YMMV / Fatso

• Fair for Its Day: While an otherwise straightforward, tactful story about addiction with a good message about managing a proper diet for the sake of one's longterm health and treating overweight people with sympathy rather than as mindless gluttons, much of both the comedy and drama are predicated on long-outdated stereotypes about being fat, namely that being overweight and having unhealthy eating habits are one and the same. The consensus that Dom isn't even obese enough to be considered a "fatso" makes title alone not only an exaggeration but even a little insensitive; keep in mind, however, this was in The '70s, and the obesity epidemic hadn't hit America yet, with what doctors call "morbid obesity" being more common.
• He Really Can Act: Very little of Dom's character is played for laughs, and proves that Dom DeLuise could pull off quiet intensity and anguish just as well as he could pull off broad comedy. Just listen to his monologue after he falls Off the Wagon.
• Hollywood Pudgy: Many younger viewers like to point out that Dom isn't nearly fat enough to warrant being called a "fatso." At most, he'd be considered "bulky" or "husky" (he's not even close to how obese Dom DeLuise himself became by the time his own obesity killed him). Then again, this was The '70s, and far fewer people were morbidly obese.
• Memetic Mutation: "You ate the 'ony'!"
• Unintentional Period Piece:
  • Dom buys two full bags of Chinese food for his family at only $40. Thanks to inflation and price hikes, the same amount of Chinese food would cost upwards of $200.
  • The diet advice given is definitely dated, particularly the advice to cut out all fats and fruit.

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