3. Heavyweights
As the world was starting to discover who Judd Apatow and Ben Stiller were, this flick was part of Disney's rather lackluster slate of live action films for kids. However, unlike Camp Nowhere, Tom and Huck, or even the (vastly overrated) Mighty Ducks, Heavyweights managed to do what all of those couldn't: it was really, really funny. It follows Nicholas, a fat kid who is sent to a fat camp, which has currently been acquired by fitness nut Tony Perkins (Ben Stiller). What was supposed to be a Summer of coming of age while having fun and losing weight, has turned into the Summer from Hell. Tony and his army of personal trainers make things as awkward and painful for the boys as they possibly can, with no signs of letting up until the infomercial is done filming. Naturally, classic Disney subversion and hilarity ensues. What sets this apart from the rest of Disney's live action slate at the time, and what probably cost it any sort of box office glory, were two things: first, the humor isn't written for a simple Disney "kids" movie. If you want that sort of comedy, go watch The Mighty Ducks. This was written for all audiences, and was given a general sense of humor that excelled past the ilk of its contemporaries. Second, and probably most controversial, it was a movie about fat kids. You're gonna get it from both sides if you make a movie about fat kids: some are going to think you're picking on them, and as such you're giving them a negative public image (which the film does not); others are going to think that the film's triumph for the overweight underdogs will promote childhood obesity (which again, it does not). The film could have done a little more to sell the ideal of healthy living, but what do you expect?! It's a Disney comedy, we're supposed to laugh! So enjoy Ben Stiller amping up the crazy to 11, and allow yourself the treat of butter on your popcorn, because this is a movie that lets us all be fat kids, and lets us feel OK about it.