I have to admit I wasn't expecting much when I started to watch this film. The title and photo looked quirky however so it grabbed my interest and I decided to see what it was about.
Needless to say I watched the whole thing through instead of stopping after 10 minutes. Something about the characters drew me in. I think it was the heart of the movie and its unconventional situations which kept me watching. Also, the message at the end was actually uplifting and inspiring instead of cheesy. I think this was credit due to the writers and their wise choice of words.
One thing that struck me about this film is it shows an amazingly real friendship between two girls from black and white culture. Sometimes I feel that there is this divide between certain black and white cultures where people from the different cultures cannot really connect. But this bond between these two girls showed a strength beyond stereotypes where it was possible: Where people can look past their differences and see each other as human beings: caring about each other and sticking together despite their differences and social pressures.
Some people complained about the "booty shaking," but I feel the film was simply being true-to-life. In fact, I'm amazed that a film could show such a kind light on both black and white stereotypical behavior at the same time. Normally "booty shaking" films don't have a dorky white likable protagonist, and vice versa.
To those who were leery of the hermaphrodite theme: I wouldn't worry too much because it never gets too graphic or goes too far with it. It did however make me think about the fact that there are people out there who have to live with that condition.
This film did remind me of some others at first, like Napoleon Dynamite. I was actually expecting something like Welcome to the Dollhouse when I first started watching it. But to me this film had more heart than those other movies. It was about strength, perseverance, and staying a kind person despite bullying and having a difficult life. There was a subtle maturity about this film, and it was uplifting.