The Hack Stamp: FUN SIZE

Posted // 2012-10-26 - The teen comedy Fun Size, rolling into theaters this weekend, has the critics taking sugary bites of obvious metaphors for Halloween candy.

Who could possibly have thought to use the title Fun Size, after all, as a way to describe whether a film is satisfying, or sweet, or tasteful, or anything else candy-related? A whole lot of writers who couldn't be bothered to come up with anything less obvious, as it turns out.

“Fun Size isn't fun in this size, or in any size.” – Gary Wolcott, Tri-City Herald

“Like the candy, Fun Size is short and occasionally sweet, but not all that fun.” – Dan Lybarger, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

“… lives up to the candy correlation of its title. It’s pleasurable enough in the moment, but the buzz fades quickly.” – Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times

“Just like a Halloween miniatures assortment, something for everyone—or no one, as the case may be.” – Tom Russo, Boston Globe

“In the hierarchy of trick-or-treat candy—with Snickers being at the top and Mary Janes at the bottom—Fun Size is a pack of candy cigarettes: mostly tasteless and completely inappropriate for kids.” – Cathy Jakicic, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“Like a ‘fun size’ chocolate bar, it’s just empty calories. It's a momentary pleasure, instantly forgotten.” – David Martindale, Dallas Morning News

“Befitting the title, there’s little nutritional value, but there’s a bit of sweetness inside the throwaway wrapper.” – Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“Imagine eating as many fun-size candy bars as the price of a movie ticket would buy. Imagine how you would feel—and it would still be better than sitting through this movie.” – Marshall Fine, Hollywood & Fine