The Whale

By: Jamie Steinberg

This one is rough. Sure, Director Darren Aronofsky is known for putting his actors through some [very] tough scene work, but the performances they provide tend to be extremely excellent. Such is the case with Brendan Fraser and the film The Whale where he dons a fat suit to make him appear to weigh 600 pounds. However, rather than taking away warmth and wonder from watching, viewers are meant to feel pity for his physical and mental state. With The Whale the audience becomes mere gawkers at his plight and leave the theater with a relief that we are grateful we aren’t in his shoes.

Remember the days of Sideshow Carnivals where they touted acts like the bearded lady, fire eating, lying on a bed of nails and the largest man in the world? That’s what it is like watching The Whale. You feel like you’re a spectator at a sideshow performance as Charlie (Fraser) struggles to get up from the couch and binge eats candy bars all the while Googling “congestive heart failure.” It’s less sympathy and more jaw-on-floor at his circumstances as Charlie lives in a squalid Idaho apartment and spends his days masturbating to gay porn when he’s not working as a college writing professor teaching online classes. Watching this as a viewer you are left thinking, “Wow!”

Despite the extreme circumstances playing out on our screens, viewers will be amazed by the warmth and humanity that Fraser brings to the character. There is so much brought out by the tone in his voice and the subtle movement of his eyes that you can absolutely see the tortured soul that lives within this large man. Adding to Charlie’s plight is the arrival of his estranged daughter Ellie (played by “Stranger Things” star Sadie Sink). Certainly, things start off rough and awkward, but they eventually come to have a father-daughter relationship that is less prickly but not as smooth as some.

Rather than The Whale being a feel-good film, director Aronofsky focuses more on the spectacle. Theater goers watching along from the comfort of our padded seats while we eat our popcorn and drink our sodas only add to putting this curiosity on display. Maybe skip seeing this one, but certainly lend your support to Fraser who is sure to get all the deserved acclaim for this role.