When it comes to movies that promote body positivity and self-love, the 1995 film Heavyweights stands at the pinnacle. Known for its sharp, borderline insensitive humor, the film also offers valuable lessons about stepping out of your comfort zone with a positive mindset. While the comedy often targets overweight adolescents, it manages to do so without being cruel. The film’s humor, though at times outrageous, never feels like a malicious punch-down. Instead, it strikes a balance that makes its jokes both funny and thoughtful.
Heavyweights serves as a perfect example of how to deliver tasteful humor, especially when it involves children. Despite its abundance of weight-related jokes, the film avoids crossing into politically incorrect territory. Its humor never feels mean-spirited, even when its characters are the butt of the jokes.
From Camp Hope to Perkis Power
No child wants to discover that their parents are sending them to a weight loss camp, and Heavyweights begins with Gerry Garner (Aaron Schwartz) learning he’s being shipped off to Camp Hope, a summer program aimed at shedding pounds. Initially, things don’t seem too bad. Camp Hope is run by the kind-hearted Harvey (Jerry Stiller) and Alice Bushkin (Anne Meara), who offer a well-structured diet plan and fun activities like go-karting and swimming on the “Blob,” a giant inflatable water platform.
Gerry quickly befriends Josh (Shaun Weiss), Roy (Kenan Thompson), and other campers. However, the camp’s fate takes a turn when the Bushkins announce their bankruptcy, and Camp Hope is bought by Tony Perkis Jr., who rebrands it as “Perkis Power.”
Heavyweights Wouldn’t Work Without Its Antagonist
Ben Stiller steals the show in Heavyweights as Tony Perkis Jr., a fitness fanatic who imposes brutal diet and exercise regimes on the campers. Despite claiming to have once been overweight himself, Perkis Jr. is openly hostile toward the children. His first act is to raid the cabins for hidden junk food, an action that initially seems justified, given the camp’s mission to instill healthy habits. However, his methods quickly reveal his true colors: he’s less interested in the kids’ well-being and more obsessed with control.
Perkis Jr.’s character is reminiscent of a modern-day Instagram influencer peddling snake oil. His obsession with success and fitness is driven by vanity, not genuine concern. He removes the engines from the go-karts, deflates the Blob, and strips the camp of any fun, all in the name of discipline.
Though Stiller has played similar characters in films like Dodgeball, Tony Perkis Jr. stands out as a uniquely unlikable antagonist. His over-the-top declarations, like “Success breeds success,” only serve to highlight his narcissism. His character allows the film’s humor to land because, at its core, Heavyweights is a comedy, and Perkis Jr. is designed to be the butt of the joke. A perfect example of this is the scene where he runs off stage, arms outstretched for a high-five, only to be met with complete indifference.
Lessons Are Learned After Everything Falls Apart
Ultimately, Heavyweights is an effective, feel-good comedy. It not only tells the story of Camp Hope’s restoration but also highlights the importance of self-acceptance and setting goals. It’s a film that encourages viewers to be proud of who they are while striving to become the best version of themselves.
You can stream Heavyweights on Disney+.
