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Real Women Have Curves

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Real Women Have Curves

PG-13

Released Oct 18, 2002

1h 33m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

119 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Curves on a blossoming young woman can be sexy, but not if you are told you have too many of them. "Real Women Have Curves" is a humorous and warmhearted look at a Mexican-American teenage girl coming of age in a boiling cauldron of cultural expectations, class constrictions, family duty, and her own personal aspirations.

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Critics Consensus

Real Women Have Curves, physical as well as emotional -- and this coming-of-age story traces them in a vividly warm-hearted look at the Mexican-American experience.

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Jeff Strickler

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Newcomer Ferrera and the veteran Ontiveros (a legend in Latino acting circles) mesh wonderfully. Both exude energy, and their interactions appear relaxed and spontaneous.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 10, 2021

Full Review

Keith Phipps

AV Club

It frequently doesn't work, but a number of other virtues compensate for the awkward stretches. Newcomer America Ferrera counts as one.

Sep 10, 2021

Full Review

Hank Sartin

Chicago Reader

Some pieces of the plot feel dishonest, others contrived, but this 2002 feature also has some nicely observed details and plenty of good messages.

Sep 10, 2021

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Annlee Ellingson

CineWomen

Coming up on its twentieth anniversary, the movie was perhaps ahead of its time with its authentic, at times very funny portrayal of a Latinx family in a Los Angeles little seen on the big screen, and body-positive messaging right in the title.

Jul 29, 2024

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Linda Cook

Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

There is not one moment in this delightful film that isn't believable. And even though you'll find yourself taking sides when the characters disagree, you're bound to like them all.

Rated: 4/4

Sep 10, 2021

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Philip French

Observer (UK)

Everything is spelt out and underlined.

Sep 10, 2021

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Kelsey E

I’m a big fan of America Ferreira. She did an excellent job in this movie. Wondering how it will do as a Broadway musical

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/02/25

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Audience Member

Helppp the acting 🥲 our teacher made us watch this and omg why did they start stripping down mid movie? ALso the mc has like a rbf and never changes throughout the movie. Also the getting accepted into Columbia was unexpected and kinda weird... no one is taking applications right before the school year starts, esp not an ivy! also why was she body shamed by her mom who was also horizontally tall? the pointless back and fourth between the mom and MC wasn't even warranted and after like cursing up a storm and telling each other off they go back to being like everything is normal? so disfunctional and unrealistic i was lost watching this

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/25

Full Review

Audience Member

I have mixed emotions about this movie. Ana’s family makes me want to put my fist directly into the tv. I feel that her mother is insanely stubborn and annoying. They won’t let her take a once in a lifetime opportunity. Instead they want her to stay in a brick building and make dresses for 20 bucks that are sold for 600$. Not sure what there thinking behind this was but It makes want to destroy the film altogether. And since when can 80 yr old women get pregnant

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/17/24

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Jelena S

Great movie about a Mexican family and the generation gap.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/01/24

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Kaleya D

THIS MOVIE! Every Latina daughter can relate to someone in this movie. America Ferrera shines (as usual) and speaks only truth as a Latina daughter growing up with such a tight knit family.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/20/23

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Douglas P

I really liked this movie. Women who think they must be thin to be desirable should watch this movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/16/23

Full Review

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Patricia Cardoso

Director

America Ferrera

Ana

Lupe Ontiveros

Carmen

Ingrid Oliu

Estela

George Lopez

Mr. Guzman

Brian Sites

Jimmy

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Synopsis

Curves on a blossoming young woman can be sexy, but not if you are told you have too many of them. "Real Women Have Curves" is a humorous and warmhearted look at a Mexican-American teenage girl coming of age in a boiling cauldron of cultural expectations, class constrictions, family duty, and her own personal aspirations.

Director: Patricia Cardoso
Producer: George LaVoo, Effie Brown
Screenwriter: George LaVoo, Josefina Lopez, Josefina Lopez
Distributor: HBO
Production Co: HBO Films
Rating: PG-13 (Some Language|Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 18, 2002, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.8M
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo

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