SnoopyStyle Ana Garcia (America Ferrera) is frustrated by her mother (Lupe Ontiveros) who demands her to work for her sister at their garment factory. Her teacher Mr. Guzman (George Lopez) wants her to go to college. Her father is more sympathetic. Jimmy from school likes her.While I appreciate the family drama, I really don't like either the mother or the daughter. Ana is too angry, too bitter and too whiny. The mother is too angry, too bitter and too whiny. They are definitely related. On top of that, the story layers on some body issues. Also some of the story feels unnatural. Her mother's claim of pregnant feels weird. Even if it's inspired by a true story, it doesn't feel necessary. What shines through are the two lead actresses. America Ferrera gets her big break and Lupe Ontiveros is charismatic.

ftbllplr The film Real Women Have Curves was written by Josefina Lopez and George LaVoo and directed by Patricia Cardoso. It stars America Ferrera as Ana Garcia, Lupe Ontiveros as Carmen Garcia, and Ingrid Oliu as Estella Garcia. It takes place in present day Los Angeles, California.This film takes on a few different issues. Self image, particularly pertaining to women, the struggles of Mexican Americans in the United States, and the generational differences in Mexican America households.The title, Real Women Have Curves, makes it abundantly clear how the writer views women in America and their self image. Patricia Cardoso doesn't buy into the media driven image of women as skinny twigs with no meat on their bones. Throughout the movie, Ana's mother nags Ana about her weight, but Ana is proud of who she is. She isn't trying to lure a man into marriage as her mother implies that she should. Its interesting how Ana is so defiant about her weight towards her mother but is self-conscience when she is around her boyfriend Jimmy who thinks she is beautiful the way she is.The Garcia family, like so many others Mexican American families, works long and hard for what they get, but even after so many years they are still relatively low on the job scale. Is it because they don't have the skills to do anything else or is it because their employers know they are willing to work for at those lower wages without complaint in fear of being fired or deported? I happen to think that it is a combination of both. If they were a dressmaker in Mexico, a dressmaker is what they will likely be in America. There is little room for learning new skills when a constant source of income is so vital for a family trying to stay afloat. Their employers take full advantage of this. One scene that illustrates this point is when Estella tells Ana that they sell the dresses to the distributor for $18 who then sell the same dresses for I think it was $600.Ana and her mother butt heads throughout the film. Carman is very traditional, marriage and a family is the pinnacle of a woman life to her. Ana is almost a polar opposite. She wants to go to college and make a career for herself before giving any thought to starting a family, much like the average American high school senior. Going to college at all is unthinkable to Carman, let alone Columbia University, so far away from her family. Most mothers would be overjoyed if their daughter received a full ride scholarship to any school, no matter how far it may be. Carman's emphases on the family almost makes Ana give up the wonderful opportunity.Real Women Have Curves is a very good film written, directed, and staring women who have gone through some of the things that the Garcia family went through. It is a superb representation of a Mexican American family living in the United States and the issues that arise in doing so.

lindsay_horton This is one of the best movies I have seen in a while. It's about love, it's about coming of age, it's about how family can help and hinder, and most importantly......it's about being true to yourself. The movie truly touched my heart and made me cry and laugh. And boy oh boy did I cheer at the end. This movie speaks for ALL who want to please but at the same time know deep inside they do what they must do. A movie of love......what more can you ask for! I thought that Anita's problems were handled very sensitivity especially the sequence where she makes love for the first time. Her MOM is not quite the dragon that she is made out to be at first. She is a mother who just really wants her daughter to be happy but yet is stuck in her own time frame. And has bought into how the world thinks a woman's body is supposed to be. When her mother says she is pregnant and does not realize it's the change of life........Funny.......(being that age myself have been there and done that) It's funny yet sad. Do we stop being women just because our bodies change? Yet a lot of society says so. But I thought the saddest thing was when Anita's MOM could not say goodbye.......What her MOM does not realize.....she has NOT lost a daughter......she brought up a BRIGHT INTELLIGENT WOMAN, who will go far. The LOVE that is showed is remarkable.....her DAD......her Grandfather......her sister....this may be not in the way we all would wish......But it is there. Change is hard...But change is inevitable. GREAT MOVIE......2 THUMBS UPS!!!!!!

charity-gallen I thought this movie was excellent! It was so funny and really portrayed a day in the life of a curvy woman. I loved the part when they took off their clothes at the factory. And it really shows the work that goes into making clothes and how they get nothing for it but the dresses get sold for hundreds of dollars.The emotional reactions of the daughter to the mothers nagging and belittling comments were very moving, I could feel her pain. I love how the daughter got up the strength to feel good about her body in spite of her mother. I would recommend this movie to anyone but especially young curvy girls that are struggling with self esteem issues.