Dumplin'

Willowdean lives in Texas and, after losing her aunt, enters the beauty pageant her mother runs as an act of protest. Rosie is a former pageant queen, and how she relates to her daughter's appearance is the real subject between them. It comes from Julie Murphy's 2015 novel. Anne Fletcher directed, with Danielle Macdonald leading and Jennifer Aniston as the mother. The film's second spine is Dolly Parton. She curated the soundtrack, released on 30 November 2018, containing new songs and re-recordings with collaborators including Elle King, Miranda Lambert and Sia. It brought Golden Globe and Critics' Choice nominations for the music. Netflix took distribution and released it on 7 December 2018. Rotten Tomatoes has 86 percent of 64 reviews positive, with a consensus pointing to the solid soundtrack and terrific cast. Who it is for: viewers who want warm films about body image and mothers and daughters, with the drag performers a pleasure of their own. Who it is not for: anyone looking for conflict. The film resolves its argument early and the last half hour goes exactly where you expect.