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.

Real Women Have Curves is a film that gives a voice to issues that do not get enough screen time: fat feminism and the difficulty of having a mixed heritage. It handles the material very well and provides an enjoyable viewing.Ana Garcia is an American woman from an immigrant family from Mexico. She graduates from high school at the beginning of the film and with the encouragement of one of her teachers, hopes to go to college. Her parents are not pleased with her decision, citing economic problems as well as not wanting to break up the family unit. So Ana starts to work in her sister's sewing shop. Over the course of the summer, Ana learns much about herself, both her American and Mexican sides, and her family.America Ferrara gives a strong performance, but it is Lupe Ontiveros, as Carmen Garcia, Ana's mother, that steals the show. She breathes life into a character that could have come off as a wicked witch, making her a realistic and sympathetic human being. The entire cast works, the only weak link being Brian Sites as the boyfriend, who does not make his character likable enough for us to believe Ana would really be interested in him.The script is based on real life experiences and it shows. The whole movie has a very real feel to it, kudos to director Patricia Cardoso. The interesting cultures we see here are fascinating, how they seamlessly switch between English and Spanish, how they are proud of what they do, it is all very interesting to see. As much as the movie is about Mexican American culture, it also is about fat feminism. Ana is overweight, and her mother, who is as overweight too, is very critical of her for it. Fortunately, Ana is strong and confident, and learns to be happy with herself. The message that girls can be happy without looking like a model is a good one, and this film does a great job showing that.Real Women Have Curves is an enjoyable film with a positive message that I heartily recommend.

I was assigned to watch Real Women Have Curves for one of my college classes. So I popped it in and got comfortable. I enjoyed the scenery and the music. I did not enjoy Carmen, Ana's mother. I'm supposing that was just her character; but, wow. She's one hell of a mom. I've read other reviews of this movie and other people seem to enjoy the scene where Ana and the other factory workers strip down and show their scars to the others. Carmen gets upset and is astonished that none of them are ashamed to show their bodies. Ana proclaims, "This who we are. Real Women!" So is she saying skinner woman are not real? I was quite disturbed by this notion. By the end, I was upset. I know that this movie was supposed to make women of all types feel beautiful; but, it just made angry. Why are bigger women the only ones who are real? The movie was basically saying to me that if you can fit into a size 7(and I'm not saying I personally can) than you're not real. You're fake and you must starve yourself. Skinny women eat too, they might just have a faster metabolism. They're sorry. Needless to say, this movie disappointed me greatly.

I saw this film when I was in an extremely vulnerable place during the Spring of 2002, when I was battling and just embarking on my journey to freedom from an eating disorder. It helped show me that women of all shapes and sizes can learn to appreciate themselves, regardless of their outward appearance - especially in light of the way society portrays how we are expected to look.I like the stand that Ana had in standing up against her mother, despite how it would be to be picked upon based on your outward appearance.I have only today ordered the DVD, as I feel it is one that I can watch time and time again.At the time of seeing this in the local Film Centre (for alternative films), I found it to be quite uplifting. Well worth viewing! Don't wait - go out and buy it now!