Tedfoldol everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Holstra Boring, long, and too preachy.

ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Payno I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

SnoopyStyle Ana Garcia (America Ferrera) is frustrated by her mother (Lupe Ontiveros) who demands her to work for her sister at their garment factory. Her teacher Mr. Guzman (George Lopez) wants her to go to college. Her father is more sympathetic. Jimmy from school likes her.While I appreciate the family drama, I really don't like either the mother or the daughter. Ana is too angry, too bitter and too whiny. The mother is too angry, too bitter and too whiny. They are definitely related. On top of that, the story layers on some body issues. Also some of the story feels unnatural. Her mother's claim of pregnant feels weird. Even if it's inspired by a true story, it doesn't feel necessary. What shines through are the two lead actresses. America Ferrera gets her big break and Lupe Ontiveros is charismatic.

travelinggirl This film focuses on the generation gap of the classic neurotic mother and her bright, "contemporary" daughter. From what I have seen and heard from others it seems this gap in the Mexican American community is a very common and realistically portrayed aspect of the storyline. There is an interesting subplot that centers on the characters daughter being overweight and the Mexican American communities' reaction with how they deal with the whole subject of weight. This subplot culminates in a very funny scene where several characters of women that are heavy take their clothes off to their underwear as a matter of pride and to overcome and deal with the exhausting heat in the sweatshop where they work. The character of the daughter does have a love interest who accepts her for who she is with her weight aside. I really do think that this movie would be best viewed by a teenager who is struggling with similar issues and cultures. They will be able to relate to the characters so much more. The ending was very typical and expected. Overall I felt that this movie was a high risk when they made it, because it will probably have very high and very low appeal in equal depending on who is watching it and their backgrounds.

CitizenCaine Real Women Have Curves is the break out film for Latina Director Patricia Cardoso. It's also the feature film debut of actress America Ferrera, recently of Ugly Betty fame. She plays a recent high school graduate who spends the summer after graduation working in her sister's sweat shop making dresses with her browbeaten sister, overbearing mother, and other women who can do no better really. Ferrera's character faces a dilemma between working in this dead-end job due to a guilt trip laid on her by her neurotic mother and attempting to get accepted to Columbia University in New York City. The film makes it clear that going to any college in such a familia would be nearly out of the question, so it is a monumental headache for Ferrera's character to consider this decision all summer while simultaneously battling her domineering mamacita (played to perfection by Lupe Ontiveros) and considering the overtures of a white male classmate. Along the way, Ferrera learns how to deal with her invalidating mama, accept herself for who she is, and take a chance at her dreams. Ferrera was certainly a discovery when this film was released, and she appears to have had little trouble since finding work. Her character, Ana, is so natural and realistic in this film that one forgets this is a movie. The film has several nice touches, such as the characters speaking both English and Spanish spontaneously which often happens in Latin-American families in real life. The scene with the two sisters facing off against the corporate businesswoman also dispels stereotypes Spanish-speaking people often have about others. The stripping scene in the sweatshop while liberating the women from the strictures society places on heavy women also signifies Ana's liberation from her oppressive mother's criticism, if only temporarily. The soundtrack is full of lively Spanish songs, adding to the film's appeal. The film is aided significantly by its location shooting. It won the Audience Award at Sundance. *** of 4 stars.

Paigerpie I was assigned to watch Real Women Have Curves for one of my college classes. So I popped it in and got comfortable. I enjoyed the scenery and the music. I did not enjoy Carmen, Ana's mother. I'm supposing that was just her character; but, wow. She's one hell of a mom. I've read other reviews of this movie and other people seem to enjoy the scene where Ana and the other factory workers strip down and show their scars to the others. Carmen gets upset and is astonished that none of them are ashamed to show their bodies. Ana proclaims, "This who we are. Real Women!" So is she saying skinner woman are not real? I was quite disturbed by this notion. By the end, I was upset. I know that this movie was supposed to make women of all types feel beautiful; but, it just made angry. Why are bigger women the only ones who are real? The movie was basically saying to me that if you can fit into a size 7(and I'm not saying I personally can) than you're not real. You're fake and you must starve yourself. Skinny women eat too, they might just have a faster metabolism. They're sorry. Needless to say, this movie disappointed me greatly.