''Chubby Funny'' is a 2016 British

comedy-drama Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...

film, directed and written by Harry Michell. Michell also stars in the film alongside

Augustus Prew Augustus Prew (born 17 September 1987) is an English film and television actor. He is known for his roles in '' About a Boy'' (2002), '' The Secret of Moonacre'' (2008), '' Charlie St. Cloud'' (2010), '' The Borgias'' (2011), '' Kick-Ass 2'' ( ...

and

Isabella Laughland Isabella India Jane Laughland (born 1991) is a British actress. She began her career in the Harry Potter films '' Half Blood Prince'' (2009) and '' Deathly Hallows: Part 1'' (2010) and '' Part 2'' (2011). She went on to star in ''Urban Hymn'' ( ...

. The film premiered at LOCO London Comedy Film Festival at

BFI Southbank BFI Southbank (from 1951 to 2007, known as the National Film Theatre) is the leading repertory cinema in the United Kingdom, specialising in seasons of classic, independent and non-English language films. It is operated by the British Film Inst ...

on Saturday 6 May 2017. It was produced by Free Range Films, Aimimage Productions and Guinea Pig Productions.

Plot

Oscar is an aspirational young actor living with his friend and fellow-thespian Charlie. Their twenty-something friendship dynamic is put under strain when Charlie lands a part in a Shakespeare play while Oscar endures a succession of less-than-glamorous role offers and a part-time job as a door-to-door paid fundraiser. Oscar's family life is depicted as unstable and competitive while his love life puts his friendship under more strain as a potential girlfriend chooses the consistently fortunate Charlie over him. Rejecting the support and romantic advances from his friend Sophie casts Oscar in a dim light although his efforts to assist a local shop keeper clean up his store after an attack by vandals acts as a meaningful act of redemption. Oscar and Charlie decide to move out of the shared flat although and in doing so may save their friendship. It is left open ended as to whether Oscar will continue acting having been typecast as the 'chubby funny' sort which he is initially resentful of although the film ends with a job offer.

Cast

* Harry Michell as Oscar *

as Charlie *

as Sophie * Jeff Rawl as Michael * Jack Cooper Stimpson as Peter * Maggie Michell as Lauren * Johan Schiller as Jack *

David Bamber David James Bamber (born 19 September 1954) is an English actor. His credits include '' Privates on Parade'' (1983), '' Juliet Bravo'' (1983), '' Crown Court'' (1984), '' Call Me Mister'' (1986), '' The Buddha of Suburbia'' (1993), '' Pride an ...

as Mr. White *

Asim Chaudhry Asim Chaudhry (born 24 November 1986) is a British comedian, writer, director, rapper and actor best known for playing Chabud "Chabuddy G" Gul in the BBC mockumentary series '' People Just Do Nothing'', which he co-created. For this role, he wo ...

as Arash *

Phoebe Nicholls Phoebe Sarah Nicholls (born 7 April 1957) is an English film, television, and stage actress. She is known for her roles as Cordelia Flyte in '' Brideshead Revisited'' and as the mother of John Merrick in ''The Elephant Man''. Personal life Ni ...

as Aunty Jane *

Dave Benson Phillips Dave Benson Phillips (born 3 February 1965) is a British entertainer, comic, children's television presenter and wrestler. He has presented '' Playhouse Disney'' (1998–2006), '' Fun Song Factory'' (1994–1999), and the CBBC game show '' Get ...

as Babatunde * Pierre Novellie as Greg * Ben Kavanagh as Felix * Hugh Stubbins as Tony * Paul Adeyefa as Johnny * Simon Alcock as Sophie's Date *

Alice Lowe Alice Eva Lowe (born 3 April 1977)England & Wales births 1837 – 2006 is an English actress, writer, director, and comedian. She has appeared as Dr. Haynes in '' Black Mirror: Bandersnatch'' and Madeleine Wool/Liz Asher in ''Garth Marenghi's ...

as Susan * Ahmad Ahmadzadeh as Cabby *

Anna Maxwell Martin Anna Maxwell Martin (born Anna Charlotte Martin; 10 May 1977), sometimes credited as Anna Maxwell-Martin, is an English actress who won two British Academy Television Awards, for her portrayals of Esther Summerson in the BBC adaptation of ''Ble ...

as Sally *

Julian Rhind-Tutt Julian Alistair Rhind-Tutt (born 20 July 1967) is an English actor. He is best known for playing Dr "Mac" Macartney in the comedy television series '' Green Wing''. Early life Rhind-Tutt was born on 20 July 1967 in West Drayton, London, the youn ...

as Director

Production

''Chubby Funny'' is directed by Harry Michell who also wrote and stars in the film. It is his debut feature as a director and was produced through Aimimage Productions, along with Free Range Films and Guinea Pig Productions. They claimed that for the low budget comedy their production base was a pub.

Soundtrack

''Chubby Funny'''s soundtrack is notable for the use of Franz Schubert's Symphony No. 4 in C minor throughout as an underscore. This also becomes a device in Oscar's developing relationship with the shop keeper as they debate which symphony is being played on the radio in the newsagents. The filmmakers also included a number of young British artists in the film including Hannah Heartshape, Joyshop and Xylaroo.

Release

''Chubby Funny'' received its official UK premiere at the LOCO Comedy Film Festival on the 6 May 2017. The film also screened at

East End Film Festival The East End Film Festival was one of the UK's largest film festivals. Founded in 2000 and operating in various venues across East London, the festival focused on emerging British, Eastern European, and Asian films. It ceased operations on March ...

on 16 June 2017 and was in competition at Dinard Film Festival 2016. It was released in select cinemas on 30 June 2017 including Picturehouse Central in London and at the

Glasgow Film Theatre The Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT) is an independent cinema in the city centre of Glasgow. It occupies a purpose-built cinema building, first opened in 1939, and now protected as a category B listed building. History and architecture Predecesso ...

. It was also shown at Kinokulture cinema in Shropshire, the Errol Flynn Filmhouse in Northampton, and at

Latitude Festival Latitude Festival is an annual music and arts festival set within the grounds of Henham Park, near Southwold, Suffolk, England. The first edition of the festival took place in 2006 and has continued annually (apart from 2020 when it was cancel ...

Reception

Chubby Funny was met with a positive critical response and award nominations. *

Peter Bradshaw Peter Nicholas Bradshaw (born 19 June 1962) is a British writer and film critic. He has been chief film critic at ''The Guardian'' since 1999, and is a contributing editor at ''Esquire'' magazine. Early life and education Bradshaw was educat ...

of ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

'' called it a "terrifically funny post-Withnail satire" *Jamie Graham of ''

Total Film ''Total Film'' was a British film magazine published 13 times a year (published monthly with a summer issue added, between the July and August issues, every year since issue 91, 2004) by Future Publishing. The magazine was launched in 1997 and of ...

'' described it as “a potent cocktail of mirth and melancholy". *'' Time Out'' said of Oscar that "he’ll make you cringe and concur in equal measure" *Harry Michell's debut feature earned him a nomination for 'Most Promising Newcomer' in the British Independent Film Awards 2017.

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 5197742 2016 films 2016 comedy-drama films British comedy-drama films Films about actors 2010s British films