hellraiser7 I've never been overweight for the record but I have been a geek/outsider, which made me a target for most scum in the schools and even I never had all the breaks in life. This film is another one of my childhood gems and it's one of my favorite films of all time because this film focuses not just on kids that are heavyweights but also are people that never had all the breaks like myself.I really like the story in itself which is sort of your tide turning/underdog story. The film is actually a bit dark as we see but personally that's part of why I love it this film, it's one of those family movies done right where nothing is watered down and what the kids even good staff members go though just makes you all the more makes you want them to win.The characters are great, I really love Tony Perkins, this is my favorite role from Ben Stiller and one of my favorite fictional villains. Tony is pretty much the ultimate fanboy of the self help, fitness and infomercial counterculture. He's taken cues from guys like Tony Robbins, Richard Simons, or any other guru you can think of but he is literally not his own person. And the guy of course is a fraking moron as he is trying to utilize a fitness methodology of what it means to be a great person and of course we see he's on the wrong track or should I say off track.He is just fraking hilarious, not just verbally but even physically like in one scene where he's going on a power jog, it's funny because of how ridiculous he's moving as if he's a kid just imitating the movement he sees on an exercise video. The Chipmuk campers are all great and unique in ways, even like the fact that a few of them are from the "Mighty Ducks" films which is cool since I like those films. Jerry is solid, he's a character that is just sort of the ordinary kid that just simply wants to have a good time. One thing I like about him is his desire to ride a go kart, simply because they look cool and he's never ridden one but most importantly finding out if this is something he's good at. Which is something I can emphasize with, whenever there is something new and different my way I have the urge to try it out and to me that just part of life, trying things out and finding out what your good at.Really like Josh, he's sort of the class clown of the group. He's got some good scenes and lines. One that was my favorite was when he was pulling every ones chain when he was pretending to be some sort of zombie, that I always chuckled to.The film I feel smartly satirizes on the self help and fitness counterculture. How most of the time that counterculture is teaching all the wrong things like the importance of image; instead of the right things like the importance of mental and physical health.But of course the film also has some good messages and in a strange way is a bit of a Christian film. One of the revolving themes is of course about hope, hence the title of their camp. We kind of see throughout most of the film the camp is not living up to that title as we see instead of being Camp Hope it's became Camp Hell. But it's always the dark times when hope is needed the most and we see in both the campers and even the good staff that they have kept hope despite how small alive and has grown.From one scene where there is a dance with these nice looking girls at first it's an Amish rave but then of course we start to see at first the good councilors dance to get it going and then of course every joins in gets comfortable having fun which of course puts a crimp on Tony's plan. But also we see that it's hope alone that motivates them to do what must be done, once Tony says a really crappy thing to Pat as Pat stood up for the campers I thought, "That's it, I can't take this crap anymore!" that of course crossed the line with the other campers and staff and we see there is a form of community as they all work together to do what must be done.In a way that moment we see the contrast parallel in both Camp Hope's program and Tony's. Camp Hope is a place that we see promotes not just good health and outlook on life but also community, some of their community doesn't all consist of people Heavyweight which is part of what Community is about, where it doesn't matter who you are or what your weight is, what matters is who you are on the inside.Tony's of course is one that what you project outside is what makes you feel good inside and also is aiming for everyone to be a Superman. But that's a bad philosophy because obsession with image is vanity which is always a fleeting thing and trying to be a superman is of course the impossible dream because no one can logically get there. But as we see there is a great amount of isolation with him as he really has no friends, he has henchmen but that's all they are they don't count as real friends. And to me that is part of why Tony is really the one that is weak and the Heavyweights are truly strong.Heavyweights is the right weight on entertainment.Rating: 4 stars

stratsz28 "Heavyweights" is a mid-90's Disney film about a fat camp taken over by the villainous fatboy-turned-success Tony Perkis. While the premise is not so novel, the execution is great and keeps you pretty entertained throughout.Some of the humor is dated, very 90's-specific. However, there is plenty of timeless, cross-generational humor, and Ben Stiller is absolutely at the top of his game. He would reprise this role many times again in his career: the guy with low self-esteem who becomes an overcompensating jerk. Tom McGowan, who plays a Camp Hope lifer, also plays a solid role and draws many laughs.Sure, it's another Disney story about underdog kids who end up conquering the odds... or something like that. But Stiller and McGowan are great, and the kids do a pretty admirable too. It's not a must-see movie, but you also won't feel like you wasted your time for having watched it.

Josiah Astle (rabbitfighter9) -I watched this movie countless times and is the funniest movie on planet earth. I know it looks crappy, but I'm telling you Ben Stiller is amazing and you will love all the fat kids. I have seen a lot of amazing movies and award winners but still for some reason i can watch heavy weights day after day or sometimes twice a day and it is always funny.-It has the best soundtrack too, Disney hit a gold mine with this movie because its not lame funny or stupid mighty ducks funny. I can quote pretty much the whole movie, it is full of the funniest quotes.-Anyways all i can say is, watch this movie and you will know what I'm talking about. This is a perfect movie.-I love this movie more then anything on the top 250 list.

dunbare Heavy Weights is not a politically correct movie. I first saw this movie as a child on the Disney channel and thought it was hilarious.****SPOILERS********The movie is basically about fat boys in a fat camp and their crazy summer with psycho fitness slut Tony Perkis (Ben Stiller). Jerry is the leading fat boy. The film starts with him at his last day of school ready to enjoy a lazy summer. After he misses his bus and is almost attacked by a dog he comes home to find his parents are sending him to Fat Camp. Jerry is not pleased and screams at his Dr. Phil looking father "Your fatter than I am, you go to camp!" Jerry ultimately is forced to camp where he meets lovely fellow big boys, and realizes camp might not be so bad. They have go carts, "the Blob" and best of all no one picks on you because everyone is the fat kid. He makes many friends right away including a young Keenan Thompson.The movie really pokes fun of the mockery of fat children.1. The fat camps beloved owners (played by Ben Stillers real parents) have gone bankrupt and now new ownership has emerged in the form of former fat kid turned exercise Nazi Tony Perkis. This movie is where I first heard about Ben Stiller. He is great as the cruel Tony. He loves to embarrass his poor campers. At one point he cancels their lunch and simply tells them over the intercom "lunch has been canceled due to lack of hustle...Deal with it."CRUEL.2. The dance. This is another of Tony's sick twisted jokes and is hilarious. The boys have a dance with the girls camp and of course these girls are repulsed by the boys.3. Lars. This guy looks like one of the Gestapo. He is a counselor who has a thing for the camp nurse Julie. He is evil and perhaps his character is a mockery of a German Nazi. Lars is foreign and has an accent and marches around the camp with his Aryan looks blowing his whistle like a deranged fat hating Nazi.4. The baseball game. This is just downright unfair. The camp plays baseball against camp MVP, camp MVP is a SPORTS camp....Guess who won the game? 5. Food stealing. There cannot be a movie about fat camp without the stealing of food. Sounds funny and it is...after all no matter how many "glandular" or "hormonal" problems a person of generous girth has, ultimately the majority just ate and a lot...The boys go crazy when they learn the slop they have to eat and resort to desperate measures.6. Revenge. The boys are abused and downright sick of it. Their ultimate kidnapping of demonic Tony is hilarious. The scene at parents night when the parents see what their child is really going through is very funny! 6. The Apache Relay. The finale. This is where the camp again competes with camp MVP in order to win the Apache Relay.The apache relay is a serious of various obstacles that camp MVP always win..... The ending is really great.This movie certainly makes incredible fun of fat people, and not just fat people, but boys going through puberty. I found it hilarious than and still find it hilarious now. It may not appeal to anyone who does not like this sort of politically incorrect comedy, but for those who enjoy Ben Stiller or an occasional chubby joke may find this movie not only funny, but endearing. I would watch this with my brother and sister and we would laugh our heads off, but we were always rooting for the fat kids. Tony Perkis was the devil and we found the "capture" of him clever. Loved this movie.....may not be something for obese sensitive.