Review of Muffin Top: A Love Story (2014) by Hel L — 01 Dec 2014

MUFFIN TOP: A LOVE STORY is an all comedy, hilarious film taking a realistic look at the power of commercially driven perfectionism in body images. Cathryn Michon, who not only Wrote and Directed the piece, gives a convincing performance in the lead role as newly divorced Suzanne, who is seeking to renew her life and to get ?back in the saddle? of relationships. What she finds along the way, besides cheesy dating clubs and characters which are so stereotypically spot on, is her willingness, even her duty, to be physically perfect. The fact that Suzanne is a Women?s Studies Pop Culture Prof at the local University adds to the message: even Women themselves are feeding into the Male driven images of perfection in media. A great example of this is a scene where Suzanne visits a Health Guru who continuously compares himself at a perfect weight (which is about 300 lbs), but berates Suzanne for her muffin top middle. The irony in such scenes, delivered with honesty and hilarity are endearing, and helped create a film which is worthy of viewing and meaningful discussion. Whatever the film may lack in production, it makes up for it in the message: MUFFIN TOP is a film that will be remembered as one that presents a glance into the power of media, but also allows us to take a look at ourselves in a funny, realistic and non invasive way. Add to that a great cast (the late Marcia Wallace, David Arquette, Marissa Jaret Winokur, to name a few) and it can?t get much better than this: great laughs, great delivery, and social comment to boot. MUFFIN TOP: A Love Story will be a favorite that you?ll keep coming back to again and again!

~Helen S.