The Fattest Man in Britain (2009 TV Movie) User Reviews

Cracking :)

[roland-193 · 8/10 · 21 December 2009]

Was looking forward to this from the start and i wasn't disappointed! The whole cast were brilliant, especially Bobby Ball playing the dirty, foul mouthed manager (hope we get to see his character again in the future), Wonderfully shot,great script with both laughter and enough tender moments to keep it from turning farcical.

Well done to everyone involved. The make up was really good for a T.V drama, location was spot on, Badly Drawn Boys music was perfect for the show.

I just hope we can see more of this quirky style of television soon.

Loved it!!!

Competent Sunday afternoon sort of film

[wellthatswhatithinkanyway · 7/10 · 11 January 2010]

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

In a day and age where fame comes to the talentless quite easily, there are people getting noticed all the time for their comically over-sized bodies who are always appearing in the papers for being a sideshow or not being able to work and claiming benefits...So being such a current affairs matter, the renowned Timothy Spall has donned a super-size fat suit to play one such spectacle, Georgie Godwin, who we learn through-out the course of this TV film has become super-morbidly obese not entirely through his own fault, and has survived through years of being a sideshow and cash cow to his so-called best mate Morris (Bobby Ball) only for a new friendship with a young girl to save his salvation again.

The lighting is a little too grey and bleak for what was meant to be such light entertainment, not to mention the script throwing up some heavy content and strong language knocking out the family market. But at it's heart it's still a good natured, gentle piece that strikes just the right balance between hilarious and heart warming. Ball is a surprise return after being away for so long, and even more surprising (and relevant) is the appearance of real life Birmingham fat man Barry Austin, as Georgie's rival in a local 'super fat' contest. ***

Jack Taylor unofficial movie.

[clt_james · 8/10 · 20 August 2020]

The story evolves around the true story of heavyweight man Jack Taylor. A miracle man's story of someone who would eat enough for a medium sized family daily; he also used his habits to create fame involving using his home as a seeing gallery for tourists and locals wanting to pay for his time. The movie epitomizes the real life story with its own cast making a adaptation by changing the names of the people and locations and background story. Unfortunately the real life character dies of a heart attack one night alone in his home, and this story is a homage to his death as one of the largest person's in history, also it pays respect to his own life as a well loved individual in his own society. The film was a TV movie for ITV UK, and made a very good first impression to the home audience.

Really Heartfelt and Entertaining

[RedPixel · 10/10 · 17 May 2010]

I can't understand why a lot of people have given this a low score. I have no idea what I was really expecting from this. I was intrigued when I saw it advertised as I saw the original documentary on the now sadly departed Jack Taylor a few years ago and he was such a unique character.

Timothy Spall plays his incarnation of Jack (George Godwin) in a more dumbed down way. George (forgive the upcoming pun) is a more well-rounded individual, making him more believable. How ironic is that? There's no sign of Jack's Creation but there are plenty of references to the legend that was Jack Taylor to satisfy his cult following. There are some lines almost lifted from the documentary on their entirety: "I weighed 53 stone at Morleys!" and Jack's trademark laugh was done to perfection.

The story which surrounds George I felt to be very fitting. The contrast between George and the teenage Amy is a delight to watch and provides many genuinely touching moments. I have to admit I found it very hard to stop myself from shedding a few tears at certain key moments.

The supporting cast are superb with Bobby Ball delivering a wonderfully sweary performance as Georgie's manager. Francis Barber is his buxom carer and there is a cameo from Barry Austin who was also featured alongside Jack in "Being Britain's Fattest Man".

All in all both myself and my other half really enjoyed this film and I have since purchased the sublime soundtrack composed by Badly Drawn Boy.

Great Film!

[vengeance20 · 9/10 · 30 June 2021]

Heard of this film years ago & only seeing bits & pieces of it. Years later, I was at the gym & about to work out on the Cross Trainer but was wanting something to watch. I was intially looking for a documentary, but recalled seeing another Thumb Nail which looked like film, it was then after clicking I realised it was this film & immediately started to watch!

The film follows Georgie, a morbidly obese man who has been house bound for 23 years and is used by his best friend as a "wonder of the world attraction". He is then asked to par take in a competition with another obese man but loses which then inspires Georgie to lose weight and change his life.

I found the film to be quite enjoyable and feel good like! It was watchable to a T and really engrossing! Not to mention funny in a lot of places too with a great ending! It's a 1 hour and 28 minute feel good film with a really inspiring message! Timothy Spall plays the role well just like the other actors involved!

Overall a great British Drama of the late 00's!

9/10.

Prolonged

[5McC · 4/10 · 24 December 2009]

Reliable, solid performance as usual from Timothy Spall. As one who looks forward to uplifting dramas especially during these current times of economic recession, I found the last 2 minutes of what was billed as a comedy drama very uplifting – particularly after sitting through 2 hours of this. A word of congratulations must go to Jeff Pope and Caroline Aherne who seemed to have managed with ease to release Bobby Ball from his Christian beliefs by prolonged use of his foul language - quite a contrast from an earlier appearance he made on 'Songs of Praise.' It was billed as a comedy drama. I missed the comedy part. Is this what we really want on weekend prime time television in the UK?

Fabulous, one of my favourite TV dramas.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 18 July 2021]

The story of Britain's fattest man Georgie Godwin, inspired by real life events. A man who's seemingly proud of his huge stature, but totally taken advantage of

I have had weight issues personally, so this drama is very special to me, when it first aired, I had lost a massive amount of weight, it all went back on, having lost the bulk of it again, I felt able to watch this again.

This is a magical one off drama, it's funny, it's heartfelt, it's moving, and it's fairly motivational to the right person as well.

Tommy from Burnley's funeral is one of the funniest things I have ever seen, and the scene between Joyce and The Vicar is an absolute scream fest, it is always wonderful to see Mrs Brown out of uniform.

The acting is sublime, Timothy Spall can do no wrong in my eyes, he is quite literally one of the best there is, he is fabulous, as is the makeup he's in, quite remarkable. Bobby Ball, the late legend is also on the top of his game, throw in the gorgeous Frances Barber, and you get something this good.

The music is tremendous here too.

Fabulous, 10/10.

Brilliant cast, as a comedy it's not particularly funny

[maxxpump · 3/10 · 14 November 2017]

I saw this production after reading the synopsis, and seeing familiar names in the cast, I was expecting a riveting and well written comedy, but apart from a couple of lines, I didn't find it funny.

They basically made comedy from bad language and abuse, unfunny stereotyping, and the whole concept wasn't a particularly great one.

So if you think that abuse towards overweight people is funny and like the occasional bit of bad language and toilet humour, it might be up your street. But this wasn't a film which I particularly liked.

its a belly buster.

[fostrhod · 4/10 · 25 September 2023]

The Fattest Man in Britain(2009) (YouTube, full film ) It centres on the life of Georgie Godwin (Timothy Spall) , housebound for 23 years Georgie is the fattest man in Britain, and is loosely based on a real life fatty. Featuring lots of TV faces, namely Bobby Ball and written by Caroline Ahearne. It does plod the same path as The Royal Family in that the sentimentality does overwhelm what could have been a very dark story, playing it for laughs when the reality could and I presume would have been far too glum. It being comedic drama this sort of programme would no longer be made, Channel 5 and the like would now have a reality TV series for us to gawp at the fatties (I'm paraphrasing any potential sales pitch) Its worth a watch, but only to see how our collective taste have changed and not necessarily for the better. A timepiece. 4/10.