Shallow Hal

Name: Shallow Hal
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance
Released: November 9, 2001
Duration: 113 min
Rating: 48
Cast: Gwyneth Paltrow, Jack Black

2001

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 33 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 95 Ratings

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5.4

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5.4	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 95 Ratings

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Shallow Hal

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: November 9, 2001 | PG-13

Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Jack Black

Summary: Hal Larsen is the ultimate shallow guy. He finds beauty only in supermodels and centerfolds. But after an impromptu hypnosis by self-help guru Tony Robbins, Hal's view of women makes a 180-degree turn; he now sees their true inner beauty. (Twentieth Century Fox)

Director: Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly

Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 113 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Kim Morgan

Unafraid of walking the fine line between the repellent and the human, Shallow Hal is wickedly funny but heartfelt.

Bob Graham

The belly laughs finally start to come --legitimately. Read full review

Lisa Alspector

[Farrellys'] great achievement is forcing those of us addicted to eye candy to see we have a problem. Read full review

David Sterritt

Most of the time we see her through Hal's idealizing eyes, though -- no surprise, since Hollywood won't let glittery stars like Paltrow play down their sex appeal for long. Read full review

Sean Axmaker

Shallow Hal begs for the Farrellys to unleash their arsenal of offensiveness, but they want to be liked so much they appear afraid to offend. The result is safe, well-meaning and dull. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Could use a little extra comic poundage. The Farrelly brothers' latest sees the team tapping a sweeter, milder vein of humor than their outrageous norm. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

What they've done here goes beyond gross -- or clumsy, or dumb -- to genuine ugliness, both cutaneous and sub.

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User Reviews

Rashid

Sep 19, 2006

If I want to rate only its comic level i will give 4 but the idea behind that comic make me rate this 9. PPL are their personalities not their bodies.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

MadMaxFuryRoad

Jul 12, 2015

Hilarious! This movie is pretty funny, imaginative, and had very good acting. Very smart premise and I thought this was a lot better than Dumb and Dumber To.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Jamison12

Jul 22, 2013

I love this film. It's not scared to call out society. Yes there are bad obese women, and good thin women, but this calls out shallow america that's obsessed with thin women. Big can be beautiful, it seems America forgets that, but Shallow Hal will always be the angel on America's shoulderI love this film. It's not scared to call out society. Yes there are bad obese women, and good thin women, but this calls out shallow america that's obsessed with thin women. Big can be beautiful, it seems America forgets that, but Shallow Hal will always be the angel on America's shoulder reminding us that Big can be beautiful.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

dionysaKYS

May 30, 2023

6.3/10

I mean yeah i kinda got the whole point of this movie,but I don't think I can't be fatphobic and criticize body stereotypes about people while writing this review...I will try my best First of all the plot of this movie was amazingly good at a point that me and my brother were6.3/10

I mean yeah i kinda got the whole point of this movie,but I don't think I can't be fatphobic and criticize body stereotypes about people while writing this review...I will try my best

First of all the plot of this movie was amazingly good at a point that me and my brother were wondering how is this even a comedy film from 2000's era,then some cringy scenes appeared and made it kinda awkward.The movie had a daring plot and wasn't afraid to express it's messages which is something I have to admit about it.

The cast tho was good, Jack Black and Gwyneth Paltrow sure had a good chemistry and helped the point of the movie getting better and better the rest of the cast was also good but nothing way too impressive to talk about.

The soundtrack as well as the writing were classic and normal nothing way too cool or way too awkward just good a good begging a good story but a **** ending...

I mean yeah Jack Black understood the meaning of the movie but no Hollywood you can't tell this huge lie straight to the viewer's face cause this ending and basically the whole film is a huge right thing people should do,which means that they have to respect the people for eho they really are but sadly nobody wants to accept it because let's be clear now girls and boys who would like a fat woman that is capable of dying from diabetes at any moment like the female protagonist or maybe a fat guy that is also capable of dying from diabetes nobody because we all are baesd on falsy stereotypes which is something the movie tries to express but not in a way it was supposed to be...

In conclusion,"Shallow Hal" is a good and maybe a little deep movie, but way too awkward to watch and boring after a certain point, which I don't wanna spoil to the rest of you who haven't seen it, watch it if you want but if you don't tho there is literally nothing to lose...… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

csw12

Apr 2, 2012

Shallow Hal is pretty shallow, especially the script. Funny parts were here and there. Nothing stood out in the film besides the disgusting people in them.

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

drlowdon

Apr 22, 2014

Contrary to what some people (who usually haven't watched it) believe Shallow Hal isn't offensive in any shape or form and, in actual fact, goes out of its way to champion the importance of inner beauty over appearance. Unfortunately it's not particularly funny either. Most of the jokesContrary to what some people (who usually haven't watched it) believe Shallow Hal isn't offensive in any shape or form and, in actual fact, goes out of its way to champion the importance of inner beauty over appearance. Unfortunately it's not particularly funny either. Most of the jokes revolve around the fact that Hal's (Jack Black) girlfriend Rosemary (Gwyneth Paltrow) is larger than she appears to him resulting in a distinct lack of laughs throughout.

It’s not completely terrible, some moments are actually quite touching, but even fans of the Farrelly Brothers may be better off skipping this one.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JesseM.

Dec 26, 2005

It wasn't funny at all.

0 of 2 users found this helpful

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97	#97 Most Discussed Movie of 2001
45	#45 Most Shared Movie of 2001