Overweight eleven year old Gerry Garner (Aaron Schwartz) isn’t thrilled that his parents have sent him to a fat camp. Thankfully, it turns out that the camp is run by a nice couple (Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara) who try to make the experience as fun as possible for the kids. While getting used to things, Gerry finds friends in Josh (Shaun Weiss) and Roy (Kenan Thompson), kids who are struggling with their weight just like him. At the same time, counselors Tim (Paul Feig) and lifer Pat (Tom McGowan) try to make Gerry feel comfortable in his new surroundings.
Unfortunately, just after settling in the kids are informed that the kindly owners who visited Gerry at his home have gone bankrupt. The camp has been sold Tony Perkis (Ben Stiller), a fitness freak determined to turn the camp’s success stories into a weight loss infomercial empire. Using extreme methods of motivation and training, Tony quickly turns the camp into a prison for the kids and the staff. It’s not long before the kids are plotting to overthrow their nefarious taskmaster.
While Judd Apatow co-wrote the script, Heavyweights is more typical of director and co-writer Steven Brill. Brill wrote Mighty Ducks and its sequel. Instead of a ragtag hockey team rising above expectations, Heavyweights is essentially a ragtag group of portly young boys gaining the courage to stand up for themselves. The narrative of Heavyweights won’t surprise anyone. We pretty much know how things are going to end. Instead, it’s the film’s unusually smart comedic sensibilities that make this one unique. Sure, there’s some childish humor (fart jokes, hits to the groin, etc.) but overall, the script has a unique edge to it.
The standout performance here comes from Ben Stiller, who is essentially playing a pumped up version of his character from Dodgeball. Tony Perkis is passionate about living healthy and prone to ‘enthusiastic’ outbursts. Whether he’s psychotically walking over broken glass, or giving overly enthusiastic high-fives, Stiller is clearly into it. The premise is what it is. The fun comes in watching Ben Stiller work through it.
Presented in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, e transfer is a good one, with no visible artifacts, excessive DNR or banding. Several scenes look a bit soft, with colors looking somewhat bland. Other than that though, this transfer is perfectly acceptable.
The English DTS-HD 5.1 soundtrack isn’t particularly dynamic. The focus of things is squarely in the center channel. There’s not a lot of rear action, when it comes to ambient sounds. However, dialogue is perfectly clear.
A Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack option and subtitles in English SDH, French, and Spanish are available.
The following special features are included:
- Commentary with co-writer/producer Judd Apatow, co-writer/director Steven Brill, and actors Allen Covert, Aaron Schwartz, Shaun Weiss, and Tom Hodges has the participants dissecting the Heavyweights production. Actor Paul Feig joins the track near the end, providing his thoughts over the phone line.
- The Making of Heavyweights (24:36, SD) is a 2012 featurette using footage from the 1994 shoot, where a youthful Apatow and Brill run through the story, casting choices, etc. We also get cast interviews, including Ben Stiller, who weaves in and out of character.
- Deleted and Extended Scenes (94:32, SD) these moments detail Gerry’s school life, camp mischief and campfire time, invasions into Tony’s lair, the full Camp Hope or Hell video, longer looks at Apache Relay events, etc. Also seen are cameos from Apatow and Peter Berg as camp cooks.
- Where Are They Now? (14:41, HD) catches up with Aaron Schwartz, Shaun Weiss, and other cast members, who recall working on the film.
- Video Chat: Judd & Kenan (8:21, HD) Judd interviews Kenan, as he recalls life on the set.
- Super 8 (8:59, HD) is an unexplained reel of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring on-set interactions and daily business with the cast and crew. There’s no audio, leaving the score to set the mood.
- Judd’s Art Project (1:53, HD) is a series of Polaroid’s featuring cast and crew, making up “The Angry Man,” an idea from Apatow where he makes a furious face in every photo.
- Theatrical Trailer (2:03, SD)
