Muffin Top is a wonderful film that not only stars Cathryn Michon but was directed and co-written by her as well. Considering her limited experience in the industry, it's really an amazing film and deserves to be seen. Plus, it has an interesting take on feminism that is very unique and insightful. Fortunately, it's just debuted on Netflix and can be streamed through this service.Suzanne is a 40 year-old professor of Feminist Studies and Pop Culture. The problem is that while she understands in her head that society creates ridiculous ideals for women and they should never buy into this, she STILL wishes she was a size 4! The is made all the worse after her jerk of a husband leaves her for a much younger woman--and Suzanne is confused. On one hand she'd love to get liposuction and look like she's 30 but on the other, a feminist isn't supposed to care about things like plastic surgery....right? Watch Suzanne as she works through this and many other mid-life issues in this refreshing comedy.While this film is occasionally rough and a few of the jokes fall a bit flat, my advice is to keep watching. I'll admit that it starts slowly but really gains momentum as the picture progresses. It especially improves as a wonderful cast of supporting characters are introduced--one of the best supporting casts I have ever seen. In particular, I loved seeing Marcia Wallace (in her final film)...playing Marcia Wallace! She's wonderful--but so are the many wonderful characters in this movie. My only reservation is that the film is definitely for adults, as it talks rather frankly about sex. However, it also has some of the funniest sex scenes I've ever seen. In fact, the film left me laughing many times and it bodes well for Michon's future in the industry. Well worth seeing and a decent date movie as well.

This movie is sweet, sexy, smart and sassy, It is also really funny, pretty to watch, and full of iconic L.A. sites. (I am definitely going with my friend to Mel's for chocolate cake.) I enjoyed the statistics of the protagonist's Women's Studies lectures and how they were portrayed visually. It is wonderful how the movie addresses the equation of How High On This Year's Take on What's A Beautiful and Youthful Face + Body = How Worthy Of Love You Are. It is great that it reveals how these issues take place in private and in public, including Womens Studies departments. The movie deals with these issues in a unique way: it's pretty and humorous, and true to life. It is a strong statement to show the protagonist having loving non-sexual friendships with a married couple and that she is invited to live with these friends for as long as she needs. This really happens in life, and I don't think I have seen a depiction of deep female friendship and female/married couple friendship in a movie before without there being someone being the butt of a joke: i.e., "Oh, thank God you're here. I couldn't take another day with my husband/wife" or "I know she is your best friend, but when is she going to get a place of her own?"I loved how the protagonist got back into dating, and how the love stories within the movie were flushed out and realistic. Another plus: the protagonist was unapologetic for exploring her business options. That self-supportive act didn't cost her a relationship. The misplaced jealousy and insecurity of the character pursuing her almost causes him to lose her, and we find that he realizes this when he apologizes for his behavior, This movie is groundbreaking, and it does so with a lot of style. And speaking of style, there is a lot of fashion eye-candy in this movie, which is another plus. (Gotta get me a pair of those Floral Pumps!)

It's been a while since I literally laughed out loud, but watching 'Muffin Top' with a theater full of women who have dealt with thinking they don't measure up in the eyes of others as well as themselves was a fun and uplifting experience. The writer, Cathryn Michon, has written a screenplay that is beyond clever and dead on in what women think when they gain a few pounds. The movie, from beginning to end, will make you thankful, if you aren't already, to be in the skin you are in and to most importantly be a woman and have all the ups and downs, including those on the scales, that we do in our lives. Melissa Peterman, who is a great comedic actress, stole many of the scenes with her what seemed to be off the top of her head remarks, a result of great writing. The interaction between Peterman and Michon was much like what I have had with my own BFFs, making the scenes even more close to real life and more touching with each laugh.

A highly entertaining and well written romantic comedy with a reassuring message to women of "love yourself now, not five pounds from now." Woman loses man, woman wants new man to love, but wait! What she really wants is to love herself first, and that's a journey "Suzanne" takes us on. It's a necessary journey full of confusion, shame, discovery, and the laughter is healing. The attempts by "Suzanne" to mold herself into popular standards of beauty are laugh out loud, but they mirror what is too rampant in our culture, and that is women who feel "less than" if their weight is "more than" or their looks don't measure up. Cathryn Michon writes, directs and stars in this great film with an ensemble that is funny, smart and engaging. A terrific cast showcases the talent of women in front of and behind the camera. Well worth watching again and again. Suzette Martinez Standring