With an opening scene that includes the line “It’s hard being a diamond in a rhinestone world”, you know you’re in for a good time. Dumplin’ offers a refreshing look at romance, comedy and the power of music.
Set in the town of Clover, Texas, plus-size teenager Willowdean Dickson (Danielle Macdonald) enters the local beauty pageant, inspiring other misfits, along the way. Combining the up-and-coming star power of Macdonald with the music of Country legend, Dolly Parton, this Netflix original has boundless amounts of heart, humour and serious girl power. It promotes body-positivity, without shoving it down your throat like other social justice platforms. It highlights the importance of solid female friendships and encourages girls of all shapes and sizes to challenge themselves to achieve things they never dreamed possible. Along with Willowdean, the film stars Jennifer Aniston as Willowdean’s Beauty Queen mother, Rosie Dickson, and includes a performance by Luke Benward, so charming that it may just knock Noah Centineo off his internet heartthrob throne. His performance as local diner fry-cook, Bo, offers some hope to women that men may not all be so bad.
Full of colourful characters, and witty lines like “I’m not the Joan of Arc of fat girls”, one of the best parts of the film remains to be the soundtrack. Much of the films plot revolves around the inspiration Willowdean has gained from Dolly Parton throughout her whole life. Classics such as 9 to 5 and Jolene, along with remakes involving some of this decade’s biggest names in music, like Sia and Miranda Lambert, spark moments of sing-along worthy dance outbreaks, and tear-jerking breakdowns.
Though a film about a plus-size girl protesting the ceremony of beauty pageants, the real heart of the film lies in the friendships Willowdean makes along the way. She has her moments of self-pity and wallowing, but the powerful women she’s surrounded by garner enough motivation, in their outlook alone. It is truly refreshing to see a film where women are supporting each other, rather than tearing each other down. In the midst of the #MeToo movement, gender equality has become a hot topic in 2018, and this film truly rounds out the tone of the year – while remaining fun and fearless. It is proof that women can do anything they set their minds to, but also reminds us that it is only possible as long as we continue to build each other up.
Netflix has become a favourite this year for its rom-coms such as Set It Up, The Kissing Booth and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, but it is Dumplin’ that has proven that it is also in tune with what women are talking about and what they are affected by daily. Based on the novel by Julie Murphy, this film is no cinematic masterpiece, but it is undoubtedly an entertaining and frivolous good time, and full of moments that will resonate with audiences for years to come.
Let us know what you thought of the Netflix Original in the comments!
