thinks she is. In fact, Rosemary -- witty, kind-hearted, and sensitive -- is a very fat girl. The Farrelly Brothers stretched this premise to the extreme because, as we know, they are kind of guys who made "There's Something About Mary" which is brimmed with politically incorrrect gags. But in this film the brothers show another side of them: romance. OK, so, there's fewer occasions for the directors to show their trademark gross-out humors. Their outrageous gags are there, but the film gives more stress on the love-story of Hal and Rosemary. Some people say the brothers went soft. Perhaps. Jack Black, despite our anticipation, is very good as Hal, who at first appears as an annoying guy who sees only external beauty of females. He tries to have a date with every girl he meets at disco, but always fails. Except that habit, Hal is a pretty nice fellow you might relate to ... so the film goes on to explain ... if you could swallow this initial premise. Though Hal's character seems off-putting initially, he shows another side when he meets lovely Rosemary. Of course, he doesn't know her truth -- he is given a certain 'power' from Anthony J. Robbins in an elevator -- and Rosemary thinks he is only joking. But as she gradually sees he really means it, a romance starts to bloom until an inevitable development of story comes. Jack Black shows unexpected tender side of his character well, which could have been just a shallow caricature of playboy. We somehow come to like him (if not the film itself), and it is certain that JB scored another point after Stephen Frears film. On the other hand, Gwyneth Paltrow, beautiful as she is, is put in an awkward situation, I am afraid. She (Gwyneth, I mean) is a cute girl, to be sure, but she appears fairly briefly as true Rosemary wearing a fat suit and special make-up. Now, a fundamental question pops up here -- if moviemakers say they do not make fun of fat girls, why don't they try to find a really cute fat girl somewhere, and cast her as the lead, instead of having Gwyneth in a suit? Some of the gags are indeed funny, but they do not play a major role in this film. It's a romance; or, I should say, it tries to be one, and in my book it ends up with a so-so result. However, whether it is a right way to make a romantic film with Oscar-winning Paltrow in this fashion remains a mystery. And whether you can enjoy "Shallo Hal" from your heart, or you are offended by the use of issues like obesity, depends on that score.
Rating:
Summary: Deep in the Shallow end...
Review: Where can i begin to describe my love for this film? Gwyneth has never been more lovely. Those who claim this movie is offensive to heavy people are missing the point. I laughed at the sharp script and my eyes also teared up in some very touching moments. I used to BE a shallow Hal so this movie has special meaning for me. Weight was the primary focus here, but being shallow can involve wealth, social status, or anything that forgoes substance for a shiny, temporal veneer. this movie hits a bullseye!
Rating:
Summary: shallow hal
Review: Shallow Hal could be put under the category of "romantic comedy" i love how through most of the movie hal thinks a lot of "unattractive women" are beautiful, perfect women because he only sees the inside. the ending was really great. i love how gwenyth ends upcarrying out jack instead of vis versa. the point is it keeps you laughing through the whole movie so i definately think that anyone who hasn't seen it should go see it.
Rating:
Summary: Farrelly brothers go warm and charming
Review: "Shallow Hal", the latest movie from the Farrelly brothers, is something of a departure for them. It's a kinder, gentler work from the team that made the idiotic "Dumb and Dumber", the wacky, raucous "There's Something About Mary" and the rather vindictive "Me, Myself and Irene". Again, they take on a sensitive subject. This time it's obesity. Instead of loading the picture with fatso jokes, which is undoubtedly what many of their fans were hoping for, they chose instead to focus on tolerance and on the idea that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The results are mixed. It could have been a lot funnier, but that might have also made it mean-spirited. It's charm and warmth make up somewhat for its general lack of laugh out loud humor. As the movie opens, young Hal is traumatized by his father's deathbed admonition to pursue only beautiful women. Soon we see the grown up Hal [Jack Black], who has taken the advice seriously. He is indeed shallow, chasing only the most desirable women [read bimbos]. Never mind that Jack himself is no looker. One day he gets trapped in an elevator with real life inspirational speaker Tony Roberts, who convinces him to start looking for the inner beauty in women. When he meets Rosemary [Gwyneth Paltrow], he is instantly smitten. What he sees is, well, Gwyneth Paltrow, What the audience and his friends see is the real Rosemary, who weighs in at about 300 pounds. At first she is offended by his insistence that she is beautiful. After she accepts that he is telling the truth, one of the oddest love affairs in the history of movies begins. Jack Black, in his first real starring role, makes Hal an interesting character. Paltrow is excellent as the Rosemary Hal imagines he sees and, in a few scenes, as the much more substantial real Rosemary. Jason Alexander is hysterical as Hal's idiot best friend, Mauricio. It can be argued that the Farrellys only further the stereotype of what defines beauty by casting Paltrow as Hal's ideal woman. The fact is that the last half of the movie would not work if he did not have an 'ideal' Rosemary in his head when he finally sees the woman she really is. I think "Shallow Hal" is the Farrellys' best movie after "There's Something About Mary". And it's certainly a winner in an era of lame, uninspired gross-out comedies.
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