The Whale -- Why I Hated It -- My Honest Movie Review 

One critic I read wrote of The Whale, “there doesn't seem to be any middle ground at all; people either believe it to be a masterpiece, or a pile of sentimental claptrap.” I guess I must be one of the rare people who thought it was both of those things at the same time. On the one hand, I hated the heavy-handed moralising themes, and I completely agree with your take on the ending too, it was a trite, clichéd cop-out that came close to ruining the whole movie for me (not to mention the fact that it was clearly ripped directly from Iñárritu's Birdman, where the same type of ending was executed in a far superior way). The stereotyping didn't really bother me because I think at its heart the movie isn't really trying to deal with obesity per se, it's using obesity to deal with ideas like depression, existentialism and self-image; but I can see why some people might've found it annoying. At the same time, although it was unashamedly sentimental, and more emotionally manipulative than Schindler's List, I did find myself falling for those emotional cues, feeling a genuine, deep empathy for Fraser's character that has rarely happened to me when watching a movie. And in large part that's of course down to Fraser's incredible performance, well deserving of the 2023 Oscar for Best Actor that it won him (though I was still disappointed not to see Colin Farrell get the recognition he deserved for Banshees of Inisherin, easily my favourite performance- and indeed movie- of 2022). And, though my attention waned a little during the middle at the arrival of a number of sub-plots that weren't entirely necessary in my opinion, overall I found myself totally engrossed in the film (I have quite a short attention span- even very good movies sometimes lose me halfway, and I find myself pausing them and returning to them later; and yet this two hour narrative of a week in the life of a recluse waiting to die in his squalid apartment kept me hooked from beginning to end). As a final thought, I do see what you mean about the earnestness of the movie, but honestly in this current era where everything has to bathed in postmodernist, meta irony, I found its unabashed earnestness and sentimentality somewhat refreshing.

I couldn't get into it. I think mostly what I hated was how nasty his daughter, Ellie, was to him. Like I get that u had issues with his abandoning u but she just was really excessive & I thought why even bother to visit him if u hate him so much. Ruined the whole movie for me tbh

Decent review, agreed with some of what you had to say. Definitely found there to be a lot of anti-Christian views throughout the whole movie. But I think some things that need to be said is the fact that the main character left his wife and child to be with another man. Sorry, not sorry, to all the people who are going to be offended by this, but that needs to be shamed. This is not a movie to be commended, in my opinion. I'm going to put it in my take on it, which may be a harsh reality for some, but it needs to be said. The main character leaves his little family, which obviously is detrimental to the mother and daughter, especially during the daughter's most influential years, but he leaves a heterosexual marriage to be gay with some young lover. The emotional damage that causes the family can be irreparable (unless you know & understand the healing of Jesus). Look at how the daughter and mother turned out. Drug abuse and absolute disrespect for each other and others. People seem to forget the importance of a family unit. I feel sorry for the mother and daughter. The movie should have been made about them so people can see the damage that the father caused and how to overcome it instead. Charlie's character, I will never feel sorry for. He decided to feed his depression of losing his lover, not his little family I might add, but his lover who took his life (which, factually, seems to be trend in the gay community) with his gluttony, which ultimately kills him. Also, people who are offended by the "fat-shaming", well sorry, but this is reality, being obese is unhealthy and will kill you. Anyways, it's a terrible movie that deserves negative ratings. Brendan Fraser could have done WAY better for a comeback movie.

I haven't seen the movie, but when someone says "I hated this movie," a movie that's supposed to be good, to me it means it's worth seeing.

While I liked all of the performances, especially Brendan Fraser's, and it was very well written, I still felt underwhelmed by most of the film.

I liked it alright - was watching it while doing other stuff. Then, suddenly, I was uncontrollably weeping for the last 1/4?? It’s like.. my brain was unmoved, but somehow on a deeper level was completely obliterated 😅

It really was just lacking in story. The characters were often one note and didn't act like real people.

what about the fact that it’s entirely based on a stage play that’s why it’s in one room and the religious thing and ending are written that way? i don’t think arronofsky is to blame

This movie is great, the main character is not being stereotyped, the movie is only showing a person who truly has given up on himself beyond redemption. It shows how addiction over powers logic and it shows how his choices affect others .

I thought this movie was amazing. That binge eating scene, for instance, was very intense. I thought all the characters had nasty/unkind sides to them and good sides to them. I didn't think they were onedimensional. Charlie is of course much more than his obesity. He is an English teacher, he loves literature. He values honesty. And so on. But the movie is about his illness (obesity, addiction to food, depression) taking his life so yes, it's about his obesity.

I don't know if I would like this movie, but I am eternally grateful to Brendan Fraser. In 2003, I lost my wife to Diabetes and I was heartbroken and at the lowest point of my life. My brother moved in with me so I wouldn't be alone at least for a few months. One day about a month and a half after my wife's passing, my brother brought home a movie rental, which was Blast from the Past. I was barely paying attention, lost in my own misery, but eventually noticed how good and fun that movie was and found myself laughing out loud for the first time in a long time at what Brendan was doing! That was when I realized there was light at the end of the tunnel. (By the way, Christopher Walken is awesome!). Even if I don't love The Whale, as a movie, I may want to watch it just for Brendan's performance. All good wishes.

it’s adapted. “the whale” also works with the water analogy. ocean symbolizing freedom.

I'm glad you mentioned The Wrestler, because that one really got to me. I loved it. Who would have thought Mickey Roarke could bring tears to the eye? But he was AWESOME!

I couldn't finish this film. Not once did I feel sorry for Charlie and it really felt like this film wanted us to. And yes I agree, that religious kid was just a confusing character.

I was very conflicted on my views about this film so it was great to hear a well written review voice my opinions for what was nagging me about this movie. Great write up!

Is this a character or are you really this pretentious? 😂😂 tell me you're not real.

Couldn’t agree with you more, though, I’m surprised you didn’t mention the acting. Every actor with the exception of Fraser seemed to have been going at it over-the-top. I really couldn’t take the oh-so-serious and melodramatic acting throughout the film. Especially as it relates to some of the really bad, trite dialogue. You nailed it when you point out that The Whale is very Gen-Z as it seems to prioritize honesty, BUT has no sense of irony. Makes for a bad and unbalanced tone. I was also really frustrated by the young door-to-door evangelist. As a religious person - a Lutheran - I found his beliefs to be fascinatingly confused. Whoever wrote this character clearly knows nothing of evangelical protestantism. I wanted so bad to tabulate his convictions, but couldn’t as they literally don’t exist? The beach scene(s) are just the worst, been a trope for too long. Where is the social awareness? Similar to Mother! is just a little to on the nose. The beach as his garden, his pre-fall state? Yikes. Please, stop.

It is a gay propaganda movie disguised as a movie of superation against morbid obesity. There is no good message against eating unhealthy or giving up on life. It overrates honesty to the point of being hurtful to others.

Thought it was fantastic. Cried multiple times learning the compounding sad events which led to Charlie’s current state…. I thought they showed his self destruction well, and it was touching how he and his daughter had a chance to hash out some of the issues, and in his last moments he was able to show her that even though his actions had bad consequences, he loved her deeply. He died seeing her smile….great great movie

I dont think that they are calling him a whale. His daughter had wrote an essay on moby dick and the whale. That he reads very often. It symbolizes how much he wanted to be together with his daughter. Thats just how i put it together. Idk

Thank you. The movie is adapted from a play, but doesn't translate well to the screen. No background exploration as to how Charlie got there, no flashback scenes with his family or lover, and really NO understanding of him as a person. It just dragged on and had no real direction. Left me wanting for a real plot. Awful. Fraser was wonderful, but that was about it.

He was obese because of his depression and he wanted people to hate him and think he is gross because he himself believes it. It was a guy who believes he did nothing good in life and wanted to see the one thing that he thinks is the most amazing thing he did which was his daughter. Sure it is easy to compare him to a whale but I don't really get the impression that it was the most important thing other than it was the linking point to his daughter.

I respectfully disagree with you criticism about the film. Your whole understanding of the film is based on the topic being centered in obesity when in reality this is a film about depression and suicide. I personally think that one actual criticism one could make about the film and the play it was inspired from is that it borders on being for a specific audience.

Thank you for this review. You saved me a couple of hours and a rental fee.

I totally agree before seeing the video..😂..how have the standards fallen

Finally someone with enough balls to actually speak honestly about this garbage movie

I’m lost on how people think this is a good movie in any aspect. Terribly written, offensive, exploitative, and has nothing to actually say

You nailed the major complaints I also had about this film. I couldn't agree more.

****SPOILER WARNING****The sudden ending really caught me off guard, I was still recovering from the scene prior that built up to him walking to Ellie, and just the way he had ascended was so quick and out of nowhere that I kinda started laughing while crying still. It was just so bizarre to me; my husband and I were kinda just sitting there in an awkward silence. But I do have to give Brendan Fraser credit for his amazing portrayal of this character. The way he displayed his shame and humility for himself really pulled me to empathize with Charlie, and really had me rooting for him to change, but I knew this was essentially a horror film, so in the back of my mind, I knew what was coming but still wanted him to desperately change his lifestyle. I thought the cinematography and setting was realistic for someone of the sort, the whole time I couldn’t help but think, “damn he would feel so much better if he opened a fucking window and let some light in the apartment.” I truly did pity him. But I have to agree with others opinions on other characters, I thought Ellie was overly harsh, and didn’t seem realistic as a resentful person. She seemed a bit over the top. It was clear that Liz was supposed to be the enabler, she did that part well, I don’t really have anything to say about the acting portion.

I wasn't a huge fan of the whale. I'll say this - it's not a hopeful movie for anyone who struggles with any kind of addiction, eating or otherwise.

Don't forget the movie is an adaptation.

I think he was a pretty bad english teacher to be honest. And his daughter was a bad writer.

I initially liked it, but over time as it stirred in my head I found myself liking it less. Brendan Fraser really saved this movie and without his performance it definitely would have been unequivocally bad.

as a film student, you need to see more than what you want your eyes to see. its much bigger than anything you've said. this movie had such an amazing narrative but there was more beyond the narrative that you cant see. learn your stuff mate. funny how you think its him being portrayed as the whale... and not the deeper meaning behind it. watch it again bud.

The only reason people fell for this was because of Fraser. He really is as good as they say. He masks what is a very mediocre film.

Finally a real honest review! An overly depressing movie. A person who is killing himself as a sacrifice for his daughter?! Really? None of the characters made any sense to me. With all the hype this movie got I thought it would have been better executed.

Plenty of people are incapable of not caring. Check the details of Oct 7.

This movie had me in a veil of tears the whole time. Very emotional .

Saw this last night and I completely agree! Was disappointed with this one because I love aronofsky and expected something else

Synopsis..... An adulterous man abandons his child for a ghey relationship, then wallows in self pity, becomes a self-absorbed, gluttonous, shut-in, and then ruins his own life and the lives of those around him before attempting to buy the affections of the daughter that he abandoned. All the while, blaming God and surrounded himself in an echo chamber of others who prop him up in his terrible decisions. He did things HIS way as opposed to God's way and suffered the consequences. If he had remained faithful to his wife and child, none of the horrors of this film would've taken place. But please, tell me more about how people of faith or God are to blame for this outcome. This flic illustrates how people are their own worst enemies and their poor decisions are usually the only thing to blame for the misery they encounter. And no, I don't mean any singular, specific group of people....I mean all of us. Humans are their own worst enemies.

It started good, but went downhill...1.5 star. We had stuff that happen....worse stuff...but we don't all stop being responsible or gain 300 lbs or live in a dirty home. His female friend was codependent bringing him junk food...Awful drama. People all want to play victim these days and relate to other victims. At 62...I and others had way worse stuff ... This was not the actors fault...bad script...yawn.. Good review.

People in life have a myriad of coping mechanisms and yes eating, like any vice, has its dark side. I have a dear friend that virtually matches the frame of this character and his justifications are fascinating, because he's simply passionate in that lane to eat himself to death. People place priority on some things over others because of how it makes them feel (or not feel) about issues that govern their lives. I didn't find this story one dimensional at all. I think what you might have wanted was something more "dignified" which is candy coating the issue. Do you want a happy lush from Andy Griffith or is Michael Keaton too mean spirited in Clean and Sober? This story illustrates the motivations that drive all of these characters to be who they are, which is context we often do not have with those around us. Pain and suffering is a very real issue in society and we can't hide behind the issue by suggesting it looks okay on the surface, because that would only drive those in that position to stay there. For many this can be a wake up call if they can see what its really doing to them and how the process perpetuates itself in other areas of their life. Thematically this film rides on denial in the face of pain and the many layers it can cover in a person's life to justify its existence. Its a self-fulfilling prophecy.

100% agree with this review. I just couldn’t feel anything for any of these characters at all. Not even Fraser’s character. His performance was fine but nothing extraordinary, and definitely not enough to save this film. I think it was his comeback narrative more than his performance that took him to that Oscar.

Haven't seen it, but contrasting interpretations are stimulating. 1990s Action movie 'connaisseur' 'Critical Drinker' gave it a favourable review - probably related to starring Frazier. The title 'Whale' doesn't have to be a high culture, literary reference, but like 'beached whale' may simply be contempt code for obese females - since Charlie is gay and sentimental it is probably the actual 'exploration', the movie was meant to engage in. From a European perspective, extremes of characters, interacting with another - secularists and cultists - corresponds with the image of US society: a 'freak show' where 'normalcy' is synonymous with 'historical'. The question is whether the script can illustrate more than just the obvious - which is arguably a challenging, ambitious task. How would e.g. the Cohen brothers - ridden by traditionalist Jewish perspectives - would have executed the script - or a poetic European director ?

Its hard to feel sorry for Charlie. Not because of his weight from his eating disorder, but because of his choices. Draging our guilt and our past and letting it "eat us" up. Whales are buoyant and only die from heart failure when grounded. Again describing the lethal weight of our emotional lives, burring ourselves in the cold cold sand. It tells us to be honest with others to get to the grit to the pain to the healing. His daughter was all of that, I loved her!

I enjoyed watching Brendan's performance, but I don't get how people cried during this movie. It was pretty mid. Every character was lacking and didn't make a strong enough connection with the viewer to even come close to feeling strong emotion ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I totally agree! The movie was over hyped! I found nothing special about it!

Couldn't disagree more with a review. I can understand some criticism you point out but flat-out saying that the movie is awful depicts your lack of understanding of the subjects it's touching. 1. The stereotype - This movie in no way does stereotype obese people and I'm saying this as an obese (type 1) person myself. This movie depicts an addiction that developed due to the trauma and the lack of ability to deal with that trauma. This mechanism is very well-known and studied subject, so I don't know why you'd try to negate its existence. Charlie might've been as well a drug addict and this movie's message would've been the same, especially since it, point by painful point, shows that under that grotesque exterior there is a human being with their own experiences and emotions that cannot be simplified down into an addict. 2. The aspect ratio - this point is flat-out ridiculous. The obvious answer to the question "why 3:4?" is that that aspect ratio is way more claustrophobic and intimate. We are supposed to feel like we are in that enclosed space (even in the small flat with Charlie) and peering into something that we should not be seeing. 3. Thomas the Christian - Like every other character in this movie, Thomas is morally ambiguous. The Newlife Church is just supposed to be a representation of religion and Christianity was thrown under the umbrella since it's the most popular religion in the western civilization which is the target of this movie. Thomas is shown to have conflicting ideologies because people in the vast majority have conflicting beliefs whether they realise it or not. Thomas does not represent the whole religion. He's just supposed to be a religious person. And his arch is about how being religious doesn't grant you a moral pedestal which you lacked to acknowledge in the scene where Charlie asked him if he thinks that he's disgusting. That whole scene was there to expose Thomas's short vision and moral grandstanding without self-reflection. 4. The score - Did you want the music to be death metal? Would it fit better the overall tone of this movie? Of course, it's gonna be symphonic. Because symphonic music is the most effective at convincing the emotions of melancholy and sadness. Is it cliche just because it's symphonic? I don't understand the point you are trying to make. 5. Why Mobi Dick? - This is the easiest question to answer. Charlie isn't Mobi Dick in this analogy. Salvation and redemption are Mobi Dick. It really should be obvious since from the beginning the movie hits you in the face with the analogy to the essay that Ellie wrote. The author's sad story is about Charlie's sad life and how he's chasing the redemption of making up with his estranged daughter that he abandoned. The only thing that I really find flawed in the movie is how it tries to touch on so many aspects of human complexity that it never perfects one of the subjects, but it doesn't change the fact that it does them justice well. Calling it awful is almost as much objectively false as humanly possible if it comes to opinions.

Oh you did mention the weird and perhaps too abstract (and/or short) ending!! ^_^

I COMPLETELY agree with everything you said! I feel like a lot of people are told what films they need to like, and this is clearly one of them. Definitely didnt enjoy it.

awful and very annoying film - i have to agree - a gigantic exagerate hype and again, that daughter is the most unpleasant movie character in the entire cinema history - i just don't know, i didn't like this movie, was just nuisance - seems to me the kind of movie when at the end people stand up and make applause, but i don't see the reason why - it's just controversy after controversy but......nope

Is it not trying to say that actually obese people do look disgusting, they do order take out and stuff their face and they need to stop doing this in order to physically keep on breathing. Does it not subvert the body positivity movement by making Charlie obese, yet not having his obesity as an intrinsic plot point. For example - Charlie could have quite easily been a thin drinker, or a thin drug user and most scenes would have made total sense. Isn’t the Whale exploring the humans ability to self destruct in the face of trauma, even when given an escape route. It explores concepts of salvation, addiction and deep emptiness coupled with something that should fulfil - yet doesn’t. I think it’s a masterpiece!

I couldn't get 1/4 through it. Felt contrived.

So cool that someone have nonconformist opinion on this movie. I almost think that this movie is not great. Very weak work.

Didn't like the movie i love seeing Brendan Fraser and was the only reason I watched it but otherwise wouldn't watch it

It's a horrible movie. I don't know why "critics" (pff) rave about it. Honestly, it is a horrible, distressing, miserable film, tantamount to a kitchen sink soap opera concentrate on steroids. All we are presented with is an image of the final days of a man that is a lost cause... He is eating himself to death, but not before he selfishly neglected (and thus psychologically and emotionally damaged) his daughter. We are obviously meant to feel great empathy and sorrow for the "humanity" of this man, but he's pathetic. He is an example of terrible choices, out of control emotions, self-pity, self-mutilation... He gets screamed at by his venomous daughter (she's a raging, bitter, hateful teenager, the result of his absence in her life). He gets screamed at by his exhausted, depleted friend Liz. He tells his students that nothing matters (a plan and a vision for life doesn't matter, hard work doesn't matter, discipline doesn't matter), and we are supposed to find it liberating to hear but all it does is set a hideous example to people. Apparently, wallowing in impossible emotions and self-destructing ("being honest") is somehow glorified while all sense of responsibility and hope is actually negated. By the end, the only thing we are supposed to feel inspired by is the fact that this man rejected everything, failed everything, gave up on everything, AND THEN JUST DIED. It's horrible. It's a sadistic, weirdly fetishistic study of tragedy, decay, illness, failure and finally morbidity. I don't understand why or how these pretentious film makers are able to acquire so much money and resources to tell such AWFUL, horrible, wretched stories and make such hideous images of the very worst that humanity can experience, and then they AWARD THEMSELVES for their wretched work. Just, awful.

_Eating Las Vegas_

It's my understanding his daughter turned up for his cash not his literary opinion.

“Oh I didn’t like it because stereotypes!” Bro the film is about him being obese because it is killing him and the last thing he wants to do is connect with his daughter. Half star review.

Every now and then, a film falls into the catergory 🤔 eh. 🤔 6/10 🤔 You CAN watch it. 🤔 You won't demand the 2 hours of your life back. 🤔 But you probably will feel a bit "had." 🤔 The daughter is just too evil. 😠 The nurse comes off as someone who is posessive of a soon to be corpse. 😠 The missionary is somewhat decent. 🤔 The X wife is decent for a moment. 🤔 I prefer THE WRESTLER (2008). 🤔

My fiancée and i watched this and loved it! I think we are just big Fraser fans. I get your criticisms and they are valid but I think we just had a good time in the theater and that’s what’s important!

I hated it and really surprised at all the great reviews. I didn't even think it was about obesity--it struck me as being more about religion, and that was confirmed (for me) by the ending.

What you said about this movie is completely ttrue but what I hate about this movie is how it's contradicting itself on every subject. First they go "Look how gross he is" and then "The christian is bad for thinking he's gross." "Look, the daughter became bad because he left her" and then "look, the daughter isn't really bad". "Everyone's suffering is caused by him leaving his family for a gay lover" and then "no, he just wanted to be happy, there's nothing wrong with that".

Have you seen aftersun? Instantly became one of my favorite films. I think it's a masterpiece but would love to hear your take on it.

I agree with the review. Very hard to watch. The daughter was too mean. Agree about the Christian theme being confusing and not right. Cultish. Probably the viewpoint of an atheist. Morally out of whack.

I loved this movie. It is in my top 5 movies for sure

interesting, way to be bold, i like that ... i didn't see it, didn't appeal to me from the little i heard about it

What?!!! 5:58? It that what movies have to do these days?

I hated it too

Wow we think exactly the same on the whale: everything in there is a generalization and a stereotype, and even the acting. the emotions the actors display don't even work because it feels disjointed: there is a stereotypical gimmick and there is the I want Oscars part. even the score helps to make being obese exotic and gimmicky

Can you also do a review of Everything Everywhere All at Once? I didn't get the hype about that movie. It feels like an art house film made for the Tik Tok generation.

I like this movie. I had a great time watching it.

I definitely understand where you're coming from about stereotyping but I feel like you're falling into a common trap of trying to push too hard against stereotypes because of a perceived inherent falsehood within them that isnt actually there. I've known a lot of people that will take examples of people they know who rise above stereotypes and use them as an excuse to ignore the truth in stereotypes when dealing with everyone else that fits them, to their own and others detriment. If you're fat you are disgusting, thats part of what it means to be fat no matter how much people try to look past it at a certain point you're doing more harm than good by trying to ignore the inherent qualities that come with being obese. If everyone tried to treat fat people like there was nothing disgusting about gorging yourself till you're 500 pounds then there would be one less reason to NOT gorge yourself. There is a similar issue with drug addicts, many will try to overcompensate and ignore their addiction to not stereotype right up until they realize they've had their wallet stolen. (I say this an addict).

I stopped at the first scene.

I liked it when I left the theater, but the more I thought about it the less I liked it. Plus Austin deserved the Oscar but I knew Brendan would win.

Aronofsky is a pretentious filmmaker. He also stole ideas from Satoshi Kon and never gave credit.

Probably the worst film I have ever seen. Killed my love of cinema for a couple months after watching it in the cinema. Such a hateful messy film that uses human empathy against you.

I liked it

I haven't seen this but I've been afraid of seeing it cuz your right. The visuals in the trailer alone made it feel like the movie was smiling at his suffering. Then I hear people say it's such am amazing movie. I'd say The Nitingale is amazing cuz that movie has weight and has a purpose. There's no purpose for a film like this to exist other than to cash in on it

As someone whose hobbies include getting fat on purpose, as part of my transgender dysphoria, I can definitely agree here. I just want to be fat and have fun!

I think the movie is about obsession (s). And contrasts Charlie and Thomas as people who have their obsessions with the female characters, who live in a more "rightful" ways. I think he explores obsession in most of his films being the end of the main character, but also a way to ascend. For me from Pi and Requem for a dream through Black swan and Wrestler to The whale he actually gives the obsession more and more positive shade as a way to ascend the mundane. The message I am getting is that in all shape and forms you must strive for your truth.

pretentious movie. good ending but messy

I think what I hate most about this film is that the director seems to make us compromise with self-destruction. Like when Liz kept trying to give Charlie what he wanted and didn't even care about his health, just because he wanted Charlie to be happy, forgetting his traumatic past. that's nonsense Another things that embarrassed me was in the first scene, why did they bring out the worst part in the first scene? doing weird activity while watching gay porn videos? it's really disgusting. I literally stopped the movie in the middle of watching it

I’m not watching this movie because I can’t stand Aranofski and I can’t stand Brendan Fraser.

Miserable movie.

I haven't watched The Whale because to me it screamed "fat voyeurism", good to know my impressions are correct

You need to learn more then

Brendan Fraser is great! The films writers weren't nearly as good as him!