Heavyweights MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +2 Content: +2

What begins as a great summer for rookie camper Gerry (Aaron Schwartz) at Camp Hope soon deteriorates into an almost hopeless concentration camp situation. The key word here is "almost." Gerry and all the other boys at Camp Hope are overweight, but here they are not teased and tormented. The counselors make the boys feel important, letting them enjoy the outdoors. Imagine their apprehension and disappointment when the camp owners announce they are bankrupt and new owners are taking over. Oh, woe are they! New Ager Tony Perkis (Ben Stiller) leads his portly charges through strenuous, militant drills and puts them on low calorie diets. The regular counselors are replaced with gestapo-like fitness freaks who make life miserable for the boys. After a few days of boring lectures on liposuction and yoga chanting, the unhappy campers decide they have no choice but to rebel. Even their former counselors join in. As they begin to outsmart Tony and his staff, the heavyweights develop self-esteem and leadership abilities. This is not a laugh-out-loud movie, but the under 12 set will enjoy it.

As they plot to force their new leaders to resign, the kids do nothing to physically harm their adversaries. Tony is tricked into falling into a booby trap and another counselor is tied to a tree with honey smeared on him. Tony and his cohorts, on the other hand, subject the boys to a grueling 20-mile hike without food carrying heavy backpacks. They humiliate the boys by setting them up to fail. Tony's yoga chanting and New Age worship of Mother Earth come across as ridiculous and self-centered. The youngsters learn some valuable lessons as well. After they "pig-out" on junk food, they become very ill. They pretend to be content with their obesity, but learn to control their diet instead of letting their diet control them. There is no sex, nudity, homosexual conduct or obscenities. Name-calling during arguments includes some crudities, but this film is light on offensive material. From the director of the MIGHTY DUCKS movies, HEAVYWEIGHTS presents a positive outlook on facing obstacles.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: Buena Vista Distribution, 3900 W. Alameda Ave., Burbank, CA 91521