Review: 'The Fluffy Movie'

A viewer's enjoyment of "The Fluffy Movie" will depend entirely on how much he or she likes genial stand-up comic Gabriel Iglesias. Thanks to his cheerful — and occasionally touching — style of storytelling, he might even make some fans in the process.

The movie captures the comedian in front of an adoring audience at a San Jose, Calif., arena. It's a pretty no-frills affair. Apart from a needless opening segment that features appearances by Tommy Chong and Ron White, it's a straightforward concert flick with no bells or whistles.

Iglesias calls himself fluffy as a reference to his girth, and a good chunk of the material deals with his efforts to lose weight. He has dropped 100 pounds and tipped the scales at 445 at his heaviest. He talks about visiting a weight-loss center and the indignity of having to step on a scale after telling a nurse what he weighed: "Why would I make up 445 pounds?" he asks.

Iglesias makes his strongest impact when he sticks to material that is extremely personal, such as his weight-loss battle. He is bluntly honest when he discusses his relationship with a bratty teenage stepson, and he manages to strike an emotional chord when he talks about reuniting with the father who abandoned him at birth. The movie carries a dedication to stepparents, which seems sincere and heartfelt.

Things are less assured when he moves to such topics as a visit to India. The segment puts his gift for mimicry to good use, but it also feels more like a standard "bit." When he stays closer to home, emotionally speaking, the payoffs are deeper and funnier.

Critic's rating: 3.5 stars (out of 5)

Director: Manny Rodriguez.

Cast: Gabriel Iglesias.

Rating: PG-13 for language and sexual references.

Reach the reporter at randy.cordova@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8849. Twitter.com/randy_cordova.