Mo'Nique stars as a fashion designer for plus-size women in the comedy Phat Girlz, a movie focused intently on making defending the dignity of women who don't fit the popular standard of skinny.
David DiCerto (Catholic News Service) says this "sporadically entertaining film encourages self-esteem and self-acceptance, but this positive message is sullied by its freewheeling attitude toward premarital sex and its bawdy tone."
Marcus Yoars (Plugged In) says that, "despite its B-level quality, Phat Girlz tries really hard to make a positive statement about accepting yourself for who you are—flabby thighs, love handles and all. … There's a big difference in intending to do something, however, and actually doing it. Besides lots of foul language and sex, the film suffers from the very thing it's railing against. … But while America may be obsessed with weight, so is Phat Girlz, to the extent that every onscreen moment falls victim to the same fat/thin filter."
Mainstream critics find that this film is just too, um, burdensome.