The Whale Parent Guide

Charlie (Brendan Fraser) has found a niche as a professor teaching essay writing to disinterested college students online. This suits him because he weighs 600 pounds and has barely left his apartment in years. Charlie was always a big guy, but when his partner Alan died, his emotions fueled his appetite, with predictable results.

Now Charlie requires regular care from a nurse, Liz (Hong Chau), who comes by to check up on him. Unfortunately, his weight is seriously affecting his health – on last check, his blood pressure clocked in at 248/134. Unless he is admitted to a hospital - an option he steadfastly rejects - he will likely be dead before the end of the week. Before he dies, though, Charlie is desperate to reconnect with his now 17-year-old daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink), who he hasn’t seen since he left her mother Mary (Samantha Morton) nine years ago. But getting through to Ellie might be harder than Charlie expects.

This film makes frequent reference to Herman Melville’s classic novel, Moby Dick. It’s clear that this is a similar story, with the twist that Charlie is playing both Ahab and the whale – his overeating is a form of self-harm, fueled by emotions that he can’t bear to confront, which have now dictated so much of his life that he can’t imagine changing. And it’s heartbreaking to watch. Charlie is a kind, well-intentioned man trying to make his peace with the hole he’s dug himself into, and the toll that takes on him and those around him is brutal. This is not a feel-good movie. And I wouldn’t recommend watching it over a meal, either.

As far as family audiences go, The Whale is a tough sell. Apart from the harrowing emotional content, there is a fairly sexual scene right at the beginning of the film, and then some serious profanity throughout. Sprinkle in some teen drug use for good measure, and you’ve got a recipe for some difficult conversations with the kids. The bigger issue is the film’s treatment of Charlie’s size, which can be quite cruel at times. This is not a film for anyone with body image issues or eating disorders, and I cannot stress that enough.

Despite that, it’s a powerfully emotional film, albeit one with all the subtlety of a wrecking ball. There’s a strange balance between the disparaging portrayal of Charlie’s body and the immense compassion the film creates for his character, and I’m left wondering if a gentler approach wouldn’t have been more successful. That said, The Whale is still an interesting watch, if you can get through the rough spots.