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Adaptation Review - Dumplin'

While I only gave the book three stars, the Dumplin’ movie deserves all five stars. I cannot get over how fantastic this movie was.

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

I loved Will’s character in the movie, whereas I wasn’t her greatest fan in the book. This Will, played by Danielle Macdonald, had a very strong, consistent, and lively character. She had her flaws, but she worked through them and apologized for them, much better than book Will did. 

Bo, portrayed by Luke Benward, wasn’t toxic at all. He was so much happier than book Bo; he was no where near as moody or strong-and-silent, and I liked him so much more. 

And Mitch didn’t exist in the movie, so it did away with the love triangle, which refocused the movie back onto the message the story was always meant to convey. I think this was my absolute favorite thing about it.

Hannah, Millie, and El were also more developed. Rosie was wonderful. Even Lucy, in the few scenes we saw her, was vivacious. All of the acting was stellar. The sets were detailed. The soundtrack—featuring a ton of Dolly Parton—was incredible and fitting.


Everyone should see Dumplin’. I’d recommend it over the book, quite honestly. This is a story that needed to be told, and it was told beautifully. 

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