Fat Kid Rules the World (2012)

A dropout comes to the aid of a chubby and suicidal high-school kid by recruiting him as the drummer for his upstart punk-rock band.

Director:

Matthew Lillard

Writers:

Michael M.B. Galvin (screenplay by), Peter Speakman (screenplay by)

Stars:

Jacob Wysocki, Matt O'Leary, Billy Campbell

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jacob Wysocki	...	Troy
Matt O'Leary	...	Marcus
Billy Campbell	...	Mr. Billings
Dylan Arnold	...	Dayle
Tyler Trerise	...	Manoj
Russell Hodgkinson	...	Marcus' Stepfather
Sean Donavan	...	Ollie
Julian Gavilanes	...	Matt
Lili Simmons	...	Isabel
Jeffrey Doornbos	...	Mr. Sherman
Lino Marioni	...	Young Troy
Michael Loftus	...	Band Member #1
Stephanie Sarreal Park	...	Girl #1 (as Stephanie Park)
Duane Cawthon	...	Bus Driver
Frances Hearn	...	Bus Stop Woman

Storyline

A dropout comes to the aid of a chubby and suicidal high-school kid by recruiting him as the drummer for his upstart punk-rock band.

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Plot Keywords:

vomit | punk rock band | high school | band | drummer | 

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Taglines:

The time has come to rule!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual and drug content, and brief violent images

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 March 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Debeli klinac vlada svetom

Filming Locations:

Seattle, Washington, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Whippany Park Productions,Whitewater Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie is a homage to the cult classic "SLC Punk!" which starred director Matthew Lillard.

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Soundtracks

I Hate Work
Written by Michael Loftus (as Michael Seamus Loftus)
Performed by Whiskey Tango

User Reviews

Although it suffers from typical technical independent film problems, it's one of the best feel-good films of the year.

I'll always think of Matthew Lillard as Shaggy from the Scooby-Doo movies of my childhood and that laid back personality seems to be fed into his hard work too. Fat Kid Rules The World is a real indie treat. Although it takes on the tired high school archetype (not alone in freshening it up with the delightful 21 Jump Street this year), it's about the characters as people, not as stereotypes. It's the protagonist Troy, played by Jacob Wysocki, who makes the journey worthwhile. He's wonderfully relatable in his self-deprecating fantasies and bursts of teenage horniness. Here he finds not only direction in life but someone to share it with too. It's a great feel-good archetype that this film really makes work with its great soundtrack and sense of humour. Although perhaps Matt O'Leary's Marcus feels a little too contrived in his role to fit in the Kurt Cobain grunge rocker who throws far too much kindness onto Troy than is believable, the film otherwise makes great use of its side characters, particularly Troy's father, the army type with surprising compassion. Unfortunately the film suffers from indie cinema traits of flat cinematography and lighting which does weigh the film down quite a bit but otherwise it's one of the most watchable films of the year.

7/10