When Zachary Beaver Came to Town (2003)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

John Schultz

Writers:

Kimberly Willis Holt (novel) and
John Schultz (screenplay)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Plot:

Zachary Beaver, a sideshow attraction also known as the world's fattest boy, arrives in the sleepy town of Granger, Texas. |

Plot Keywords:

Friendship Between Boys | Bicycle | Fat Child | Young Boy | Child Driving Car

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Jonathan Lipnicki	...	Toby Wilson
Cody Linley	...	Cal
Jesse Pennington	...	Wayne
Jane Krakowski	...	Heather
Eric Stoltz	...	Otto
Kevin Corrigan	...	Paulie (as Kevin Fitzgerald Corrigan)
Sarah Whalen	...	Sally in the Pick-up
Louanne Stephens	...	Earline
Hudson Lee Long	...	Wylie Womack (as Hudson Long)
Lou Perryman	...	Ferris
Brady Coleman	...	Sheriff
Kathleen Lancaster	...	Kate McKnight
Amanda Alch	...	Scarlett Staling
Joanna McCray	...	Tara
David Little	...	Thoughtful farmer

MPAA:

Rated PG for some thematic elements and language.

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:PG | Finland:K-7 (DVD rating) | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Revere Pictures

Trivia:

When the movie was shooting in Austin, Texas, the left-over food from the set was recovered and used to feed the hungry of Austin. This was done with help of Rock and Wrap it Up! - an organization that helps fight hunger by delivering unused but good food to the hungry.

Goofs:

Continuity: When arguing with his dad after the wake, Toby is wearing brown pants, but when he walks off he is wearing blue jeans.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#36.4)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Don't Say You Care

OK family drama about how life changes...

1st watched 4/8/2006 - 5 out of 10 (Dir-John Schultz): OK family drama about how life changes when a traveling sideshow exhibitionist enters Granger, Texas displaying possibly the fattest boy ever, Zachary Beaver. The changes don't come because of Zachary but instead they just happened to occur when he enters town. One family breaks apart when the mother leaves to become a country singer. Another family has a member go into the Army, and Zachary's partner and legal guardian disappears. At this point, Toby from the 1st family, and Cal from the 2nd try to get to know Zachary. First as a joke and later more seriously because of their own personal losses. We get to see Toby try to grow up despite not being in the best of circumstances and as things get worse he tries to escape but obviously can't. An interesting story with inconsistent acting and direction makes for a so-so experience in what could have been a much better movie. Attempts are made to pull at our heartstrings but even Sasha Neulinger's appealing portrayal of Zachary can't help the movie from falling a little flat.