The Netflix original film Dumplin’ is based on the book of the same title written by author Julie Murphy. It follows the story of Willowdean Dickson, a plus-sized young woman living in Texas who struggles with the pressures of fitting into her small town as the daughter of a former beauty queen and current beauty pageant organiser and fanatic.
The film sees Willowdean and her best friend Ellen struggling to deal with the loss of one of their family members. After stumbling across something while sorting through their belongings, the girls are motivated to enter the beauty pageant that Willowdean’s mother cares so much for but has always implied that she wasn’t welcome to be a part of due to her plus-size figure and tomboy style. The two girls accidentally inspire and recruit two others, and together the quartet set out on a mission to ‘revolutionise’ the beauty pageant world and prove that women are women regardless of societies expectations.
Dumplin’ boldly discusses the topics of fat-shaming, body weight and self-acceptance. Throughout the film both Willowdean and one of her friends Millie experiencing numerous situations where they are judged or commented on due to their body. This effects the two characters in different ways and the director Anne Fletcher lets the consequential changes within the characters play out alongside each other. Willowdean is also dealing with her own self doubt when it comes to her love interest, Bo. What’s really refreshing about Dumplin’ is that this story line never threatens to overshadow the more important aspects of self-confidence and self-acceptance. Whether Willowdean and Bo get together is never essential to her personal growth and journey of self-love.
While blatantly discussing weight-related topics, Dumplin’ also subtly discusses a whole array of other topics including grief and loss, femininity, gender, family relationships, acceptance and forgiveness. I definitely think this type of film will provide audiences with different experiences depending on what topics speak more to the individual, yet it manages to cover so many things in a gentle way. The film didn’t feel too busy – it really only seems to be about a beauty pageant – yet when looking a little deeper there seems to be something for everyone.
Jennifer Aniston was great as Willowdean’s pageant obsessed mother. She was emotional yet incredibly reserved and distant, and somehow managed to not take the focus away from the younger actors even though she is the biggest name on the bill by far. Willowdean is played by Australia actress Danielle Macdonald. Macdonald has previously played small roles in quite a few American productions but has finally hit her stride in the last few years and this is definitely a film that will help set her apart from the rest.
Willowdean’s friends are also portrayed by incredibly talented actresses including Maddie Baillio who is more commonly a theatre performer yet managed to create a really warm and genuine character on screen; and, Bex Taylor-Klaus who’s androgynous, punky and hilarious character brought a fresh aspect to the film and who’s presence added an extra element of acceptance within the friend group.
Dumplin’ is a coming-of-age story about young women trying to find where they fit in the world, with the help of drag queens, Jennifer Aniston and Dolly Parton songs. The film is a success and while Netflix do like to push the boundaries when discussing taboo subjects, I think they hit the nail on the head with this one.