One of my students once asked me why I kept on mentioning "Muriel's Wedding" during my lecture on essay writing. I smiled, but didn't answer; I didn't tell her I was chubby and insecure (like Muriel Heslop, the movie's lead character) when I first saw the film.
As the title suggests, "Muriel's Wedding" is about settling down. But it's not about living happily ever after. For Muriel, matrimony means getting even at her friends and her family who treat her as good for nothing. Marriage is a departure from her chubby, insecure self; it's a new chapter in her troubled life. An ABBA song in the background would be like cherry to a cake. But real life isn't like that, and this Aussie comedy is grounded to reality (thank God!). Watching "Muriel's" prompted me to write a school essay on insecurity.
The film taught me that it's OK to have insecurities. It's normal. It's how we deal with it that makes us better (or worse). Other than that, director P.J. Hogan wants moviegoers to have a good time, and there are many scenes that made me laughed. My favorite is Muriel feeling like a hot celebrity while walking down the aisle.
"Muriel's Wedding" not only gives matrimony a different perspective, but it also make the young and old sing and dance to "Dancing Queen".
Tags: Chubby Insecure ABBA
