Ana Garcia (America Ferrera) is frustrated by her mother (Lupe Ontiveros) who demands her to work for her sister at their garment factory. Her teacher Mr. Guzman (George Lopez) wants her to go to college. Her father is more sympathetic. Jimmy from school likes her.While I appreciate the family drama, I really don't like either the mother or the daughter. Ana is too angry, too bitter and too whiny. The mother is too angry, too bitter and too whiny. They are definitely related. On top of that, the story layers on some body issues. Also some of the story feels unnatural. Her mother's claim of pregnant feels weird. Even if it's inspired by a true story, it doesn't feel necessary. What shines through are the two lead actresses. America Ferrera gets her big break and Lupe Ontiveros is charismatic.

This film focuses on the generation gap of the classic neurotic mother and her bright, "contemporary" daughter. From what I have seen and heard from others it seems this gap in the Mexican American community is a very common and realistically portrayed aspect of the storyline. There is an interesting subplot that centers on the characters daughter being overweight and the Mexican American communities' reaction with how they deal with the whole subject of weight. This subplot culminates in a very funny scene where several characters of women that are heavy take their clothes off to their underwear as a matter of pride and to overcome and deal with the exhausting heat in the sweatshop where they work. The character of the daughter does have a love interest who accepts her for who she is with her weight aside. I really do think that this movie would be best viewed by a teenager who is struggling with similar issues and cultures. They will be able to relate to the characters so much more. The ending was very typical and expected. Overall I felt that this movie was a high risk when they made it, because it will probably have very high and very low appeal in equal depending on who is watching it and their backgrounds.

I did like this film. It was a strong character driven story. The relationships with the women were very compelling. I could believe what I was seeing on screen for the most part and was able to start caring in what was happening from the beginning. I enjoyed the back and forth with Ana and her mother. I don't think it was over done in the telling of it. I heard in the director's commentary that the director was worried that the mother might have been played too heavy handed, but I think it work out fairly well.I particularly cared for the unresolved conclusions at the end of the picture, it was refreshing in how no punches were pulled. I think it was a very brave move. Overall all the women roles were strong, where the story suffered was the male roles were a little weak, everyone except the male teacher could have been played better. The dialogue with the boyfriend felt empty and wanting, there was no chemistry there or even a curious connection. The thought that anything happened there leaps a great chasm of disbelief. As far as the father and grandfather were concerned I thought that they were merely place holders. And sadly so because I felt nothing. The film never fleshed that relationship out and likewise was insufficient reason for Ana to stay in LA. This was a major flaw in the story, the fact that there were not enough reasons why Ana should stay where she was.

"Real Women Have Curves" is a film that, like many others, deals with various issues of race, generation, societal, weight, and gender conflict. The lead character is Ana, a girl who struggles with her own desire for independence while her mother uses her weight and her ethnicity to keep her "in her place." Movies dealing with these issues abound, and are in fact a rather significant part of the film industry. This film, however, is nice because it's rather life-affirming. Instead of making me (who is a white male) hate himself for being white, it instead makes me enjoy this look into another person's difficulties. Too many films about these issues tend to have something in the way of "survivor guilt." "Look at my culture, and see how beautiful it is. Now feel bad for not appreciating it before you saw this." This film is different, and it's rather enjoyable.For that matter, the overall dialog is clever and funny, so it's certainly a film to sit back and enjoy, and in the process feel a little bit more hopeful about the world.--PolarisDiB