Dumplin’: An Argument for Mini-Series

I recently read Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy. I loved it. It had a plot on navigating that time in friendship when you and your best friend are becoming different people with lives outside of each other. It also included people who had visible differences than their peers and how just because people viewed them in one way didn’t mean that’s who they are.

Because I liked the book and the movie was ready to watch on Netflix, I watched it. If I hadn’t read the book, I think I would have been perfectly content with the movie. Hell, I still like the movie. It was cute. There were some changes I even thought good. (Willowdean’s performance in the talent portion, for example.) However, there were changes that made me sad. Where was Amanda? Where was Mitch? Why did the rift between WIllowdean and Ellen only last what seemed like a few days? It was then it hit me: The movie didn’t have time to cover it all. So, I thought to myself: What could have been changed to allow for all the nuance and amazing characters that the movie just couldn’t show because of time?

If it had been a mini-series. Now, I love mini-series. They’re longer than movies but don’t go on for 18 seasons. Some of my most beloved programs were mini-series: The 10th Kingdom, Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, and most recently, The Switch (on Netflix. GO WATCH IT NOW.) So, here are the following things that could have happened with a mini-series:

1. Amanda wouldn’t have been cut. Amanda is a character with adaptive shoes (her legs are different lengths) and a funny attitude. She also had a talent and passion for soccer. I don’t know the challenges for finding an actor who could play the role but it seems to me there should have been someone able. Also, is it about the soccer? Her talent didn’t have to be kicking around a ball. It could have been something else if that would have worked out. Trust me, audiences can forgive small details being left out. Amanda brought the opportunity to be surprised. Willowdean, in the book, doubted Amanda’s abilities and was proven wrong. I firmly believe a mini-series would have had time for her.
2. Mitch. Darling Mitch. The Too-Good-For-This-World Mitch. He was nowhere to be seen. I get people can be tired of love triangles but the one in Dumplin’ was done so well. It wasn’t about Mitch and Bo competing for Willowdean. She was just liked by two different boys. One boy knew her for a while and liked her. The other knew her in school and happened to like her, too. Mitch and Willowdean’s almost-relationship/friendship could have spanned a few episodes instead of being cut from the movie.
3. Bo and Willowdean. Their relationship is a bit messy sometimes. In the movie, we only got a scratched surface compared to what it was in the book. Now, I’m not saying have a montage of the two characters making out but in a mini-series at least you would have seen it evolve.
4. Hannah. I have a feeling that the movie tried to blend Amanda and Hannah into one character which is a shame. Hannah was a complex character with a bad attitude for days. Her attitude in the book wasn’t portrayed as funny but as this guard she had against people. She was turned into a stereotype in the movie and also happened to be whitewashed. (No blame towards the actor. That’s all the producers and directors.)

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST:

5. Willowdean and Ellen’s friendship. In the book, it lasted two months. Both characters were feeling apart from one another before their fight. They are growing up and turning out to be different people. Dumplin’ tackled that story line and also added in: Just because people change doesn’t mean they have to stop caring about one another. The movie seemed to just…blow this over. They fought but it didn’t seem to last nearly as long as it was portrayed in the book.

With streaming services being a major way people consume television and movie content, it’s a wonder we don’t see more deviation from the movie and tv standard. I vote for mini-series.

May you get lost in a book,

Chrissy