TFBC is a good movie about being the outsider that avoids, while having a positive and even inspiring message, condescending or patronizing its audience. It is certainly one of the better teenage drama movies out there.

It tackles a number of difficult issues with alacrity - it doesn't avoid the locker culture, but it doesn't push everything into the realms of fantasy either. It scores major points for being focused on the teens and succeeds in being their worldview that's shown rather than an adult's conception of it.

All in all, there are some excellent performances backed up with a strong script and while this is the sort of film that social studies classes might want to watch, it's also a really nice movie in itself and deserves to be enjoyed by a wide audience.

I bought this film because it's about bullying for an overweight boy. He weighed 188 pounds and has started high school. He hates school but hates himself more. The actor who plays him does a fabulous job in the role. You feel for his character and sympathize with him. His teacher insists that everybody including himself write in his journal. He begins to explore life and friendship with Paul and a girl named Sable. He tutors a jock named Robb. Unlike Paul, he comes from a religious functional family with both parents at home. His best friend Paul's parents are divorced and his father is an alcoholic. Sable appears to have her own problems. The movie is about self-loathing especially in world's standards of beauty and physical presentation.

Based on a true story but choppy in its presentation. Acting is pedestrian.