Dumplin'

— Another film to premiere on a streaming service (Netflix) with limited theatrical release. Willowdean (Danielle Macdonald) is the plus-sized daughter of Rosie (Jennifer Aniston), a former pageant queen who now runs the Miss Teen Bluebonnet pageant. Willowdean decides to enter the pageant in protest, creating a springboard for forming new bonds and gaining new understandings. Danielle Macdonald is perfect as the rebellious daughter and Aniston’s certainly up to the nuances of her role. There aren’t many surprises in the story, but the film is carefully done, touching on every lesson to be learned with a mix of humor and compassion. In the end, it’s an uplifting comedy that sounds a little sappy and almost is. It’s definitely a cut above the Lifetime and Hallmark channels. The Dolly Parton trope and songs are also an added bonus.

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[2018. 111 min. Directed by Anne Fletcher. Starring Danielle Macdonald, Jennifer Aniston, Odeya Rush, Maddie Baillio, and Bex Taylor-Klaus.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/dumplin-2018